The short answer is yes, buckwheat and buckwheat flour are gluten-free despite their name. Buckwheat is a type of seed that is harvested from a plant related to rhubarb and it has absolutely nothing to do with wheat!
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What Is Gluten?
Gluten is the type of protein that is present in wheat, barley, and rye. Because of gluten, certain foods stay together and hold their shape (for example, regular bread). Gluten is often present in a large variety of foods (even the ones you would not expect to contain it!). So, you need to be carefully checking the packaging when you are buying something in a grocery store that has many ingredients in it.
Who Should Avoid Gluten?
There are many levels of gluten sensitivity. For example, people with celiac should not have any amount of gluten while people with slight intolerance will be able to eat little amounts of it with no harm to their health. Sometimes people have gastrointestinal or neurological symptoms that could be helped with a GF diet.
To know whether or not your symptoms are caused by gluten, it is best you consult with your doctor and do a few tests that can help you know whether gluten is the reason for your health problems!
What Is Buckwheat?
Buckwheat is seeds that are processed into groats and flour which are later processed into other foods. Groats are often used the same way as rice and are commonly used in some countries along with meat or vegetables. Some countries also eat boiled buckwheat groats with milk and sugar as you would cereal. Buckwheat is gluten-free as well as the flour made with it.
Buckwheat flour is commonly used in the gluten-free diet to bake buckwheat bread, cookies, buckwheat tortillas, pancakes, and many other things. Even if you are celiac, you can have buckwheat flour as it is completely gluten-free!
How To Bake with Buckwheat Flour
Buckwheat needs special ratios of water to flour when it comes to baking. So, you wouldn't want to substitute even GF flour in a recipe for buckwheat flour without adjusting the rest of the ingredients. To use buckwheat in bread or pancakes, you need to find a recipe that is specifically designed to be made with buckwheat flour. I have a few recipes specifically designed for buckwheat, check them out in the section below!
Recipes with Buckwheat Flour
100% Buckwheat bread
This gluten-free buckwheat loaf is soft, fluffy, moist, and delicious with its unique buckwheat flavor. It is also very nutritious and works great for breakfast sandwiches!
Buckwheat Sourdough Bread (Gluten-Free)
This delicious gluten-free sourdough bread is designed to be made with buckwheat flour and a few other ingredients. If you are into gluten-free sourdough, you should definitely give this one a try!
Buckwheat Tortillas (Gluten-Free)
These buckwheat tortilla wraps are made with buckwheat flour and a few other ingredients. Psyllium husk makes them so flexible as you see in the picture. A great recipe to try!
Buckwheat Desserts
Buckwheat is not only great in savory dishes but also in desserts. Check out my collection of 9 best gluten-free buckwheat dessert recipes!
Now that you know that buckwheat flour is gluten-free, go check out some of the recipes made with it!
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