Home-made golden granola

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We’re making our way into Spring here in Australia, my favourite season, as nature rejoices with blooms and blossoms and you can’t help but join in the sense of celebration, optimism and wonder all around you!  And while some places are taking a bit longer than others to warm up, the change of season has me turning my mind from gorgeous hearty meals to scrumptious foods that won’t sit so heavily in the stomach.

This golden home-made Granola fits the bill perfectly!

While it may be light, this granola is packed full of nutrients and goodness thanks to the variety of nuts, seeds, and yumminess thrown in (yes, that last one is a critical ingredient!). Between them, these nutrient-rich ingredients are packed with protein, healthy fats, calcium, magnesium, B-vitamins, fibre… well, you get the idea. The banana and vanilla give a hint of sweetness without needing sugar, and if you choose your grains carefully it will be gluten-free too. In short, there’s a whole lot of happy here.

home made granola spilling from jar

It’s really easy to throw all the ingredients together, and my favourite part is the beautiful toasty smell that fills the kitchen while it’s in the oven.  For an easy breakfast simply add your milk of choice, or I love to have mine with yoghurt and berries (this makes a great after-dinner treat, too). You can also grab a handful on the go for a crunchy, good-for-you snack,  but be warned that once you start it is hard to stop when it tastes so lip-smackingly good. Your taste buds and your healthy gut will be doing cartwheels of gratitude!

healthy-homemade-granola

Golden Granola

Ingredients

½ cup/65g cashews
½ cup/75g whole almonds
½ cup/70g macadamia halves
½ cup/60g sunflower seeds
½ cup/70g pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
¼ cup/30g sesame seeds
1 cup/60g shredded or flaked coconut
200g rolled oats
200g quinoa flakes
100g buckwheat
100g coconut oil
1/3 cup/80g tahini, hulled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or paste
1 pinch of sea salt
finely grated zest of two oranges
2 very ripe large bananas, peeled and broken into quarters

Thermomix Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 180ºC
  • Place cashews and almonds into the TM bowl and roughly chop 3 sec/speed 5. Using a spatula, remove from bowl and place in a large glass or ceramic bowl
  • Add macadamia halves, sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds, coconut, rolled oats, quinoa flakes and buckwheat to bowl, and ‘a-la-Jamie-Oliver’ use your hands to thoroughly combine
  • Add coconut oil, tahini, vanilla, salt and orange zest to TM bowl and heat 2 mins/100º/speed 2
  • Scrape down sides of bowl and repeat for a further 1 min/100º/speed 2
  • Add bananas and blend for 10 sec/speed 6
  • Pour TM combination over the granola ingredients and mix well to coat
  • Transfer to a large, deep and lined baking tray
  • Place in oven and bake 25-30 minutes until golden, turning over every 10 minutes with a wooden spoon
  • Let the granola cool completely, before storing in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks or in a sealed freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months

 Traditional Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 180ºC
  • Roughly chop cashews and almonds and place in a large glass or ceramic bowl
  • Add macadamia halves, sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds, coconut, rolled oats, quinoa flakes and buckwheat to bowl, and ‘a-la-Jamie-Oliver’ use your hands to thoroughly combine
  • Add coconut oil, tahini, vanilla, salt and orange zest to a small saucepan and place over medium heat, stirring occasionally until melted and fragrant
  • Mash bananas well until smooth and add to the tahini mixture
  • Remove saucepan from heat and whisk until well-combined
  • Pour tahini/banana mixture over the granola ingredients and mix well to coat
  • Transfer to a large, deep and lined baking tray
  • Place in oven and bake 25-30 minutes until golden, turning over every 10 minutes with a wooden spoon
  • Let the granola cool completely, before storing in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks or in a sealed freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months

 

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Fit Food October is Sold Out!

Thanks to all who will be joining me in my kitchen!