Posted by A mixture of delicious and healthy ingredients.
A choice of infinite combinations.
Making it a great breakfast option with a lot of crunches.
Yes, I am talking about “GRANOLA.”
I have tried a few options that are available in the market. However, till date, none of them have impressed me with the taste, level of sweetness and crunch.
Growing up, I would start my day with a bowl of flattened rice topped with yogurt and grated jaggery. Occasionally, mom would also prepare chappatis (Indian flatbread) and a simple curry or tempered rice. Fast Forward to present, my breakfast happens mostly on the go. I prefer to pack my breakfast and eat it at my workplace. Flattened rice would get soggy, and I also would need a good dose of fruits. So I started looking for options. Granola from the supermarkets seemed promising. However, I started finding faults with each and every one of them. Unless one day I decided to bake my own batch. Since then I have never looked back.
I absolutely love the concept of “Breakfast in a jar.” I assemble my breakfast in the morning, and it takes me just a couple of minutes. The best part is the number of options it comes with. I usually choose yogurt, but once in a while coconut cream also makes a great base. I will share different options for breakfast parfait with granola in my upcoming posts.
But the basic remains the same: yogurt/coconut cream, followed by granola, fruits and a drizzle of date syrup or honey (optional).
Granola needs to be the following combinations:
- a variety of complex carbohydrates: oats, rice flakes;
- a natural source of proteins and fiber: nuts almonds, walnuts, pistachios and more.
- Seeds: such as flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and more.
- Natural source of sugar: dried fruits raisins, apricots, prunes, dates and more.
- Sweetener: honey, date syrup, maple syrup and more.
- Spice powder: cinnamon, five spice and more.
- Additional ingredients: cocoa powder, peanut butter, etc.
Choose the ingredients carefully to build up a healthy mix. Keep the dried fruits as less as possible and compensate for the quantity of sweetener.
Ingredients:
Old fashioned rolled oats 400 g
Almonds 150 g
Walnuts 150 g
Raisins 1/2 cup
Seed mixture 1/2 cup
Honey 6 tbsp (approx. 100g)
Cinnamon powder 4 tbsp
Coconut oil 2 tbsp
Method:
- In a large bowl place, all the ingredients except raisins (and dried fruits) and with a silicon spatula mix everything well. Use your hands if you like.
- Pour the mixture on two greased and lined baking tray.
- Spread evenly and bake in a preheated oven for 10 -12 minutes at 180-degree Celsius.
- Place the tray in the center and mix the contents after 10 minutes. bake for another 10 to 12 minutes.
- In the case of two trays just switch the trays midway.
- I let the trays cool inside the oven with the doors open.
- Once cooled add raisins and other dried fruits to the granola and mix well.
- Store in airtight containers for at least two weeks.
Magic Ingredient 