How to Make Healthy Granola

Clean & Lean Healthy Homemade Granola

As the weather gets better here in old blightly I want something a little more fresh than porridge to eat in the morning. Last Summer I went on holiday to Spain with my friend Susannah & every morning we had lovely granola with natural yoghurt & fruit, it was just the perfect breakfast for a Summer morning. However, the varieties of granola that you buy in the shop often have hidden ingredients & sugar so this weekend I decided to make my own healthy granola. I'm also normally in a massive rush in the morning so I need something that's quick. This healthy, clean and lean granola is delicious & so quick & easy to make...!

I find that granolas & mueslis that you find in the supermarkets often have dried fruit in them which I don't personally like (& are full of sugar & unneeded calories). I'm also allergic to a few types of nuts that often come in supermarket granola so I really wanted to try making my own to get exactly what I want...and I can't believe how easy it is!

I adapted this recipe from the Clean & Lean Diet Recipe Book (that Harriet gave me for my birthday). You can make a large amount, store in an airtight jar & serve with yoghurt & some fruit or berries. You can have it for breakfast, dessert or as a healthy snack. This granola is sugar free and really good for your insides!

Serve with natural yoghurt (my favourite is Total Greek) & fruit

Store granola in an airtight jar

So this is how to make it...

Ingredients:
Rolled Oats
Sunflower & Pumpkin Seeds
Coconut Oil
Linseed
Toasted coconut flakes
Pecans & Hazelnuts (or nuts of your choice)
Cinnamon
Vanilla extract

If you can get the ingredients Organic then all the better, I sourced mine from Whole Foods.

1. Firstly, preheat your oven to 190 C. Mix together about 300g of oats, 1 tsp of ground cinnamon & a drop of vanilla extract in a bowl with 2 tblsp of coconut oil.

Coconut oil has a huge amount of health benefits & it gives the granola a really delicious flavour so I would highly recommend using it over another type of oil. Also, it's quite important to have large rolled oats.

2. Once mixed, spread on a baking tray and pop in the oven for 20 minutes until the oats are golden brown, occasionally turning them with a wooden spoon.

3. Choose your favourite nuts. Try to buy them as natural as possible (i.e not blanched) and smash them up a bit it a pestle & mortar.

Crush the Hazelnuts in a pestle & mortar 

4. Add the nuts & seeds to a frying pan with a little coconut oil and toast lightly. Leave them to one side to cool.

5. Once everything has cooled mix the oats & nuts together and add a handful of toasted coconut flakes.

That's it! Now you can sit back & relax, it's so simple..

Clean & Lean Granola

Clean & Lean Granola

This recipe is so simple to make, really delicious & very healthy. I hope James Duigan doesn't mind that I've pinched & adapted his Clean & Lean recipe but it's just too good I had to share!

I don't really follow the Clean & Lean diet but I would really recommend the recipe book as it has some fantastic healthy ideas that are easy to make and really tasty!

What's your favourite healthy recipe?

Isobel x