Do you find yourself standing in front of the fridge, searching for what to eat?
Going back and forth from the fridge to the pantry and back again with no luck can be frustrating. Introducing new foods is a great way to keep your fridge and pantry stocked, and ready to assemble easy meals.
Below is a one dish meal made with buckwheat. What is buckwheat?
Buckwheat is not a grain nor is it wheat! It is a seed like quinoa, used as a grain or gluten-free wheat-flour alternative. It contains the bioflavonoids rutin and quercetin, which act as antioxidants & are anti-inflammatory. They also maintain blood flow and extend the action of vitamin C, great for a healthy cardiovascular system. Buckwheat is also an excellent source of magnesium, manganese, fiber, phosphorus, and high quality protein with all 8 essential amino acids present.
Eat the rainbow! Different foods have different nutrients so eating a variety of colored fruits and vegetables will help assure you get the variety of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that you need for optimal health.
Fresh Vegetable Buckwheat Salad
1 cup uncooked buckwheat
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup cucumber, sliced
1/8 cup red onion, diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tsp. turmeric
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Celtic sea salt (or Himalayan) & fresh ground pepper to taste
Opt for organic ingredients whenever possible
Directions
Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Rinse buckwheat in cold water. Add rinsed buckwheat to boiling water. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook until soft and water is gone, about 10-15 minutes. Mix turmeric into buckwheat. Allow buckwheat to cool and mix all ingredients together. Serves 4-6 as a side dish. These vegetables are just an example of how to “eat the rainbow” in a meal. Try another variety of seasonal vegetables for a whole different dish: Carrots, kale, parsley, snap peas and the list goes on!
Enjoy this buckwheat salad cold or at room temperature. It's a great dish to bring to work for lunch!