Oats: Recipe No.5

Pecan and Maple Syrup Granola – a crunchy blend of goodies to eat for breakfast or a snack.

Pecans, like many nuts, are rich in minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants which make them a very nutritious addition to your diet. They are also a good source of protein. I’ve added sunflower seeds which provide significant amounts of vitamin E, magnesium and selenium. Selenium has been proven to prevent cancerous cells from developing. Pumpkin seeds have also been added to the mix and they contain substantial amounts of zinc. Zinc boosts your immune system and for anyone who struggles with skin problems, it apparently helps with acne. Finally, I also added pine kernels that have similar benefits to other nuts and seeds, this includes monounsaturated fats that help lower bad cholesterol and elevate the good variety.

Remember: all nuts and seeds can be quite high in calories, so you do not need masses of this granola for a portion; a little will go a long way. It’s pretty good though, and I’ve had to make sure I don’t chuck half the jar on top of some delicious fromage blanc, and that I banish thoughts telling me that the portion (50g ish) can’t be enough. It is.

250g Oats

30g Sunflower Seeds

100g Pumpkin Seeds

50g Pine Kernels

150g Pecans

2 dessert spoons Maple Syrup – a natural sweetener that has nutritional benefits too, containing minerals such as zinc and manganese.

1 dessert spoon Coconut Oil

A few teaspoons Ground Cinnamon

 

Pre-heat your oven to 160ºC. Put all the ingredients into a bowl and, with clean hands, mix them all together until the dry ingredients are covered with the syrup and coconut oil (which will melt, if it is solid, with the heat from your hands). Line a tray with baking parchment and spread the mix evenly over the surface. Pop the tray in the oven for about 5 minutes and then give the granola a stir. Repeat this once or twice more, keeping an eye on it, until you get it just turning golden and a bit crunchy. It’s very tasty and provides the body with lots of good foods, without refined sugars, preservatives and unhealthy oils that can be found in some granolas you might buy.

Bon appétit!