Buckwheat Sprouting Question

[EisPrinzessin]

I bought organic buckwheat groats from the bulk section at Wegmans (our supermarket) with the intention of sprouting them and making Alissa's Porridge recipe. First off, did I buy the right thing - groats? And second, if I soak tonight, what are the chances I'll have sprouts by Sunday morning so I can make some porridge?

[sport]

Buckwheat should be soaked for 4 to 6 hours. If you soak it overnight you may drown it. Start it now and it will be ready before bedtime. Rince them several times as they are very starchy and the water is thick and glue like. It then takes 2 to 3 days to sprout so it may be ready.
I can not help with the other question as I do not know what Groats are.
I am on my 2nd batch of sprouting buckwheat this week and the first one sprouted with no problem but I rinsed them well. I made cookies with mine and I am devouring them as I write this.

[rawcanadagirl]

Yes - the groats are what you are looking for!
They are greenish and kind of pyramid shaped :D

[EisPrinzessin]

Thank you both! I soaked mine from 6:30 - 12:30 last night and have rinsed once this morning (about to do it again). What should I look for when "sprouting" (I know, dumb question) - does it look like little green shoots coming out of the groats?

[sport]

It will be white tails. You do not have to be presise as to when you use them. Put one in your mouth and when you find that it is soft and tastes smooth then you can go ahead with it.

[DrPr]

Ahhhh...so is the purpose of sprouting to get the beans/grains soft? I couldn't figure out why we're supposed to sprout things. (It's so good to know the reasons behind these instructions when you're a newbie!) ;)

[sport]

That is not the purpose. The main reason is that the nuetrients multiply by a huge amount at the sprouting stage. Most things you sprout do not need softening but beans and grain do.

[EisPrinzessin]

UPDATE:

I have some sprouting going on! My first try. I should be enjoying a nice bowl of porridge tomorrow!

Thanks sport and rawcanadagirl for your advice!

[sport]

I hope that it is the first of many.

[mbf]

I wanted to add my recipe for a buckwheat shake, I don't sprout them, even though that is superior, I just soak them. I do sprout them for the cookies in Alissa book, I will use them in shake if I have, but I soak them over night 6-8 hours and :

In a blender combine:

1/2 cup soaked buckwheat
2 Tablespoons lecithin ( optional ) I need the choline source and plus it's an emulsifier ( ? spelling) that makes the shake thick
1 cup of water
1 banana
a few ice cubes

blend and enjoy.


This is very filling for me and usually my breakfast or late afternoon meal.

Do you check the groats you bought. It id rare to find packaged Raw Buckwheat, I know some companies make buckwheta groats but they are toasted. Read the back of the bag if you bought them pre-packaged. You can usually find them in the bulk bin section of the heatlth food store.

MBF