I have felt my best when eating exactly how my Palestinian Sitto eats – and she starts every day with a version of this – a hot cereal cooked with sage tea and dried or fresh figs. 

This buckwheat porridge is cooked with Maramiyeh (Sage) which is a medicinal herb known for supporting the nervous system and healthy digestion. It’s light, easy on the stomach, and excellent to prepare the body for the day. You can add more sweetness to this with honey if you like, but I really think it  -it’s one of those things that is meant to be a light and medicinal meal.

PREPARATION TIME: 5 minutes
COOKING TIME: 10 minutes
SERVES: 1 (this is a single serving, just multiply the recipe if making for yourself and others.) 

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup buckwheat groats 
• 3/4 cup strong brewed sage tea (plus a little extra, if you are finding that the groats absorbed too much liquid) 
• ~6 dried sun-dried figs, chopped 
• A pinch of salt 

Optional ingredients: 

• 1 tablespoon Flaxseed Meal (High in omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid, flaxseed supports heart and brain health.) 
• 1 tablespoon Hemp Hearts (Complete protein source containing all essential amino acids.) 
• ½ tablespoon Ghee (Anti-inflammatory properties, contains fat-soluble vitamins, suitable for lactose sensitivity) 
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon (antioxidant, anti inflammatory, antimicrobial, supports digestion) 

Note: These truly are optional. I like to have these in my pantry already, so it is easy for me to add them in. If you’d like to top with more nuts for crunch, go for it!

Instructions

1. Brew sage tea by steeping sage leaves in hot water for at least 5-10 minutes to create a strong infusion.
2. In a small saucepan add 3/4 cup sage tea and bring to a gentle simmer , then add buckwheat groats, a pinch of salt.
3. Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionall y, until buckwheat is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid. If the porridge becomes too thick, add a small amount of additional sage tea or water to achieve desired consistency . Immediately remove from heat.
4. If adding optional ingredients, stir in flaxseed meal, hemp hearts, ghee, and cinnamon.
5. Stir in the chopped Ziba sun-dried figs while the porridge is still hot. This allows the figs to warm and slightly soften.
6. Enjoy right away , while warm, as the porridge will steam out and the texture will change if left out without eating.