All About Lupin Flour
What is Lupin Flour Made of?
Lupin flour is made from the lupin bean, which is grown mostly in South America, Africa, and the Mediterranean. Lupin beans are very popular in the area as a good source of nutrition while offering a mild and not over the top taste.
One unusual part to note here: the lupin comes in two forms: sweet and bitter. The sweet beans are safer for flour-making and general eating as the bitter beans contain rather high doses of unfriendly alkaloids.
What Does Lupin Flour Taste Like?
It actually tastes a little more bitter than normal flour. It’s often recommended to add some level of seasoning to the flour with whichever recipe you are making for the purpose of making it taste a little better. Otherwise, it looks and works a lot like wheat flour.
Can Lupin Flour Replace All Purpose Flour?
It certainly could. Like above, most recipes will recommend adding some level of sweetener or seasoning to offset what amounts to a different flavor. Lupin otherwise works in much the same way as regular all purpose flour for all recipes.
What Can I Use It For?
The answer is honestly basically anything you normally add flour to. While lupin doesn’t add much unique to your breads, cakes, pancakes, or really anything else – it does work in a very similar way than typical flour. There are other types of flour that offer additional advantages, but outside of nutrition and availability, there isn’t a lot different about lupin flour in terms of use.
This is more to say that this flour makes a great no frills substitute for regular wheat flour – without adding much dynamic to the recipe besides the potential need to add a slightly sweetener.
Lupin Nutrition
So we are on to the real highlight of this flour – it’s mostly good for you. It has lots of protein, fiber, and the basic vitamins and minerals you need.
Lupin is a rather complete protein source coming in at nearly 50% protein – which is a lot, and a complete source of protein. A study also showed that nearly 80% of the proteins in lupin are readily usable by the body – which is very good!
Your body also needs fiber to process through digestion. Fiber is also helpful for dieters who want to feel full faster and stay feeling full longer. The fiber content in this flour helps with this.
Overall, some consider lupin a superfood because it contains so much protein and fiber in a small amount.
One word of warning: lupin beans are closely related to peanuts. If you have a peanut allergy, we don’t suggest you use this flour.
Is Lupin Flour Gluten Free?
This flour is just the product of the lupin bean and is indeed gluten free. People who are sensitive to gluten and can’t eat normal flour as a result should try lupin as part of their diet.
Is Lupin Flour Paleo?
Legumes are generally not allowed in paleo, as they contain carbs. So no, generally lupin is not friendly to a paleo diet.
Is It Keto friendly?
Lupin flour is actually keto friendly. The lupin beans contains a high load of protein and fiber while not containing much, if any starch, which makes it a unique positive in a keto friendly diet.
Does Lupin Flour Cause Gas?
Sorry, but yes, it could cause gas. The rich fiber is something your digestive system might have to try a couple times before you go full bore. During this time, there is the potential that the flour could cause you go to more gassy than normal.
If the problem doesn’t go away and you don’t like how lupin makes you feel, consider an alternative.
What are its Alternatives?
If for some reason, like the potential for gas, lupin doesn’t work for you – consider a couple of alternatives.
Flaxseed meal could be used as a thickener in the place of lupin. Flaxseed offers similar qualities with high fiber and low carbs.
You could also try almond flour, which is literally the flour made from the almond nut. Almond flour adds plenty of protein and can be used mostly similarly to lupin four, and like all purpose flour in general.
