Life Diet Health

Not just for Breakfast…Granola!

Laurena@LifeDietHealth

Not just for Breakfast… Granola!

I’m 100% certain I’m not the only one who eats ‘breakfast’ at all times of day!? 😛

How many of you have opted for a bowl of crunchy cereal or a couple of bits of toast for lunch, a snack or even dinner?! 😀 Maybe that’s not tradition where you are, to have cereal or toast for breakfast? but here in the UK that’s what most people immediately think of when asked about breakfast foods. Of course, smoothies, juices, energy balls and cereal bars are now becoming more the norm of ‘breakfasts’ too, but a bowl of crunchy cereal? Yes please! 😀

Crunchy granola
Look at all those luscious ingredients!

This week I came across a new puffed cereal 🙂 I usually buy puffed brown rice but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find either of the brands which I like (which are the only two I’m aware of) so when a friend told me about this in Lidl I was a tad excited! 😀 So I bought two packets each of puffed quinoa and puffed amaranth! 😀 Obviously when I got home from shopping it wasn’t ‘breakfast time’ but I just had to try them! Hmmm… long pause while I gather my thoughts…

I think I’ll stick with the puffed rice for a quick and easy cereal with a splash of milk but and of course there is a but 😛 if you’re not too fussed about a crunch (I’m a cereals MUST be crunchy kind of girl)! then these would do well! The puffed quinoa is tasty and easy to munch on but the amaranth? Well, that’s a very small seed and to puff it makes each grain virtually weightless, so imagine trying to eat a spoonful of that! The texture is the thing which got me, I wasn’t really sure what I was eating! Mixing them together worked (I was now on bowl three five) but although I was eating it and it tasted okay, I needed crunch and that was definitely missing! 🙁

Granola with ice cold milk
Granola on its own… by the spoonful!

Problem solved! Why not add them to my granola! I had already made two granolas this week and I’m currently testing three more in the dehydrator (a very yummy week in our house) so that seemed ideal… it worked! it worked very well. Now, if you don’t have puffed quinoa or puffed amaranth, you could use puffed rice or puffed buckwheat instead or just leave it out all together, but if you do happen to find some it adds a fantastic texture to a delicious breakfast! 😛

Crunchy Granola (Vegan & Free-From)

  • Servings: 2-3
  • Difficulty: fairly easy
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Gather

  • 100g porridge oats (gluten free if required)
  • 25g puffed quinoa
  • 25g puffed amaranth
  • 1 tablespoon raisins
  • 2 tablespoons desiccated coconut
  • 1 tablespoon mixed seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, linseed)
  • 2 tablespoons mixed nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts)
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Prepare

  1. Spread the oats, quinoa and amaranth onto a non-stick baking tray.
  2. Sprinkle the raisins, coconut, seeds and nuts over the granola.
  3. Gently melt the coconut oil with the maple syrup and cinnamon (I used the microwave).
  4. Pour the heated oil mixture onto the oat mixture and combine well with a wooden spoon or by hand (I used my fingers and licked them afterwards). Ensure the mixture is evenly spread out before baking.
  5. Bake on gas mark 2 (300f / 150c) for 10-15 minutes. Check frequently as it will burn quickly. Once you start to smell the granola cooking, it is probably ready. The colour should be slightly more golden than it was and it will crisp up on cooling.
  6. Allow to cool on the tray.
  7. Enjoy!

Serve & Store

  • Serve with ice-cold milk (I used unsweetened carton coconut milk).
  • Try with warm milk.
  • Add a sliced banana or fresh berries.
  • Eat on its own by the handful!
  • Sprinkle onto yogurt or ice cream.
  • Mix up the nuts, seeds and fruit to personalise to your taste.
  • Swap the cinnamon for mixed spice, nutmeg or ginger.
  • Use puffed rice instead of puffed quinoa and amaranth.
  • If you don’t have any puffed cereals, just add 50g more oats.
  • Store in an airtight container (preferably glass) for up to a month.

Crunch crunch!
Granola with milk nomnom
All ready for breakfast… or lunch?!
This won’t last long!!!
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