Thursday 18 May 2017

Granola for all taste buds



My breakfast meal routine tends to be more of a savoury choice than a sweet one.  But with summer approaching, I always make a big batch of granola to enjoy with berries and seasonal fruits. These days we can find great choices of granola in the market without the old sugar-laden brands, but I still think they are quite sweet. Plus, it is cheaper and tastes a lot better, if I say so myself.

I like making my own because I can also play with flavours and spices. To entertain my salty taste buds, I make the savoury version which we can enjoy as a healthy snack or just sprinkled over salads or soups. 

I am sharing now with you some of the batches I made this week. You can make your own granola with nuts and seeds of your choice. Try experimenting with spices, dried fruits, peanuts and whatever takes your fancy.

Dry and wet ingredients before mixing.
All mixed together.
Put the mixture in a tray...
and let it bake until lightly toasted.
Granola with tahini and spices.
Enjoy it with fresh berries, yogurt and a drizzle of maple syrup, if you like.

Granola with tahini and spices (makes about 750g)

Ingredients

200g organic jumbo oats
100g organic pecans, broken
100g organic Brazil nuts
30g organic pumpkin seeds
50g organic mix of seeds (flaxseed, sunflower and sesame)
30g organic sunflower seeds
160g organic coconut flakes
1 ½ teaspoon masala chai mix (or ½ tsp of cardamom powder, ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder and ½ teaspoon ginger powder)
80ml organic extra virgin olive oil or organic coconut oil
10g organic tahini
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
50ml organic blackstrap molasses or maple syrup

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C. In a big bowl, mix all the dry ingredients. In a small bowl, mix the oil, tahini, molasses and vanilla extract. Drizzle over the dry ingredients. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly roasted. Check every 10 minutes to make sure it is not burning. Serve with organic yogurt (Greek or plain natural, or Kefir), fresh fruits of your choice and a drizzle of maple syrup or honey.
Keep it in an air-tight container.

Mix all ingredients together.
Place it in a baking tray.
Ready to be snacked at.


Savoury spicy granola (makes about 300g)

Ingredients

150g organic cashew nuts
100g organic pumpkin seeds
100g organic mix of seeds (flaxseed, sunflower and sesame)
30g organic quinoa puffs (you can use *puffed rice, buckwheat or oats instead)
10g organic molasses
25ml organic extra virgin olive oil or organic coconut oil
1 teaspoon organic turmeric powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (increase amount if you prefer a more spicy mixture)
Himalayan salt 

*quantity may vary

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C. In a big bowl, mix all the ingredients. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until lightly roasted.
Keep it in an air-tight container.

A healthy note: nuts and seeds are a great source of protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals. They are high in insoluble fibre, which is beneficial for regular bowel movements. Flaxseeds are high in omega-3, which studies have shown can help regulate and reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension. The seeds also contain a compound called lignan, which is very beneficial for balancing hormone levels in the body.

Oats help reduce LDL (“bad” cholesterol), lower blood pressure, and provide sustained levels of carbohydrates for the production of energy. Oats can cleanse your intestinal tract and your blood. They also help to stabilize insulin levels.

Till next week!
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2 comments

  1. Melanie Viner-Cuneo7 June 2017 at 09:22

    I just made this wonderful spicy granola today and it's amazing! Thanks so much for the recipe Margot, it's delicious. I am looking forward to your nut roast recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you very much Mel! I am really glad you liked it! The yummy nut roast recipe will follow soon :-)xx

    ReplyDelete

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