Flaxseed is one of the best sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, a high-fiber low-GI wonder that’s great for health. The benefits of flaxseed become a lot more accessible when consumed as flaxseed powder.
When you eat whole flaxseed, not all of its nutrients get absorbed – much passes through the digestive tract undigested. On roasting and grinding, flaxseed releases its nutrients making it easier for the body to absorb them. Plus, roasting enhances the flavor of flaxseed and grinding increases the ways in which flaxseed can get included in food.
Here’s how to make flaxseed powder.
You Need:
[for 3/4 cup flaxseed powder]
- Flaxseed – 1/2 cup
- Equipment – a (preferably cast iron) flat skillet or tava, spice grinder
How To Make Flaxseed Powder:
Heat a flat skillet or tava on how heat. Make sure there’s no moisture on it, then place the flaxseed on the tava. Roast the flaxseed on low heat, stirring gently every few seconds.
Keep a lid handy to cover the tava in between, as flaxseed tends to pop and fly around when hot.
After about 3 minutes, the whole batch of flaxseed will be doing a merry group popping and there will be a warm roasted aroma in the air. That’s the time to take the skillet off the heat. Keep covered till the popping has subsided, then uncover and let cool to room temperature.
Transfer roasted flaxseed to a spice grinder.
Pulse for a few seconds to grind to powder. When you open the lid after grinding roasted flaxseed, the aroma is so beautiful that the effort of doing it yourself feels totally worth it!
There’s another solid reason for grinding flaxseed to powder yourself rather than buying it from the store. While whole flaxseed stays good for months, ground flaxseed spoils quickly. It makes more sense to buy whole flaxseed from the store, then roast and grind in small batches whenever you need it.
Store flaxseed powder in a dry airtight container. Consume within 3-4 days. Refrigerate flaxseed powder to help it stay good longer.
Ground Flaxseed Recipes:
Ground flaxseed blends in beautifully with recipes that call for flour or other nut/dal/seed powders.
A few simple ideas to include it in Indian meals.
1. Make peanut flaxseed chutney.
2. Mix flaxseed powder into hot boiled rice along with ghee and salt.
3. Add ot to flour for chapati or paratha: 1 teaspoon per cup of atta.
4. Include flaxseed powder in stuffed eggplant masala or stuffed okra masala.
5. Add it to sattu in sattu paratha.
6. Add a teaspoon of ground flaxseed along with peanut powder in sabudana khichdi.
Superb idea to use flax powder…thanks
@Reema: Glad to help!
Hello,
Thank you for the recipe! How do I consume this flax powder? Do I mix it with water and drink?
Thanks for your help
Hi Pri,
Glad to help :) See the last section in this article for ideas on how to consume it: Ground Flaxseed Recipes.
I wouldn’t enjoy drinking flax powder with water, would rather combine it with other ingredients as suggested in the post.
Hey,
Thank you for the help.
Can I mix flaxseed powder in a glass of milk?
Hi Aradhana, Yes you can.
can i keep the flax grinded powder in refrigerator for a month ?
Yes. If you keep it in an airtight container and use a dry clean spoon to take the powder out, it’ll stay good.
Can i mix flaxseed with coconut water.
Hi Patrick – Yes you can.
roasted flax seed
Roasted ground flaxseed mixed with honey in what proportion? (80% / 20%)
How long does it last in a glass container closed with a screw cap?
Thank you for your answer / opinion
Hi Lubomir, I have not tried this, so cannot say. Will wait for others to respond if they know.
Hi. Do I need to soak the seeds first? Thank you.
Hi Daisy, No soaking needed.
Thanks for the article,nicely explained, i want to know if you can share your experience regarding soaked flax seeds in kitchen use or health use and how its to be done ie how man7y hours of soaking etc.
Hi Harpal, I have not tried this. Let’s see if another reader can stop by and share their experience with soaked flaxseeds.
I would like to know how much of flex seed powder can be consumed in a day. Does it contain protein? Does it help for hair growth and reduces hair fall?
Hi Padmini
For a healthy adult, a tablespoon of flaxseed powder in a day is considered fine. If you aren’t used to flaxseed powder, it’s best to be cautious – start with 1/4 teaspoon and increase the quantity of intake over a week. This is because flaxseed is high in fibre and it may take a while to get your system accustomed to it.
Flaxseed powder does contain protein, though if the goal is increasing protein intake, there are stronger vegetarian sources such as soy and paneer.
Flaxseed contains nutrients that support overall hair health, but may not be effective if the underlying cause is of hair issues is unrelated to its benefits (such as stress, illness or iron deficiency). Best to get the underlying cause diagnosed medically and then treating it accordingly.
All the best!