Chickpea Flour A Nutritious Option To Wheat

2023 - Volume #47, Issue #4, Page #21

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If you are looking for gluten-free, diabetic-friendly, or nutrition-packed food, Kacie Sikveland recommends you check out her chickpea flour and mixes.
“I grew up in a gluten-free household, and I was surprised how easy it was to use and how good it was,” she says after tasting chocolate chip cookies made with chickpea flour. That was 2019, and she spent the next couple of years experimenting with mills and recipes to make flours and mixes with the chickpeas grown on her family’s Montana farm through her business 41 Grains. The name refers to Montana being the 41st state and the number of the county where the farm is located.
With a brother who was gluten-intolerant, she remembers adapting recipes to change amounts and adding binding ingredients for many non-wheat options. No changes are needed with chickpea flour.
After harvest, chickpeas are cleaned, then ground in a steel mill and sifted twice to remove hull pieces. The coarser grain from the second sifting is used in cornmeal-type mixes. The flour has a shelf life similar to whole wheat.
“We sift it fine, similar to the texture of all-purpose flour; it has a yellow tinge and sweet smell,” Sikveland says. Batter made with it tends to be thicker, and it takes a little longer to bake. The raw batter has a bean flavor, which disappears with baking.
“Chickpeas enhance the flavors of whatever you are making,” she says, noting it works especially well with chocolate. Her brownie mix is very popular.
Bread tends to be dense but can be lightened up with beer and other leavening ingredients, she adds.
In addition to being gluten-free, chickpea flour has a low glycemic index, is high in protein, and is full of trace minerals, so it’s a great option for anyone desiring nutritious food. Sikveland is also experimenting with flour from yellow peas.
Sikveland’s 41 Grains mixes are available online, at her Circle, Mont., boutique, and at stores in the region. She ships retail and wholesale.
“For those with severe gluten problems, we can guarantee our flour and mixes never touch anything with gluten,” she says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, 41 Grains, 301 Main St., Circle, Mont. 59215 (ph 406-485-5341; sscornerstone19@gmail.com; www.41grains.com).

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Chickpea Flour A Nutritious Option To Wheat FARM HOME Food If you are looking for gluten-free diabetic-friendly or nutrition-packed food Kacie Sikveland recommends you check out her chickpea flour and mixes “I grew up in a gluten-free household and I was surprised how easy it was to use and how good it was ” she says after tasting chocolate chip cookies made with chickpea flour That was 2019 and she spent the next couple of years experimenting with mills and recipes to make flours and mixes with the chickpeas grown on her family’s Montana farm through her business 41 Grains The name refers to Montana being the 41st state and the number of the county where the farm is located With a brother who was gluten-intolerant she remembers adapting recipes to change amounts and adding binding ingredients for many non-wheat options No changes are needed with chickpea flour After harvest chickpeas are cleaned then ground in a steel mill and sifted twice to remove hull pieces The coarser grain from the second sifting is used in cornmeal-type mixes The flour has a shelf life similar to whole wheat “We sift it fine similar to the texture of all-purpose flour; it has a yellow tinge and sweet smell ” Sikveland says Batter made with it tends to be thicker and it takes a little longer to bake The raw batter has a bean flavor which disappears with baking “Chickpeas enhance the flavors of whatever you are making ” she says noting it works especially well with chocolate Her brownie mix is very popular Bread tends to be dense but can be lightened up with beer and other leavening ingredients she adds In addition to being gluten-free chickpea flour has a low glycemic index is high in protein and is full of trace minerals so it’s a great option for anyone desiring nutritious food Sikveland is also experimenting with flour from yellow peas Sikveland’s 41 Grains mixes are available online at her Circle Mont boutique and at stores in the region She ships retail and wholesale “For those with severe gluten problems we can guarantee our flour and mixes never touch anything with gluten ” she says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup 41 Grains 301 Main St Circle Mont 59215 ph 406-485-5341; sscornerstone19@gmail com; www 41grains com

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