Toasted oat and coconut granola with berries

Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that work out the best.  For many of us, time is of the essence during the day, as we look to balance work and eating healthily.  We’re always looking for simple but quick lunch ideas that require minimal ingredients but still pack a punch when it comes to flavour.  This granola recipe is one such lunch option, but is also perfect to enjoy for breakfast or as a healthy snack during the day.  It will also make a great light meal to enjoy before or after a training session.  Here’s how we made this simple, yet tasty granola – be sure to try it out.

Ingredients:

For the granola:

• Cup of porridge oats
• 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
• 3 tbsp Linwoods flaxseed, cocoa and berries
• 1/3 cup goji berries, roughly chopped
• Tbsp demerara sugar (optional)

Other ingredients:

• Cup fresh blueberries
• 1/2 Dozen strawberries, sliced
• 200ml Alpro soya yoghurt

Cooking and preparation time: 5 – 10 minutes

Granola mix provides 8 – 10 servings

1. Make your granola mix

To make the granola mix, roughly chop your cup of goji berries.  Then put your porridge oats and coconut in a dry frying pan over a medium heat and brown them gently, ensuring you stir regularly.  Once lightly golden, add your flaxseed mix and chopped goji berries, and toast through gently.  We added a table spoon of demerara sugar at the end, but this is optional.

In total, your granola should take no longer than 2 – 3 minutes to toast.

2. Prepare your berries

Gently rinse your blueberries and strawberries in cold water.  Hull your strawberries and slice them in half.

You can choose to add other summer berries if you wish.

3. Combine your berries, granola and yoghurt

Now that you have made your granola and prepared the fruit, all that remains is to combine all the ingredients.  Pour your mixed berries into a bowl and spoon over your yoghurt mix.  We used Alpro soya simply plain yoghurt, but any low fat yoghurt will work here.  Add two heaped dessert spoons of the granola mix and enjoy.

You can use this granola mix as and when you wish, with breakfast, lunch or snacks during the day.  The ingredients above should provide you with 8 servings of granola should keep in an air tight container for up to a week.

Do you take granola or soya based products on a regular basis?  We’d love to hear some of your favourite plant based recipes.  Let us know by commenting below or connecting with us on Facebook and Twitter.