Flaxseeds are a tiny superfood. These flaxseed recipes are high in protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids, all important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Plus they can even help with weight loss. The high fiber in flaxseeds keeps you fuller for longer and helps with constipation.
These delicious flaxseed recipes are a tasty way to add this superfood to your diet. Find out how to eat flaxseeds and get suggestions for adding flaxseeds to your diet throughout the day from flax seed recipes for breakfast to dinner ideas, snacks and flaxseed cookies.
Flaxseeds are extremely versatile. Ground flaxseed is used to make flax eggs, an egg substitute you can use for baking. I always love how well they work in my favorite flax seed muffins.
Health Benefits Of Flaxseeds
- Packed full of nutrients – they’re an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B1 and 6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.
- High in fiber – great for your digestive health and good for constipation.
- Known to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
- Can help with weight loss by keeping you fuller for longer and reducing hunger.
- Their essential fatty acids help to lower inflammation.
Add one to two tablespoons a day to your daily diet to get the full benefits. I normally add mine to my breakfast oatmeal or smoothies. Here are some more suggestions for eating flaxseeds:
15 Delicious & Simple Ways To Eat More Flaxseeds
- Add to your overnight oats instead of chai seeds.
- Stir into smoothies.
- Sprinkle over your favorite pasta dish.
- Add to cake recipes.
- Make flaxseed cookies.
- Use as a topping mixed with yogurt for fruit salad.
- Add to homemade trail mix.
- Combine flaxseed oil with balsamic vinegar to make a salad dressing. Add chili flakes and seasoning to taste.
- Mix with nut butter and spread on toast.
- Add to waffle batter.
- Use in vegan meatballs or burgers.
- Make flax eggs and use for egg-free baking.
- Use ground flaxseed instead of breadcrumbs.
- Add to chilis and stews.
- Use to garnish soups.
Whole Or Ground Flaxseed – What’s The Difference?
The main difference between using whole or ground flaxseed is that whole flaxseeds are difficult to digest fully and you may not benefit from the nutrients. Ground flaxseed is milled to make a coarse flour and the nutrients are more easily absorbed by your body. Where possible I will always use ground flaxseed in recipes.
How To Grind Flaxseeds
Grinding flaxseeds is easy. You can grind whole flaxseeds in a food processor, a blender, or even in a coffee grinder if you’re making small quantities.
I usually give flaxseeds a 30-second blast in a food processor then check for any escaped seeds and give the meal a mix before repeating. You’re aiming for a coarse consistency. If you’re using a coffee grinder it will only take a few seconds – just make sure the grinder is clean before you use it or you’ll end up with coffee-tasting seeds!
Once you’ve ground your flaxseeds, store them in an airtight container. Some people store them in the fridge but I prefer to keep mine in a cool dark cupboard.
8 Delicious Flaxseed Recipes
These tasty recipes are egg-free and vegan and all include ground flaxseed. They’re perfect if you’re looking for inspiration to use this superfood ingredient.
1. Banana Flaxseed Pudding by Love Life Be Fit
This is one of my go-to recipes for breakfast. It’s an easy way to add the healthy fats of flax seeds to your diet. I find flaxseed makes a better dish than the more popular chia pudding and it has a lovely nutty flavor.
The basic ingredients are just ground flaxseeds and your favorite plant-based milk. Sometimes I add a handful of rolled oats for some extra texture.
You can play around with quantities – this is one dish where it’s very hard to go wrong. I normally opt for one cup of ground flax seeds to two cups of plant milk. Mix the ingredients in a bowl, cover, and leave in the fridge overnight.
In the morning add some sliced banana, maybe a few chopped almonds, and even chocolate chips if you’re feeling decadent! If you want some extra sweetness, add mashed banana or chopped-up dates to your overnight mix.
2. Banana Oatmeal Muffins by Ambitious Kitchen
These oh-so-fluffy muffins come with the secret ingredient of ground flaxseed. The meal is used as a flax egg. It’s a perfect alternative to regular eggs for vegan baking or egg allergy sufferers and helps bind the ingredients together.
You could use chia egg instead but I always think flaxseeds have the edge when it comes to health properties. Normally for a flax egg recipe, I whisk one tablespoon of ground flax seeds with three tablespoons of water until it’s thick and foamy, but this recipe by Ambitious Kitchen just adds the flax seed meal directly to the muffin mix. It still seems to work – the result is yummy!
These muffins make a terrific grab-and-go breakfast and go down a treat for a healthy breakfast on the go.
3. 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cup Energy Bites by Minimalist Baker
When I found this great recipe I questioned all the times I’ve wasted money on energy bars for hiking and ultra races. These energy bites are so easy to make and combine all my favorite ingredients: dates, peanut butter, dark chocolate, rolled oats, and of course flax seeds.
You just blend everything together in a food processor, roll the mixture into balls, and pop them in the fridge or freezer for 15 minutes.
If you’re looking for an on-the-go snack that’s vegan, gluten-free, and full of healthy fats, these are the ones to try.
4. Smoky Black Bean Burgers by Simple Veganista
This is another great way of adding ground flax seed to your diet. Even junk food addicts will love these smoky burgers.
The mix of black beans, cooked quinoa, and flaxseed meal is spiced up with garlic powder and smoked paprika with a hint of oregano and cumin. For best results cook on the grill. Delicious!
5. Whole Grain Flax Waffles by Love & Lemons
If you’ve recently turned vegan I expect you’re missing a few dishes such as waffles – typically made with real eggs and butter.
This clever plant-based version conjures up free-from waffles using coconut oil, spelt flour, millet flour, and flaxseeds. Light and crispy on the outside – finish with your favorite toppings. Mine’s blueberries and maple syrup!
6. Alanna’s Pumpkin, Cranberry, Nut & Seed Loaf by Love & Lemons
This recipe is a bit like taking all the healthy ingredients you can think of and baking them together.
The dry ingredients include walnuts, dried cranberries, pepitas, oats, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and psyllium husks. I’d never heard of pepitas or psyllium husks. It turns out pepitas are raw pumpkin seeds. Psyllium husks come from a very fibrous shrub-like herb. Unless you’re a stickler for following a recipe down to the last detail, follow my tip and swap out the psyllium for extra flaxseeds.
The result is a hearty dense loaf bursting with goodness but it’s very filling and a little bit goes a long way!
7. Mini Flaxseed Tarts by Green Evi
Looking for different ways to use flaxseeds I came across this delightful recipe by Green Evi. The tarts are so pretty and have this unique flaxseed crust. It’s just made from two ingredients – ground flaxseeds and water. That’s it!
I thought they’d be difficult to make but if you add the water gradually and just keep mixing, the dough comes together quite easily.
These tarts are topped with vegan tofu cheese and caramelized onions but you can experiment and add your own fillings.
8. Superseed Cinnamon Raisin Granola by Making Thyme For Health
This is a tasty recipe for busy mornings or if you need a pick-me-up after an exercise session.
It’s loaded with healthy ingredients, including ground flaxseed, and the prep time is just 5 minutes. It could become my new favorite breakfast recipe!
Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed this roundup of some of my favorite flaxseed recipes. Be sure to add ground flaxseeds to your diet – it’s a powerful plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and protein.