Table of Contents
Ingredients for healthy granola
How to make
Preparation Video
FAQ
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Recipe Video
The minimalist healthy granola.
Healthy granola with only ingredients you like, low in sugar, full of nutrients and super quick? That is exactly what you get making granola according to this recipe. In fact, what I really love about this homemade granola is that this recipe takes as little time as possible.
15 minutes and you have a ready homemade granola
On the contrary to a lot of homemade granola recipes that use an oven to make granola, this recipe calls for a pan. In brief, using a pan in this recipe, reduces preparation time you need to make granola to its minimum. Summing up you only need 15 minutes and granola is ready.
Why is this granola healthy?
This recipe is great for your health, because it contains healthy and natural ingredients. In addition it is full of nutrients and is low in sugar. Store-bought granolas often contain added sugars. On the contrary, this recipe contains only natural sweeteners (dried fruit and maple syrup). Except for this the amount of sugars is reduced to its minimum – just enough to add taste and natural sweetness.
Furthermore, this recipe contains healthy fats (almond flakes) and no oils. Healthy fats are amazing for your brain health, hormone regulation, heart health, absorption of nutrients and provide you with a lot of energy. Finally this granola recipe is full of fiber, which is great to improve blood sugar level.
Is this granola recipe low calorie?
This granola recipe is low in calories, because the amount of sugars is reduced to its minimum. Except for this it does not contain any oils, which are usually very calorie dense. We are adding just a little bit of almond flakes to enrich the recipe with healthy fats. At the same time, the amount of almond flakes is too low, to make this recipe high in calories.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving of this homemade granola contains 242 calories. It is rich in healthy fats, low in sugar and tastes great.
How to prepare healthy granola
Ingredients
- 90 g oat flakes Use large flakes that have to be cooked to prepare, not fine oat flakes
- 45 g raisins
- 30 g almond flakes
- 30 g maple syrup
- a pinch of salt
Instructions
- Fry 90 g of oat flakes on medium heat without oil for about 4-5 minutes.* Stir the oats.
- Add 45 g raisins, stir and continue frying until the raisins become round and puffed up.
- Add 30 g almond flakes. Stir and after 3 minutes pour in 30 g maple syrup, fry for 3 minutes. Add a pinch of salt.
- Take off the heat and put granola into a cold container.*
Nutrition
Tips & hacks for the recipe
*The recipe is made in medium cooking mode (6 out of 9).
*This is important, because putting granola into a cold container stops the cooking process. If you leave it in a pan and do not put it into a cold container, granola can overcook.
Top health benefits and facts
To prepare healthy and tasty granola, you can use the ingredients according to your taste. Obviously for healthy fats use nuts and seeds, to sweeten naturally dried fruit and finally to enhance flavor and aroma add spices.
One serving of healthy granola (around 50 g) contains between 200 and 250 kcal, depending on the ingredients. Homemade healthy granola (for example in this recipe) contains 242 calories.
Store-bought granola contains in most cases unhealthy fats and a lot of sugar. To substitute unhealthy ingredients in granola, avoid adding butter. Instead add some coconut oil. Equally important is to substitute sugar with natural syrups. For example you can use maple syrup, date syrup or agave syrup.
Granola is a good option for a healthy breakfast, but only if it contains healthy ingredients. To make sure you eat healthy granola, choose a brand that contains only natural ingredients, healthy fats and is low in sugar. As a matter of fact you can prepare granola at home and this way make sure you only add the ingredients that are great for your body.
It is very easy to prepare your own healthy granola at home. And the best thing about it – you can choose ingredients you like the most!
I recommend making granola in a pan, follow this steps:
First, fry the oats without oil in a pan until half-ready on medium heat, it takes 5-7 minutes (stir all the time)
Second, add nuts, dried fruits, a pinch of salt and sweetener you like (mine are raisins, almond flakes and maple syrup)
Third, fry for another 5 minutes until ready.
Lastly, immediately put granola on a dry, cold plate or container. That is important, because if you leave granola in a hot pan, it can over-fry.
Healthy toppings or mix-ins to add to granola are spices, natural sweeteners, nuts, seeds, dry fruit. I recommend adding cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, or other spices to your taste.
Instead of syrup or sugar, you can add ground dates, raisins or other dried fruits. For healthy fast add nuts or seeds.
Granola has a lot of health benefits. The most important are:
1) Charges the body with energy. Granola contains healthy fats and complex carbohydrates, that is why it provides a lot of energy during a long period of time
2) Improves digestion. Granola contains a lot of fiber and this prevents constipation and boost digestive system
3) Provides important vitamins and elements to our bodies.
Granola is good for weight loss, but only if you follow some rules.
First of all granola is quite a high-calorie product. 50 g of granola contains between 200 and 250 kcal, depending on its ingredients. Following this, it is important to enjoy it in moderation – 1-2 portions a day is good for weight loss. Second, if you do not add any protein powder to it, it does not contain a lot of protein. Consequently, to get enough protein and to feel full after eating it, combine granola with yogurt, milk or quark cheese. Check my recipes for yogurt bowls that are full of protein: yogurt with granola, stracciatella yogurt bowl.
To support weight loss, it is better to make granola at home. This way you can be sure it does not contain any butter or sugar. Naturally making it at home, you control the ingredients you add and as a result calories it contains.
Granola can be used for both: weight loss and weight gain. In fact, the best is to create your own granola recipe, which will meet your needs in terms of calories.
The healthiest way to eat granola is following:
– Eat it for breakfast to provide your body with enough of energy during the day
– Combine it with milk, yogurt or fruit to make sure to eat enough of protein and to add nutrients
– Eat in moderation.
In general it is recommended to eat one serving of granola, that is around 50 g of granola. In any case if you want to feel full after eating granola and to add more nutrients to your meal, combine it with high protein products such as:
– 100 g of yogurt
– 150 milk, preferably vegetable
– quark cheese
– silken tofu
– 150 g of fruit you like
