Quinoa-Teff Spiced Cake (Dampness-Dispelling) (not yet refined enough to be good)

Constitutional Benefits

  • Warming spices help dispel dampness and support digestion
  • Cooked peaches are easier on your system than raw fruit
  • Ghee supports your Ayurvedic constitution
  • Multi-grain blend (quinoa for Qi, teff for warmth, amaranth for clearing channels, corn for grounding) creates balanced energy
  • Varied textures from coarse amaranth and corn meal add satisfying crunch

To Grind Fresh

  • ¾ cup whole quinoa → grind to flour
  • ¼ cup whole teff → grind to flour
  • ¼ cup whole amaranth → grind coarsely (chunky texture, not fine flour)
  • ¼ cup whole dried corn → grind to medium-coarse meal

Method with Integrated Amounts

1. Preheat and Prep

Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8x8 or 9x9 glass baking dish with ghee.

2. Grind Flours

Mill ¾ cup whole quinoa into fine flour, then mill ¼ cup whole teff into fine flour. Mill ¼ cup whole amaranth into a coarse meal (chunky texture). Finally, mill ¼ cup whole dried corn into medium-coarse meal. Set aside.

3. Mix Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together:

  • Your freshly ground quinoa flour
  • Your freshly ground teff flour
  • Your coarsely ground amaranth meal
  • Your medium-coarse ground corn meal
  • ¼ cup tapioca starch
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp cardamom
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • Pinch of black pepper

4. Prepare Flax Eggs

Mix 2 tbsp ground flaxseed with 6 tbsp warm water. Let sit 10 minutes until gel-like.

5. Mix Wet Ingredients

In another bowl, combine:

  • ⅓ cup melted ghee (cooled slightly)
  • ½ cup natural sweetener of choice
  • Your prepared flax eggs
  • ¾ cup warm plant milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

6. Combine

Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Fold gently until just combined - don’t overmix.

7. Bake

Pour batter into prepared dish. Arrange 1-2 sliced peaches on top. Bake 35-40 minutes until golden and edges pull slightly from sides.

8. Cool

Let cool 15 minutes before serving warm (better for your constitution than cold).

Notes

  • Recipe supports TCM dampness-dispelling and Ayurvedic warming principles
  • Avoid eating cold - warm cake supports digestion
  • Can substitute sweetener based on tolerance (date paste, maple syrup, or mashed banana)