Fenugreek Pancake Recipe
This Fenugreek Pancake Recipe is easy to make, but you have to be sure to get the batter ready the day before. Also called Menthe Dosa in Indian cooking, fenugreek imparts a maple flavor and the pancakes taste great with ghee and honey smeared on top! Fenugreek may be good for your heart and can help reduce blood sugar levels.
Fenugreek Pancake Ingredients
- 3 cups of rice
- 1/4 cup of fenugreek seeds
- 1/2 tsp of salt
- About 2 cups of water
- Optional: 1/4 cup chopped fenugreek leaves, 1/4 cup chopped green chillies, and/or 1/2 tsp grated ginger
- About 4 tsp of ghee
- More ghee and honey as garnish
Fenugreek Pancake Instructions
- Soak the rice, salt, and fenugreek seeds in water about 6 hours.
- Grind and mix these three ingredients in a bowl mixer to make a pancake like batter.
- Set on a counter overnight to allow fermentation. This reduces the bitter flavor of the fenugreek seeds.
- When the batter is ready, heat a griddle.
- Put some ghee on the griddle and then spread the batter to six inch round pancakes.
- Allow to cook 1-2 minutes. Remove with spatula. No need to flip.
- Serve with ghee and honey.
Some Research on Fenugreek
Latin Name: Trigonella foenum-graecum
Family: Fabaceae
Fenugreek is a clover like plant whose seeds have shown in multiple human studies to reduce blood sugar levels in those with type 2 diabetes. With a maple like flavor, fenugreek has also been used for digestive complaints, high blood lipid levels, sexual organ health, and to reduce coughing.
RESEARCH
GENERAL
- Bahmani, M., Shirzad, H., Mirhosseini, M., Mesripour, A., & Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2016). A review on ethnobotanical and therapeutic uses of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graceum L). Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine, 21(1), 53-62.
- Agrawal, R. S. (2017). STUDIES ON PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND NUTRITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FENUGREEK (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) SEED AND ITS EXPLORATION IN FOOD PRODUCTS (Doctoral dissertation, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani).
- Natural Medicines (2017). Fenugreek Monograph. Retrieved in May, 2018. Retrieved from: www.naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com
DIGESTIVE AID
- Slippery elm, fenugreek, devil’s claw, tormentil and wei tong ning demonstrated antioxidant effects in cell-free oxidant-generating systems and inflamed human colorectal biopsies and could be useful in treating irritable bowel syndrome. From: Langmead, L., Dawson, C., Hawkins, C., Banna, N., Loo, S., & Rampton, D. S. (2002). Antioxidant effects of herbal therapies used by patients with inflammatory bowel disease: an in vitro study. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 16(2), 197-205.
ANTIDIABETIC
- In a study of 50 patients ages 40 – 60 with type 2 diabetes, blood sugar and blood lipid levels were reduced with a fenugreek supplement. From: Kumar, K., Kumar, S., Datta, A., & Bandyopadhyay, A. (2015). Effect of fenugreek seeds on glycemia and dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Int J Med Sci Public Health, 4(7), 997-1000.
- A supplement of fenugreek seeds and furostanolic saponins taken over 90 days in this double blind study, safely reduced blood sugar levels in 152 patients with type 2 diabetes. From: Verma, N., Usman, K., Patel, N., Jain, A., Dhakre, S., Swaroop, A., … & Bagchi, D. (2016). A multicenter clinical study to determine the efficacy of a novel fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum) extract (Fenfuro™) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Food & nutrition research, 60(1), 32382.
- In a study of 48 pateints with type 2 diabetes, 15g of fenugreek seed taken daily for 8 weeks reduced biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. From: Tavakoly, R., Maracy, M. R., Karimifar, M., & Entezari, M. H. (2018). Does fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed improve inflammation, and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus? A parallel group randomized clinical trial. European Journal of Integrative Medicine.
CHOLESTEROL
- In a double blind, randomized, placebo controled trial of 61 hyperlipidemic patients, a fenugreek seed supplement taken over 12 weeks significantly reduced blood cholesterol and sugar levels. From: Fedacko, J., Singh, R. B., Niaz, M. A., Ghosh, S., Fedackova, P., Tripathi, A. D., … & Shastun, S. (2016). Fenugreeg Seeds Decrease Blood Cholesterol and Blood Glucose as Adjunct to Diet Therapy in Patients with Hypercholesterolemia. World Heart Journal, 8(3), 239.
MALE HEALTH
- In a study of 80 male patients, taking a fenugreek supplement significantly increased sperm counts and pregnancy rate. From: Al-khalisy, M. H. (2015). Treatment of Men Infertility using Low doses of Fenugreek Oil Extract. Group, 29.
IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
- Physical performance improved without side effects in 60 male subjects who took a fenugreek supplement over 8 weeks. From: Wankhede, S., Mohan, V., & Thakurdesai, P. (2016). Beneficial effects of fenugreek glycoside supplementation in male subjects during resistance training: A randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 5(2), 176-182.
By: Kathy Sadowski, MS in Aromatherapy, RA, LMT, RYT
4/11/18
This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use. These statements are not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. The information at this page has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Consult a Doctor before using herbs and essential oils if you have medical conditions, are taking medications, or have questions.
