How to Cook Flax Seeds

Flax seeds have a buttery, nutty flavor and provide multiple health benefits. They are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, alpha-linoleum acid and soluble and insoluble fiber, which may reduce cholesterol. You can easily reap the benefits of cooked flax seeds by making homemade bran muffins. Flax seeds can be purchased from your local health food retailer. It's best to grind them yourself for maximum benefit.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flax seeds
• Coffee grinder, blender or food processor
• 1 ½ cups unbleached flour
• ¾ cup whole wheat flour
• 1 ¼ cups brown sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 ½ tsp. baking soda
• 3 cups Raisin Bran
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 cups low-fat buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 2 large egg whites
• Muffin tins
• Paper muffin cups

1. Grind the whole flax seeds to a powder in a coffee grinder, blender or food processor. Reserve 1/3 cup of the ground seed powder for making the muffins. Store the rest in an opaque, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 30 days.

2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Grease the muffin tins with olive oil, or use paper muffin cups as liners.

3. Combine 1/3 cup of ground flax seeds with the unbleached flour, whole wheat flour, salt and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Blend the ingredients well. Stir in the brown sugar and mix thoroughly. Fold in the Raisin Bran cereal.

4. Whisk the egg and egg whites with the buttermilk in a medium mixing bowl. Add the syrup and the olive oil and blend them well. Pour the mixture into the dry ingredients and stir or beat to blend thoroughly.

5. Pour about ¼ cup of flax seed batter into each muffin cup. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove the muffins from the tin and cool them on wire racks.

Tips & Warnings

• This recipe yields about two dozen muffins. You can prepare the flax seed muffin batter ahead of time and store it for up to a week in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Whole flax seeds can be stored in an opaque, airtight container for up to a year at room temperature. As the flax seeds age, taste them from time to time. If they're not a pleasant, nutty flavor, discard them.

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