Granola, a delicious and healthy breakfast/ snack food made from rolled oats, nuts and dried fruits.The flavor and the taste from the home made granola is really amazing !! Make them in bulk and store them comes handy for breakfast on busy mornings.
When we were newly married, most of the days, our morning breakfast was some kind of store bought cereal. Before marriage, ST was so used to having cereals for morning breakfast in the US, so later when i had joined him, i too followed the same because i didn't know anything in cooking back then. Initially i liked it without bothering much about how healthy it is for breakfast and all. Later it's kind of bored and started to make the typical tamilnadu breakfast such as idli/dosa for breakfast.
Now it's more than 3 years since we bought a pack of cereal from the store. Instead i have been making this granola at home and we liked it so much more than any store bought cereal that we had tried so far. It's such a simple recipe and ready in 20 mins, it can be served with milk for breakfast or with yogurt as a snack. Before moving to the recipe, let's answer all the basic questions that might have popped in your head about granola.
Which oats is best for granola?
Old fashioned rolled oats is best for making granola. Don't use the quick 2 mins oats for this recipe
Which oil is best for making granola?
My personal choice is coconut oil. I love the mild coconut flavor in the granola. But you can use the olive oil, canola oil or any flavorless oil also.
What are the nuts taste best with granola?
In today's recipe, i have used almonds alone. But you can use whatever nuts you like. Almonds, pecans, cashews and walnuts also taste good with granola.
Honey or maple syrup for granola?
Again it's purely a personal choice. I like maple syrup over honey any day. Also i have read that using honey helps to clump the granola together, so if you're into clumpy granola, use honey or half and half of both
How to make clumpy granola ?
Personally i don't like clumpy granola, so haven't tried all those tips available online for making clumpy granola. Like i said before honey helps to make clumpy granola. Another tip is to press the oats well and bake it. Once it's out of the oven, don't stir it immediately, let it cool naturally, all these help to get clumpy granola.
When to add dried fruits in granola?
Add the dried fruits into the granola once it's baked, no need to bake them, it's easily burned in baking.
What are the other things to add granola?
Seeds can be added in granola. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds and sesame seeds are taste great with granola.
In addition to that coconut flakes or slices can be added. Personally i like to add desiccated unsweetened coconut flakes into my granola. The flavor of coconut goes well with the oats and it's my favorite ingredient in making granola.
Procedure
Notes:
When we were newly married, most of the days, our morning breakfast was some kind of store bought cereal. Before marriage, ST was so used to having cereals for morning breakfast in the US, so later when i had joined him, i too followed the same because i didn't know anything in cooking back then. Initially i liked it without bothering much about how healthy it is for breakfast and all. Later it's kind of bored and started to make the typical tamilnadu breakfast such as idli/dosa for breakfast.
Which oats is best for granola?
Old fashioned rolled oats is best for making granola. Don't use the quick 2 mins oats for this recipe
Which oil is best for making granola?
My personal choice is coconut oil. I love the mild coconut flavor in the granola. But you can use the olive oil, canola oil or any flavorless oil also.
What are the nuts taste best with granola?
In today's recipe, i have used almonds alone. But you can use whatever nuts you like. Almonds, pecans, cashews and walnuts also taste good with granola.
Honey or maple syrup for granola?
Again it's purely a personal choice. I like maple syrup over honey any day. Also i have read that using honey helps to clump the granola together, so if you're into clumpy granola, use honey or half and half of both
How to make clumpy granola ?
Personally i don't like clumpy granola, so haven't tried all those tips available online for making clumpy granola. Like i said before honey helps to make clumpy granola. Another tip is to press the oats well and bake it. Once it's out of the oven, don't stir it immediately, let it cool naturally, all these help to get clumpy granola.
When to add dried fruits in granola?
Add the dried fruits into the granola once it's baked, no need to bake them, it's easily burned in baking.
What are the other things to add granola?
Seeds can be added in granola. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds and sesame seeds are taste great with granola.
In addition to that coconut flakes or slices can be added. Personally i like to add desiccated unsweetened coconut flakes into my granola. The flavor of coconut goes well with the oats and it's my favorite ingredient in making granola.
Homemade Granola | How to make Granola
Preparation Time : 10 mins | Cooking Time : 20 mins | Serves : 2
Recipe Category: Breakfast | Recipe Cuisine: Indian
Recipe Category: Breakfast | Recipe Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
Rolled Oats - 2 cups
Almonds - 3/4 cup
Raisins - 1/2 cup
Desiccated Coconut - 3 tbsp
Coconut Oil - 1/4 cup
Maple Syrup - 1/4 cup
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Vanilla extract - 1/4 tsp
Rolled Oats - 2 cups
Almonds - 3/4 cup
Raisins - 1/2 cup
Desiccated Coconut - 3 tbsp
Coconut Oil - 1/4 cup
Maple Syrup - 1/4 cup
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Vanilla extract - 1/4 tsp
Procedure
First take the coconut oil and maple syrup in a bowl, add salt & vanilla extract into it.
Mix it all well together. Then add the oats and almonds(i have chopped them into half). Mix them well until all the oats coated with oil & syrup mixture.
Preheat the oven @300 F. Line the baking tray with parchment paper and transfer the oats mixture into it. Spread them evenly as single layer and put it in the oven and bake it for 20-25 mins. Half way through take the tray out and mix it well and press it again and put it back in oven.
Once the oats are out of oven, add the raisins and coconut. Mix it well. Let them cool completely and store it in air tight container.
Healthy Granola is ready !!
For more international breakfast recipe, check out here or if you do like pancakes, check out this amazing oats pancakes made from rolled oats.Mix it all well together. Then add the oats and almonds(i have chopped them into half). Mix them well until all the oats coated with oil & syrup mixture.Preheat the oven @300 F. Line the baking tray with parchment paper and transfer the oats mixture into it. Spread them evenly as single layer and put it in the oven and bake it for 20-25 mins. Half way through take the tray out and mix it well and press it again and put it back in oven.Once the oats are out of oven, add the raisins and coconut. Mix it well. Let them cool completely and store it in air tight container.Healthy Granola is ready !! Notes:
- Other than raisins you can add whatever the dried fruits you like
- Every oven differs slightly and so keep an eye on the oats while baking.
- When the oats is well toasted, it's crunchy when it's cooled.
- Instead of using chopped almonds, you can use as it as whole also.
- If you're coconut oil is frozen, put it in a bowl of hot water or microwave it until it's all melted.
- If you're making in large quantity, use large pan or do it in batch for even roasting of oats
- In addition to the vanilla extract,you can add 1/2 tsp of cinnamon flavor also for extra flavor.
