Festive Flax Cornbread

Flaxseed or linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) comes from the flax plant which is an annual herb which can be used as both food and herbal medicine and can be traced to the ancient Egyptian times. It is high in fibre and contains a material called mucilage, both which expand when they come in contact with water. This helps add bulk to stool and move it along more quickly through the intestines.

Flaxseed oil is rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid which may be helpful for heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), arthritis and other health problems.  Lignan flaxseed oil contains ALA, fibre and lignans found in flaxseed and may provide the following benefits under specific conditions. Flaxseed oil has been shown to lower cholesterol and the EU Commission approved Health and Nutrition Claims have stated that ‘An intake of 2g or more of ALA contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels’.

Below is one of our favourite recipes, the perfect healthy side dish to any Christmas dinner:

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsps. Barlean’s Forti-Flax
• 1 cup coconut flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 2 Tbsps. palm sugar
• 1 Tbsp. raw honey
• 4 Tbsps. Baking powder
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 cup coconut milk
• _1/3 cup water
• ¼ cup plus 1 Tbsp. Nutiva Coconut oil melted

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 220 degrees
• Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan
• Add Barlean’s Forti-Flax
• Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 3 minutes, or until thickened. Stir occasionally. Set aside
• In a separate bowl, mix together coconut flour, cornmeal, palm sugar, baking powder and sea salt until well mixed
• Add in flax mixture, coconut milk and ¼ cup Nutiva coconut oil
• Beat until smooth
• Use 1 Tbsp. melted Nutiva coconut oil to grease an 8” square baking dish
• Pour mixture into a greased baking pan and bake for 20-25minutes
• Cool on a wire rack on each side for 10minutes
• Cut into squares and serve

 Festive greetings and enjoy from all of the team here at Kijani.