Black Sesame Buckwheat Granola with Coconut
INGREDIENTS
Black Sesame Buckwheat Granola with Coconut
Gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free
1.5 c buckwheat groats
1 c rolled oats (regular or sprouted for better digestion)
1/4 c black sesame seeds
1/4 c chia seeds
1 c coconut flakes, unsweetened
1/3 c coconut oil
1/4 c maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp ceylon cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt (I like pink Himalayan salt for mineral profile)
METHOD
Preheat the oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment.
Combine the buckwheat, oats, chia seeds, sesame seeds and coconut in a large mixing bowl. Give it a nice stir.
In a small sauce pan or pot, add the coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, salt and cinnamon. Warm over medium low heat to melt into a smooth mixture. It really helps to use a whisk here.
Pour this hot goodness over the dry ingredients. Stir to combine well and evenly coat all oats and seeds. Pour this raw granola onto the parchment lined baking sheet, and press the granola into an even, compact layer. This is going to help you get that nice crunchy clusters. You’re also NOT going to stir partway through the baking process, like many granola recipes suggest.
Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes until it’s golden brown. Baking time will depend on your oven, but make sure to check it at 15 minutes. Things change pretty quickly so keep an eye on it towards the end. I’ve burned a batch (or two).
Once it’s golden brown, remove from the oven and allow to cool for 20-30 minutes. Right now it should be like one big ol’ granola bar - now that it’s cooled you can break it into chunky clusters.
Store in an air tight container once fully cooled. This will preserve the crispness!
enjoy xoxox !
NUTRITION NOTES
Buckwheat a gluten free “grain” (but is actually a SEED) that has a superior nutritional profile to other common grains. It has a high mineral and antioxidant content and helps manage blood sugar and supports digestion with ample amounts of fiber.
Sesame Seeds are an under rated but very nutritious seed, containing minerals like copper, manganese, zinc, calcium and magnesium. Very supportive of bone health, heart health, digestion, and anti-aging. It’s also rich in B vitamins, especially B6 which is very soothing for stress and anxiety issues.
Chia seeds are a complete protein, containing all 9 essential amino acids. High in fiber, antioxidants, calcium, omega-3 ALA, and contain many vitamins and minerals. Chia seeds fight free radicals, help balance insulin levels, support digestion and a healthy microbiome.
Coconut contains medium chain fatty (MCT) acids and monoglycerides which are anti- inflammatory and antimicrobial. Unlike animal fats, MCT oil can enter the mitochondria where they can be quickly used for energy. Coconut also stimulates metabolism and boosts energy, and is supportive of thyroid health!
Cinnamon is rich in manganese and contains essential oils from the cinnamon bark. It has antioxidant properties and is anti-anti- inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial boosts the immune system. It especially know for balancing blood sugar and improving issues with insulin resistance.