Ezekiel Bread, or Biblical Bread, as some people call it is made from sprouted grains. What that really means is that the grains or seeds are used during the cycle of life between the time the grains or seeds starts to sprout and when they become plants.
Ezekiel lived on this bread in biblical times, and now people who suffer from Celiac disease or learn they are gluten intolerant have found that this type of bread is good for them too.
Nutritional Value of Ezekiel Bread
During the early life cycle of the sprout, the starch that would typically be found in grain is actively supporting its life and growth. During this phase, levels of other nutrients such as protein, vitamins, and minerals are slightly elevated and easier to be digested.
Just one slice of a brand called “Food for Life Ezekiel 4:9” includes following nutrients:
- Calories (80)
- Fat (0.5g)
- Sodium (75mg)
- Potassium (80mg)
- Carbohydrates (15g – including 3g of fiber)
- Protein (4g)
It even includes small amounts of Thiamine, Phosphorus, Riboflavin, Magnesium, Niacin, Zinc, Iron, and Vitamin B6.
Pay attention: This food is especially suitable for vegetarians and vegans who normally may not get appropriate levels of certain minerals such as zinc and iron in their diets. However, research is still inconclusive about the health effects of long-term consumption of this type of bread.
Long-Term Benefits of This Food
This food made from sprouted grains (not entirely gluten-free) is easier to digest for those who suffer from Celiac disease or gluten intolerance than any regular bread. It comes with several benefits:
- Those who are gluten intolerant will have better energy, and they will not feel so tired and ill.
- People who are eating this type of bread report less bloating and discomfort from gas.
- Better iron and zinc intake for vegetarians.
Pay attention: Research is still working on this question for the general population, but for those who suffer from Celiac disease, in particular, the benefit is the ability to get the dietary fiber the body needs without the pain and discomfort the grains cause due to their inability to break down the glutens.
Should You Eat It?
The best way to learn if you are actually gluten-intolerant is to cut out any gluten-dense grains, seeds, beans, and legumes. If you find that after few weeks you are feeling better and have more energy, there is a good chance you are indeed gluten intolerant.
As far as learning if you have Celiac Disease, don’t diagnose yourself! Talk to your doctor about your concerns and get tested for the condition.
Pay attention: Not only will you learn definitively if you have the disease, but your doctor can identify a diet that will help you live a full and happy gluten-free life.
Tasty Recipes to Make Your Own
Recipe #1: No-Knead Ezekiel Bread
Ingredients you will need:
- 3.5 Cups Ezekiel Flour
- 3 Tbs. Agave Nectar
- 1 Tsp. Sea salt (table salt will work fine)
- ¼ Tsp active dry yeast
- 1 ½ Cups warm water (about 110 degrees Fahrenheit)
Directions you need to follow:
- Mix all dry ingredients together.
- Combine water and agave nectar.
- Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients; mix until incorporated, making a sticky and wet dough.
- Cover with plastic wrap for 12 to 18 hours.
- After the dough rises, prepare a surface with your flour and place dough on it.
- Fold over bread twice; long ways then short ways.
- Prepare your pan lightly with oil and place the dough in it so it fits end to end.
- Cover with a towel and let rise for one hour.
- Place in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Enjoy!
Recipe #2: Ezekiel Bread from Machine
Ingredients you will need:
- 1 Cup warm water (about 110 degrees Fahrenheit)
- ¼ Cup red kidney beans
- ¼ Cup lentil beans
- 2 Tbs. olive oil
- 2 Tbs. honey
- ¾ Tsp. kosher salt
- 2 Cups bread flour
- ½ Cup barley flour
- ½ Cup spelt flour
- 2-3 Tbs. vital gluten
- 1 Pkg. yeast for bread machines
Directions you need to follow:
- Put all ingredients in the machine in the listed order.
- Use the 2-pound setting on your machine.
- Enjoy!
The Best Place to Buy Yours Easily
The best place you can buy a loaf is at a health food store, whole foods store, and local market. These same stores will also offer the types of grains and flours needed to bake a loaf at home.
As awareness of Celiac disease and gluten-intolerance grows, the larger markets and less- specialized stores are beginning to set aside space for this food in their bread and the baking supplies aisles.
Keep in mind: If it is hard for you to find it in brick and mortar stores, you can order it online via Amazon. The companies that provide sprouted grains for home bakers offer tasty recipes on their sites as well (including no-knead bread and bread machines).
Don’t let the presence of Vital Gluten concern you. Remember, Ezekiel Bread is not entirely Gluten-free, but it is easier to digest for those who need it than the bread made from whole grains and seeds.
