Gluten Free Buckwheat Banana Doughnuts

In recognition of May as Celiac Disease Awareness Month, I'm sharing with you gluten free version of, one of my favorite breakfast, doughnuts with honey-lemon sauce.

Celiac Awareness Month is an event held throughout the United States each May and is supported by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (and other relevant organizations). Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disease which damages the small intestine. In many cases, where there are no noticeable symptoms, a person has 'silent coeliac disease'. 

People with celiac disease are sensitive to gluten which triggers these symptoms. Gluten is a protein found in grains such as barley, wheat and rye. Consumption of gluten can affect the whole body. 

Celiac Awareness Month also raises awareness about sensitivity to gluten. Treatment for celiac disease and gluten intolerance is straight forward; those affected are advised to avoid foods which contains gluten. This awareness event helps educate and inform the public about gluten free foods. However, it is not always easy to determine if a food item is gluten free; this event also encourages appropriate labeling on food items.

Even though I'm not sensitive to gluten, but I'm living with an allergy condition. Since I have discovered my body's reaction to Raw Egg Whites or Intense Raw Proteins, I have understood the meaning of living an allergy-sensitive life. It is very important that allergies/sensitivities are detected and tested at an early stage or these can lead to intense health complications. Whenever I had Mayo or raw egg/protein..... my body would react immediately... but I could never co-relate the two clearly. Back in India, we don't eat raw egg based products or raw proteins in any form. So my sensitivity remained dormant. Here. however, there are so many preparations that have raw protein that in a year I started noticing a pattern. 

It took me a LOT of time to finally figure out all products which make me literally suffocate. Earlier, I  used to think, I'm having Asthma symptoms or I'm overeating which makes my body suffocate :( But, by maintaining a journal, and also by learning about products I buy or eat, asking for ingredients, reading labels, I finally have good idea about my sensitivity. Seriously, I have suffered a lot of complications due lack of awareness and proper testing guidance.

For example, most salads served in restaurants here, unless menu/label reads VEGAN, have egg-yolks or egg-white based dressing.  Earlier, I used to just order salad for dinner and then feel uncomfortable for hours! When I learned more about dressing ingredients, I became very conscious of what I order! For my love of salads, I started making all salads at home, mainly to avoid these ingredients. In-fact, if I see an egg-based-dressing salad and like it, I often make egg-free or vegan version of that salad at home. My instincts for cooking at home and blogging has helped me a lot towards managing my sensitivity.

Now, a few words about these humble, Buckwheat Doughnuts. Buckwheat has always been an ingredient of my choice for gluten free cooking. There is a period of 1 week, twice every year, in India when we eat everything gluten free while observing religious fasts. During this time, Buckwheat and Banana Doughnuts are one of my favorite snack or weekend breakfast with cup of hot Indian Chai Tea. 

Addition of ripe banana gives these doughnut taste of a "banana bread" and raisins provides the element of sweet surprise. The reason I kept these Buckwheat doughnuts lite sweet is for - Honey Lemon Sauce. I can't imagine eating these doughnuts without it! Love the tang of lemon cutting the richness of banana and fried dough. With mild sweetness of honey, buckwheat doughnuts taste like nector-soaked sweet nuggets!

I'm sure you will love these gluten free, egg free, butter free, and lite sweet treats as much I do!