February 2, 2021 - 8:00am
Toasting and Cracking Buckwheat Groats
Would like to make Hamelman's Five-Grain Levain using toasted buckwheat groats as a substitute for the cracked rye.
How would one go about toasting them? Is it simply in a dry pan on a low heat until there's a nice aroma? And do you think buckwheat groats will crack well in a coffee grinder? And last but not least... Should I crack or toast them first?
Thank you.
EDIT: problem solved. Toasted up a treat and worked very well in the coffee grinder. I'm that order. All the add-ins have been toasted. Amazing aromas!
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Had a chance to use them in the 5-grain yet? I could see the groats giving off a great aroma when toasted.
Toasted lovely and the coffee grinder cracked them perfectly. Worked even better than rye grain in the coffee grinder. Taste test tomorrow.
Similar to toasting and grinding spices
Toast/roast first. Then grind in an electric blade type grinder, mortar and pestle or grain mill (e.g. KitchenAid stand mixer attachment).
I did that in the end and it worked perfectly. Was better than cracking rye grain in the coffee grinder which takes a few more pulses and some get turned to flour first before the rest is cracked. The toasted buckwheat just took a few very quick pulses and cracked evenly.
Hamelman's 5G is one of my favorite breads to eat and least favorite to make.I had no luck finding rye chops and I used to chop them on the counter with a knife which was a pain in the neck. Now I sprout whole rye and they are softened enough to chop them fairly easily. They are even more nutritious, taste a little sweeter and don't have to be included in the soaker. I weigh them after sprouting to account for the additional water. FWIW
And various other substitutes all with success. This was, however, my first time trying to use toasted cracked buckwheat. Worked very well. Thank you for the idea though. I've got some rye grain and will give that a try when I next make this lovely recipe. Admire your patience actually chopping whole rye grain. Think I'll stick to the coffee grinder though. Perhaps in smaller batches so each batch only needs a very quick pulse and avoids some being done more than others. But soaked , sprouted and drained perhaps chopping them by hand is doable.