In case you are new to using flaxseed in vegan baking, this is all you need to know, and a bit more besides.
- Flaxseed is also called linseed.
- Ground, or milled, flaxseed is sometimes called flax meal.
- Flaxseed is inexpensive and you can find it in most supermarkets in the UK, as well as wholefood shops.
- It is often used as a replacement for eggs in baking. It does have a binding function like eggs but doesn’t make a mixture rise, or add structure in the way that eggs can do.
- To make a ‘flax egg’ you mix a level tablespoon of ground flaxseed into 2 to 3 tablespoons of water. A recipe will generally specify how much water is needed. You then need to set it aside for several minutes before using.
- Using too much flaxseed can sometimes result in a gluey sort of texture (ie, it can do too much of a binding job).
- It comes in ordinary (brown) and golden varieties. Both have a mildly nutty taste that you don’t really notice in the finished cake. Golden is preferable in lighter coloured cakes (brown flaxseed will show up as brown dots or flecks).
- Unless you are baking something like a bread that includes whole seeds, you will need to use ground flaxseed. You can buy it ground or grind your own using a spice or coffee grinder. A pestle and mortar would also do the job.
- Flax that you buy pre-ground is not always ground finely enough and still contains larger pieces of flaxseed (see picture above). To ensure that it mixes easily with the water to form a glutinous substance, it is much better to grind your own seeds from whole or grind the bought flax meal a bit further so that it is fine and doesn’t contain visible bits of husk.
- Once flaxseed is ground it is very perishable so it is best stored in an airtight container in the fridge or even freezer. This is another reason to grind your own seeds when needed.
- Nutritionally, flaxseeds have established a reputation as a superfood, which is backed up by peer-reviewed scientific studies. They are high in omega-3 fatty acids, lignans and fibre. There is evidence that they can improve blood pressure and cholesterol, reduce inflammation and treat various conditions.
