Sweet or Savory Buckwheat Feel Good Waffles

There's nothing like fresh waffles on a Saturday morning to enhance one's gratitude for the weekend.

This particular waffle recipe has been well tested in a variety of settings and I can confidently say it is a community favorite ~loved by my family and friends alike. It also fits perfectly in the current culture that highly values food customization. It may have started with Chipotle - but now lots of other cuisines are joining the bandwagon and offering that perfect bite, just the way you like it. With this recipe, everyone's happy at breakfast time, whether they prefer their breakfast eggy, cheesy, filled with veggies or covered in chocolate.

Today I'll share with you this delicious recipe, and give you my tips on the perfect toppings to accommodate any palate.

Introducing, the Super Seed Buckwheat Waffles from Downshiftology.

Ingredients: buckwheat flour, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed, coconut sugar, baking soda, salt, coconut oil, and coconut water.

Not your typical waffle ingredients! One reason I love this recipe is for its incorporation of high protein and healthy fat ingredients like the sunflower and pumpkin seeds. The coconut water also adds a natural sweetness, so very little coconut sugar is needed. And the star, buckwheat flour, is high in protein, healthy carbohydrates, and despite having "wheat" in the name, is actually gluten free!

Buckwheat flour has its own unique flavor when used in baked goods, which can take some getting used to for some. That nuttiness actually lends itself very well to these waffles. It has enough substance to hold up to and support all the savory toppings, and that nuttiness works really well when slathered with a nut butter and helps cut the sweetness from syrups or other sugary toppings.

This recipe is relatively simple to make, and can even be prepped the day in advance. First you have to pulse your seeds in a food processor and add to the other dry ingredients. Then you add in your coconut oil and coconut water, and you're good to go!

Savory Topping Ideas

• Savory Style: Runny Fried Egg + Avocado + Everything Bagel Seasoning + Sautéed Kale + Green Onion + Cheese (optional - or it's great with nutritional yeast)
• Fiesta Style: Black Beans + Avocado + Cheddar + Fried Egg + Sautéed Onion and Bell Pepper + Salsa/Hot sauce
• Asian Style: Sautéed Veggies (with soy sauce/rice vinegar/sesame oil) + Fried Egg + Sriracha
• Vegan Style: Avocado + Cherry Tomatoes + Nutritional Yeast + Sautéed Veggies 

Savory style - with a fried egg, avocado, sautéed kale, green onion and TJ's Everything Bagel Seasoning! 

Sweet Topping Ideas:

• Almond Butter and Berries (or preserves)
• Peanut Butter and Banana
• Peaches and Whipped Cream
• Chocolate Chips or Cocoa Nibs
• Chopped Nuts
• Plain or Vanilla Yogurt (regular or dairy free)
• Pumpkin butter, vanilla yogurt, cinnamon and walnuts in the Fall! (Just a guess, but sounds good, right?)

Why pick one? Sweet and savory!
(this sweet one has yogurt, blueberries and almond butter)

Bonus Tips:

• With this color batter, it can be hard to tell by sight when the waffle is done - so just give it a quick tap and take it out when it is nice and crispy.
• If you make this and do find the flavor too strong for your taste, consider buying a "light" buckwheat flour. That's actually what the author uses in the recipe - but I quite like it with the dark flour.
• I tried this recipe both with a regular waffle maker and Belgian style. I definitely recommend the regular version for the best textural experience.