Mesquite flour? Does it come from mesquite wood?
Um, no. Mesquite flour is ground from the mesquite pod that drops from the tree or bush. It’s high in fiber (5g in 2 tablespoons) with a unique, slightly sweet and spicy flavor that varies depending on where it’s harvested. Along with tasting great and offering a nutritional boost, mesquite flour enhances the crust of gluten free breads. Argentine mesquite flour from Casa de Fruta is my favorite. It’s warm and toffeeish tasting, so it’s perfect for this muffin recipe.
Mesquite date muffins
These breakfast muffins are kind of like a traditional sticky toffee pudding, only made as a gluten free, vegan muffin. Yes, it’s a stretch, but you just might need the exercise after the season’s eatings . . .
Mesquite Date Muffin Recipe
Blend dry ingredients in a small bowl and set aside:
2¼ cups gluten free flour*
1/3 cup sugar
1 TB baking powder
¾ tsp xanthan gum
In a microwave safe bowl, combine:
4 oz. dates, pitted
½ cup water
Cover and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Remove lid and add:
½ tsp baking soda
Use a potato masher to grind up the dates a bit. Let cool.
In a large bowl, combine:
1 very ripe banana, mashed
¾ cup hemp milk
1/3 cup canola oil
1 TB pure vanilla extract
1 tsp vinegar
Mix dry ingredients into large bowl. Fold in date mixture. Scoop batter into 12 lined muffin cups. Bake at 375 degrees for about 20-22 minutes. Yield: 12 muffins. Freeze extra muffins to enjoy on an as needed basis.
Baking soda makes cooked dates bubbly and delightful.
*A combination of flours gives the best result for gluten free baking. For this recipe, I used 1 cup brown rice flour, 1/3 cup almond meal, 1/3 cup mesquite flour, 1/3 cup tapioca flour, and ¼ cup potato starch.
Still here? Today’s Let’s Lunch on twitter features healthy recipes for those New Year’s resolutions. Take a look at the delicious posts rounded up by Cheryl Tan from A Tiger in the Kitchen.
Cheryl’s Watercress Soup at A Tiger in the Kitchen
Cathy‘s Avocado, Grapefruit & Shrimp Tartine at Showfood Chef
Emma‘s Quinoa with Grilled Veggies at Dreaming of Pots and Pans
Mai Hoang‘s Spicy Cauliflower at Cooking In The Fruit Bowl
Rashda‘s Curried Black-Eyed Peas at Hot Curries & Cold Beer
Steff‘s Frittata attempt at The Kitchen Trials
Ellise‘s Mandarin Orange and Arugula Salad at Cowgirl Chef
-Linda 
Free Range Cookies 
I’ve never baked with mesquite flour before and now you have me wanting to hunt this down in NYC. Gorgeous looking muffins…I with healthy looked this good all the time!
It’s got to look good, taste good, and be healthy enough to share with people I love.
Probably your best bet in NYC would be a health food store, but Whole Foods might carry mesquite flour.
Thanks for introducing me another new ingredient. Mesquite beans are plentiful in West Texas and now you’ve got me wondering how I could turn them into flour 🙂
Mesquite pods are plentiful all over the Southwest.
Here’s some great info on how to turn those precious pods into flour from a great organization http://www.desertharvesters.org/mesquite-in-the-kitchen/harvesting-processing/
I love mesquite flour and can’t wait to try this. Do you need my address to send a dozen? 😀 Nice Lets Lunch!
And lucky you in CA, I’m sure mesquite flour is relatively easy to find!
Yum!! My dad is gluten intolerant… I’ll have to try these out for him!
Oh, I didn’t know that. Here’s an excellent muffin recipe that’s a bit more traditional, just in case that’s the kind of thing he prefers. And this was my very first blog post! https://freerangecookies.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/gluten-free-blueberry-muffins/
I love reading your blog and learning new things like what exactly mesquite flour is. Now… I wonder what the park rangers near my parents house would say if I started collected mesquite pods? =)
You know Steff, if they realized how valuable mesquite is, they’d get busy and start harvesting those pods, too!
http://www.phoenixpermaculture.org/page/page/show?id=2008067%3APage%3A21298
Toffee pudding in a muffin? Get OUT. I’m headed to Texas in another week and hopefully I can find some of this flour….should be able to, right? WF?
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