The benefits of germinated cereals are widely known – they are a rich source of vitamins and enzymes, micro- and macroelements. Sprouted buckwheat stands out even against this impressive background, since buckwheat is the champion in the content of nutrients among other cereals that are traditionally included in our diet.
Buckwheat, which goes on sale, as a rule, undergoes preliminary heat treatment, after which it loses many of its useful properties, including germination. Her seeds will no longer sprout. Such cereals are distinguished by the dark brown color of the shells and the inner part. For germination, only light buckwheat with a greenish tint, which has not been deeply heated, is suitable. You can find it in online stores or on agricultural markets.
From storage in the light, green buckwheat darkens from above, but remains light at the break, in contrast to heat-treated
You will need:
– green buckwheat groats; – clean drinking water; – napkin made of natural fabric
Rinse the buckwheat thoroughly with clean water to remove dust and other dirt from it, and transfer to a glass or enamel container. Fill the cereal with clean water so that it covers 1–2 cm and leave to swell for 1,5–2 hours. It is advisable to use spring water, well water, or at least well filtered.
If you leave buckwheat in water for too long, it can become limp and lose germination.
Rinse swollen grain again. In the process of swelling, a large amount of valuable starch is washed out of buckwheat, which makes the water slimy, like jelly. If you have no particular prejudice, you can eat this healthy liquid, otherwise drain it into a separate container and use it to water your home flowers. However, it should be borne in mind that water containing buckwheat starch is an excellent enveloping agent and helps with gastritis and irritable bowels.
Cover the swollen groats with a damp cloth made of natural fabric. Leave the buckwheat to germinate for about a day or two. Make sure that the napkin does not dry out. The maximum benefit is found in the grains when the sprouts hatch 1–3 mm. If you put the seeds that have hatched in the refrigerator, the sprouts will grow under these conditions, albeit a little slower, so try to be more accurate in calculating the portions of buckwheat you need per day.
Germinated green buckwheat tastes like hazelnuts. It can be eaten with milk, vegetable oil, added to salads or used as a side dish for meat dishes.