Granola for the Skinny

Submitted by Jen (Chef #882820)

"My poor wisp of a husband recently found out he was gluten intolerant. Combine that with his vegetarianism and active lifestyle and he's withering away to nothing. He also has virtually nothing to eat for breakfast, hence this deliciously fattening granola full of lovely things like seeds, nuts and dried fruit. It's also not overly sweet as a base, especially since the fruit adds to the overall sweetness. I prefer the oven to the microwave as it gives the granola a toasty flavor. Experiment with different types of nuts, dried fruit, and honey. You can use old fashioned rolled or quick oats. The old fashioned have a better overall quality but don't clump well, while the quick oats can get pasty when too wet but help with the clumping. I prefer 3 parts old fashioned and 1 part quick."

 

• Ready In: 25mins
• Ingredients: 9
• Yields: 4 cups
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 4 cups dry oats (old fashioned rolled or quick)
• 3⁄4 cup vegetable oil (sunflower is nice)
• 1⁄4 cup demerara sugar (or brown sugar)
• 1⁄4 - 1⁄2 teaspoon salt, to taste
• 1⁄4 cup seeds
• 3⁄4 cup nuts (almonds are great)
• 1⁄4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup dried fruit (keep aside)

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F (180 C).
2. In a bowl, mix together all dry ingredients EXCEPT fruit.
3. In a cup, mix together liquid ingredients (oil, honey, vanilla).
4. Blend wet and dry ingredients together until oat mixture is thoroughly coated.
5. Put mixture in a glass baking dish and bake for 10 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and mix in dried fruit.
7. Spread mixture evenly across the dripping pan that comes with your oven.
8. Put back in oven and turn mixture every 5 minutes for 10-15 minutes until a very pale golden brown.
9. Remove from oven and push into a mound, then leave to cool.
10. When cool, crumble the mound with a fork and place in an airtight container.
11. Enjoy.

Reviews

[jceigler]

Sounds tasty but he should know that normal oats are *not* gluten free...you have to buy special GF oats. He may be poisoning himself if he eats normal, contaminated oats.