Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Whole grains : Blender Barley Oat pancakes

Clockwise : pearled barley, steel cut oat groats, hulless barley, rolled oats


In this post I would like to share my favorite 'heart healthy' pancakes.The recipe doesn't use the conventional flours of these grains, but a blender method is used to get the goodness and full benefits of whole grains. I came across this recipe from a cookbook from our local library long time ago and it has been our family favorite since. Using barley makes you full quickly, so it is a good diet food.

Barley is one of the oldest cereal grains, used traditionally for making beer and also made into
bread and gruels. It was the main food of the Greeks, who valued barley's ability to give physical strength and mental alertness. Barley water, is said to be easy to digest and a tonic to the liver. Pearled barley lacks most of nutrients, because the thick outer layer is removed. Look for Hulless barley.And it is important to soak them.

While Oats are first discovered growing wildly in barley fields in Russia, northern Africa and the near East. Oats are rich in B vitamins and in calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium. They contain more oil than any other grain. Oats are low in gluten but contain more phytates than almost any other grain. Thus, it is very important to soak oats before preparation.

Barley & oats both contain beta-glucans and other viscous soluble fiber components which reduce absorption of fats and cholesterol. Also, the fiber tends to bind to bile acids, which are removed from the body rather than recycled, thus requiring the conversion of more cholesterol to bile acids. Thus both grains are very good in lowering blood cholesterol.Also barley helps reduce the blood glucose levels, thus it is good for diabetic people.

Blender Barley oat pancakes:

Oat groats - 1/3 cup (3/4cup if rolled oats)
Hulless Barley - 1/3 cup
Water - 1/2 cup( for soaking)
Whole eggs - 2
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Honey - 1tbsp
Whole milk - 1/2 cup
Baking powder - 1 1/2 tsp
Butter for greasing.


Pancakes stacked on the plate




Method :

Soak the oat groats and barley overnight. In the morning add eggs, salt, honey. Blend till smooth. Add gradually - milk, baking powder and blend. Let the batter stand for 20 to 30 min. Heat a cast iron pan and grease with butter. Pour a small laddleful of batter and when bubbles start forming on the cake and edges start getting hard, flip it to the other side. Finally flip them to a plate when done and stack them to keep warm. I usually make a few extra and freeze them for a quick snack to my tot. The frozen pancake can be popped into a toaster to reheat and it comes out nice and crispy.


Be Nourished!!!

32 comments:

FH said...

That is so healthy, pancakes looks plump and delicious!:)

Bindiya said...

This is sooo healthy Swaroopa, great recipe.

arundati said...

they look fabulous.....

Suganya said...

Do these puff up like regular pancakes?

TBC said...

That looks great and is healthy as well.

Sagari said...

loveely pancakes looks soo yummyyy and so healthy and guilt free to eat

Bharathy said...

Healthy and Gorgeous!..Droolworthy Shot!! :)

Seema said...

Healthy pancakes.. looks yum!!

Laavanya said...

This is fabulous Swaroopa and so healthy too. THe pancakes look so soft.

bee said...

i have barley and would love to try this.

Swaroopa said...

suganya: yes, the pancakes do puff like regular ones because of baking soda & egg....

Seena said...

Your blog is a knowledge bank for me..I have added it in my food blogs list..Thanks for sharing such wonderful informations and very healthy recipes..

Pravs said...

Wow...pancakes looks so tempting, i want to take a bite. Very nice informative post. where to look for oats groats ? Feel like trying with all the goodness of oats and barley.

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Thanks for dropping by my blog, Swaroopa. Went through some of your posts. They are packed with health! Will see if I can't try some of them.

Kajal said...

Aahhhh........this is really very interesting my dear and healthy dish with honey too...........Rocking dish with full of information.:)

Jaya M said...

Swaroopa,
thanks for coming to my place.
your post is very informative,must try it ..lovely dear.
PA ,where do you live ,we were in lancaster while staying in US.
It must be very cold now ?
hugs and smiles
jaya

Finla said...

Very healthy pancakes. But i am sure they were as delicious too

Swaroopa said...

pravs, u can get oat groats in a whole food store.

Jaya, yes i live very close to lancaster.

Unknown said...

hello swaroopa,

using whole grains is very healthy.i have just one doubt.the oats we buy,quaker rolled oats,is it whole,or hulled?

& one more thing oats has a quick cooking time what is the need to soak it.

next time i go to the shops i have to look for whole barley.normal barley looks a bit whitish .how will whole barley look,i mean the colour?

thanks a lot,

srividya

Unknown said...

nice recipe swaroopa

must try it

thanks

vidya

Swaroopa said...

Srividya, Quaker rolled oats are good, they have the bran on...better if u find oat groats or whole oats. Yes, the rolled oats have quick cooking time, but oata contain more phytates than almost any grain. Thus it is important to soak oats before preparation. to read more about phytic acid u can refer this post
:

http://nourishingindianfood.blogspot.com/2007/10/whole-grains-bulgur-not-cracked-wheat.html


hope this helps

Swaroopa said...

Also whole barley looks brown, the white kind is the debran one...not good for u.

Raks said...

Glad that you found in the library and remembered ur favourite pancake swaroopa...Thats really nourishing!!

Unknown said...

hi swaroopa,

the barley i bought looks the color of wheat and the product brand name is markal origin is france.it is organically grown product & i suppose it is available in u.s. also.

Swaroopa said...

srividya : yeah that wheat looking barley is hulless barley...thats very nice. I am not sure about the brand name. But that kind of organic hulless barley is available in us. hope you will try and let me know about it.

Rachel said...

healthy and nourishing indeed!

DEEPA said...

very healthy and yummy pancakes ....i wish i could eat whats placed in the plate ....great one

Mallika said...

What a great idea! I love this, thanks for posting it!

Shella said...

Health filled pancakes. Great recipe n good looking pics too

Rina said...

Love the pancakes- healthy version.

Unknown said...

hai swaroopa,

This is srividya here.I had been on a vacation to Chennai,so sthe delay in trying the recipe.I tried the pancakes,without using eggs,since we are vegetarians.It came out good.I suppose if i use eggs it will be even more better.

Thank you.

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