Easy Goji Berry Granola
I was recently asked to create a recipe using Goji berries. If you have never heard of Goji berries, let me enlighten you as to the health properties of these very delicious little red berries. Also known as Wolf Berries, these small red berries are filled with goodness.
Chinese healers have been using them for centuries, and whilst the majority of them are grown in the Himalayas and China, they also occur wild in Belgium and Holland. These tasty little red dynamos contain 18 amino acids and 22 dietary minerals including zinc, calcium, iron and germanium, which is a strong immune stimulant rarely found in foods. Amazingly they contain more iron than spinach, more vitamin C than oranges and more protein than meat. And if that's not enough to make you want to reach for them, they can be eaten raw, cooked or dried.
I first got turned onto them via a snack program I was signed up to. They make a great portable snack, and are much better for you than snacking on candy or crisps. I like the idea of snacking on something which is good for me.
nu3 are the ones who issued the challenge and who sent me my berries to make something with.
I chose to make a granola with them, because I love Granola. It's always been my breakfast cereal of choice. I usually have a small bowl of it each morning topped with greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey. It seemed the perfect thing to add them to.
I have always made my own granola. I like knowing exactly what is in my granola and controlling how much fat and sugar go into it. This particular version is created in a skillet on top of the stove. It's rather tasty. I like to think that with the addition of Goji berries it just got healthier.
This tasty version of granola is a bit different in that you do it in a pan on top of the stove. You can easily cut down the amounts and make a smaller batch if you wish, but you will find that it's great for snacking on as well as for use as a breakfast food.
320g of rolled oats, not quick cooking (4 cups)
115g of butter (1/2 cup)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
4 TBS runny honey
100g of soft light brown sugar (1/2 cup packed)
85g of flaked almonds (1/2 cup)
60g of chopped pecans (1/2 cup)
55g of whole cashews (1/2 cup)
75g of shredded coconut (1 cup)
150g of dried fruit (about 1 cup, I used half Goji berries and the rest was a mix of dried blueberries, sour cherries and sultanas)
Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter, brown sugar, honey, vanilla and almond extract. Cook and stir to melt. Add the oats, nuts and coconut to the skillet. Stir to coat well with the butter/sugar mixture. Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the granola is a dark golden brown. This will take 10 to 20 minutes and do keep an eye on it so that it doesn't catch and burn. Remove from the heat and pour out onto a baking sheet to cool completely. Add the dried fruit and mix in. Store in an airtight container.
Although I was sent a box of Goji berries, any opinions and views are my own. Many thanks to Annais for sending these to me. If you would like to learn more about this product check out the nu3Goji berry page.
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