Granola

Granola is a healthy and energizing snack that can be customized in many ways. Here is the basic recipe:

Ingredients

• 300 grams of rolled oats
• 100 grams of nuts (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts), coarsely chopped
• 50 grams of seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds or flaxseeds)
• 100 grams of dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, figs or apricots), chopped if in large pieces
• 60 ml of coconut oil or another vegetable oil
• 120 ml of honey or maple syrup (or another liquid sweetener)
• A pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)
• Spices to taste (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 160 °C (320 °F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix the oats, nuts, seeds, and spices.
3. Heat the oil and honey (or the sweetener of your choice) in a saucepan over medium-low heat until they become liquid. Add vanilla if you decide to use it.
4. Pour the liquid mixture over the dry ingredients and mix well, making sure the oats and nuts are completely coated.
5. Spread the mixture on the baking sheet in an even layer.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the granola is golden and crunchy.
7. Allow to cool completely on the tray. The granola will become crunchier as it cools down.
8. Once cooled, add the dried fruit and store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature.

Fun Fact

Granola was born in the United States towards the end of the 19th century as food intended to be healthy and nutritious. It lends itself to multiple variants, so feel free to adapt the recipe to your tastes, for example by adding dried coconut, chocolate chips or pieces of dried apple. Moreover, it is ideal as a breakfast or snack, perhaps served with yogurt or milk.