The search for guilt-free, highly nutritious snacks is kind of a never-ending journey for me. But never-ending in a good way. I always find myself cringing at some of the daily snacks consumed by so many people I pass by as I go about my day. The common denominator seems to be high carb, high sugar and highly refined ‘foods’ straight out of plastic wrappers.
Sure they’re great if you’re on the run and simply don’t have time for baking, but in the long-run they can be incredibly damaging to your health. They are packed full of additives, preservatives, thickeners and colors you shouldn’t even feed to your pet hamster. Putting aside some time for meal prepping certainly pays off, as you can prepare healthy snacks that last the entire week. And these granola bars are ready in just 20 minutes.
Oats are a staple food in my household. You can use them in so many endless ways, they go through very limited processing and have to be one of the world’s healthiest foods. Of importance, the level of manganese per 40g of oats is almost 100% of your recommended daily intake. And I’m throwing in two cups to this recipe!
Manganese acts as the building blocks for healthy bones, connective tissues, regulation of blood sugar and helps to absorb calcium. This is pretty important for us vegans, given calcium is much easier to come by in animal products, we need all the help we can get to deliver this important mineral throughout our bodies.
Pistachios are not only a great source of fiber, but taste pretty amazing. Around 97% Americans are deficient in fiber, so it’s certainly an underrated nutrient that we need more of in our lives. A high fiber diet helps to prevent many diseases from developing, including heart disease and diabetes. Pistachios also have quite high levels of vitamin E which has been linked to strong immunity, healthy skin and eyes.
With the added vegan chocolate layer added on top of the final product, you’ll be able to satisfy your sweet-tooth without the usual cups of sugar added to commercial granola bars! Plus, you can even make your own shredded coconut at home!
Gluten-Free Granola Bars with Pistachio
Ingredients
- 2 cups certified gluten-free rolled oats
- 1 tbsp raw cacao powder
- 1/2 cup raw pistachio crushed
- 1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut
- 1/4 cup bee pollen
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 cups dry pitted dates soaked overnight into purified water, well drained
- 1 oz vegan chocolate melted
- Pinch sea salt
- To garnish: crushed rose buds crushed pistachio
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 175 C/346 F.
- Drain the pitted dates, and add them into the food processor, together with the coconut oil, cacao powder and salt, and pulse to obtain a puree.
- Transfer the puree into a large bowl, add the oats, pistachio, pepitas, pollen and dessicated coconut, and mix to incorporate.
- Line a 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper, and fill it with the mixture (use a spoon to spread it evenly).
- Bake for 15 mins, then remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
- Pour the melted chocolate on top and spread evenly. Top with crushed rose buds and pistachio.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or freeze for 30 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes
Delicious! I mixed everything together in the food processor and substituted sunflower seeds for the coconut (we don’t like coconut) and it turned out great. Thanks for the recipe, it is the first time I have ever used bee pollen.