Ezekiel bread is a type of bread that is made from different whole grains that have been allowed to germinate before being made into flour.

Ezekiel Bread

also known as Sprouted bread, Essene bread

What is Ezekiel bread?

Ezekiel bread is a type of bread that is made from different whole grains that have been allowed to germinate before being made into flour. This bakery product is also known as sprouted bread or Essene bread. It is considered a healthier alternative to white bread in cultures that consume large amounts of bread.

  • Some of the whole grains that may be used are wheat, barley, millet, and spelt.
  • Lentils or soybeans may also be added to improve both taste and health.

The top 6 most popular bread brands are:

  • Ezekiel 4:9 Original Sprouted Bread 
  • Silver Hills 100% Sprouted Power Bread
  • Dave’s Killer Bread Sprouted Whole Grains
  • Angelic Bakehouse Sprouted Bread
  • Rudi’s Sprouted Multi Grain Bread
  • Alvarado St. Bakery Seriously Sprouted Bread

Origin of ezekiel bread

This earned its name from the recipe it’s based on in the Bible. The prophet Ezekiel was to consume only this bread and water for 390 days. The original biblical recipe called for wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt. Given as a way to keep from starvation during an expected famine, the bread was also supposed to be made by burning human excrement instead of animal dung. Today, the recipe has gained popularity as a healthy alternative to other high carbohydrate breads.

Nutrition

One slice of this bread contains:

It also provides protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber, as well as vitamin B1, selenium, and manganese in decent quantities. Regular consumption of this product can help in controlling blood sugar levels, improving absorption of nutrients due to increased bioavailability, as well as easing digestion. Ezekiel bread also has anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is high in carbohydrates and is not ideal for gluten intolerant individuals.

Commercial production

Ezekiel bread requires six main ingredients: wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt. The grains are fermented until they sprout. Each sprouted ingredient is then dried and made into a paste, and all the pastes are mixed together. Yeast and honey are added to the mix and heated until the yeast erection. Then, salt and egg are mixed in before the mixture is stirred and fermented again. Finally, the bread is baked in an oven.

A fresh loaf can be stored for up to 5 days in a bread box. If refrigerated, it will keep for up to two weeks. A frozen loaf can remain edible for up to a year.

Ezekiel bread recipes

The traditional bread can be used to make different dishes. Here are a few recipes:

FDA regulations

The FDA regulates all breads under the umbrella term of bakery products. Bread is defined as food produced by baking mixed yeast-leavened dough prepared with wheat. In order to be classified as bread, the product must have a minimum of 62 percent solids. 

References

Mofidi, Anita et al. “The acute impact of ingestion of sourdough and whole-grain breads on blood glucose, insulin, and incretins in overweight and obese men.” Journal of nutrition and metabolism vol. 2012 (2012): 184710. doi:10.1155/2012/184710
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3317179/ 

Ezekiel Bread: Is it Good for You?, Web MD
https://www.webmd.com/diet/ezekiel-bread-is-it-good-for-you#1 

Onyeka E. U. and Obeleagu O. S., Production and evaluation of specialty bread from sprouted mixed-grains, African Journal of Food Science, Vol. 7(4), pp. 63-70, April 2013; 10.5897/AJFS12.122
https://academicjournals.org/article/article1380182591_Onyeka%20and%20Obeleagu.pdf  

The Taste of Bread by James J. MacGuire