Paleo Maple, Almond & Goji Berry Grain-free Granola

As I mentioned before in a previous post, I absolutely adore granola – it’s the perfect breakfast, the perfect yogurt topper and the perfect snack!  This is one of the many variations that I have made and it is also the simplest.  Best if you are new to grain-free granola making!

Goji berries (also known as wolf berries) are a brilliant little bit of superfoody goodness.  Originally used in Chinese medicine these little fellas have found their way over to the UK due to the huge number of celebrities in love with them. Or maybe because they are packed full of antioxidants and good old beta-carotene that gives your skin a lovely radiant glow. (I feel like I should be smothering these on my face not eating them!)

This recipe requires you to ‘activate’ your nuts and seeds. Activating your nuts and seeds will remove most remnants of phytic acid and aid in activating the enzymes that assist in the digestion of nuts so it is most definitely worth the extra hassle.  You can activate them by soaking them in water with a teaspoon of salt for at least 4 hours but preferably overnight. You will then be required to thoroughly rinse them, pat them dry with a clean tea towel (or some kitchen towel) and lay them out thinly and evenly on a baking tray.  To dehydrate them place them in the oven on a very low temperature (65-70 degrees), for 3-4 hours.  Be sure to move them around the tray every hour.

For information on activating nuts and seeds check out this article:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2541791/Just-nuts-Is-new-craze-activating-food-seeds-great-idea.html

Makes: 10 servings

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

400g mixed nuts (activated)
125g mixed seeds (activated)
1/4 tsp Himalayan pink salt (or 1/2 tsp sea salt flakes)
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tbsp coconut sugar
1 tbsp bitter almond essence
1/2 cup dessicated coconut
2 tbsp coconut oil (plus a small amount to grease the baking tray)
100g goji berries

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 175 °C.
2. Add all of the ingredients except for your seeds and goji berries into a food processor and blend until you have some fine crumbs and bigger chunks.  You will need to frequently scrape down the sides with a spatula.
3. Lightly grease a baking tray with coconut oil.
4. Transfer your ingredients onto the baking tray and add the mixed seeds.
5. Mix everything together and using a spatula spread the mixture thinly and evenly.
6. Place the tray in the oven for 30 minutes, be sure to rotate the mixture every 10 minutes or until the top layer becomes ‘browned’.
7. Remove from the oven and leave to cool down to slightly warmer than room temperature (try not to eat any I dare you!).
8. Once cooled add your goji berries and transfer into an airtight container.  This should keep for up to 2 weeks however it is not likely to last longer than a few days!