For some strange reason I felt like baking some granola this week. It is strange because I have not made (or ate) granola since I stopped eating gluten a few years ago… I can not eat oats, not even the certified gluten free ones. I did not have quinoa or brown rice flakes at home, but I did have lentils! Hmmm… After a quick internet search, I learned that I am not as smart as I think I am, since someone else thought of this before I did. Ah well, great minds think a like!
My version is adapted from The Stone Soup blog and this post. Not only did the author, Jules, come up with this idea before I did, she also takes better food pictures than I do… Good thing photography in general (and food in particular) is still a new side hobby of mine, right?!
Perfect as yogurt topping with fresh fruit, and I plan on sprinkling some on top of vanilla & Cinnamon mashed yams in the next few days.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup dry red lentils
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp chocolate extract
- 0.5 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1 cup mixed chopped nuts (I used almonds and walnuts)
- 1/3 cup Unsweetened coconut ribbons
- Handful dried blueberries
- handful dark chocolate chips
- 1 tsp chia seeds
Instructions
- Bring a medium pot of water to a boil over high heat
- Reduce heat to medium-high and add the lentils to the boiling water
- Cook for 5 minutes. The lentils should not be fully cooked
- Drain the lentils well and spread on a baking tray to cool
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees
- Melt coconut oil and mix with maple syrup
- Coat lentils with coconut oil and maple syrup
- Spread lentils on a baking tray covered with parchment paper and bake for 25 min
- Add chopped nuts and mix
- Bake for another 20 min
- Add coconut ribbons and mix
- Bake for another 20 min or until everything is golden brown
- Allow to cool, then add dried fruit, chocolate chips and chia seeds
- Store in an air tight container
Here are some other flavor combinations for you to play with! Be sure to use unsweetened dried fruit.
- Dried apple pieces & cinnamon
- Dried mango pieces and macadamia nuts
- Dried cherries and pistachios
