Granola or Granula

Granola has emerged in recent years as a nutritional trend for healthy eating aficionados. It is essentially a mixture of oat-based cereals containing nuts, dried fruits and seeds, and forms crispy balls that blend wonderfully with milk, yogurt or a smoothie.

Granola first saw the light of day in Danesville, New York in 1863. It was the brainchild of the American nutritionist Dr. James Caleb Jackson, and was inspired in Jackson Sanitarium, a well-known health spa of the time. Jackson originally prepared it using Graham flour and gave it a shape that looked like a very thick legume. He called it “granula”, but a few years later a similar cereal was developed by John Harvey Kellogg (of the well-known cereal company), which was marketed as “granola” to avoid legal issues and thus “granola” prevailed in the end.

The Favourite Snack of the Hippies

In the early 1960s, granola was enriched with fruit and nuts and was highly appreciated by the hippies, as it matched the “back to nature” ideal  that was close to the movement’s heart. Over the next few years, the rights for the production of granola were sold to major cereal companies, resulting in worldwide popularity.

What is contained in granola

There is no single recipe for granola. There is a great deal of flexibility in how  ingredients can be mixed and matched, with the exception of oat flakes which form the basis, as this is a matter of personal preference. Depending on the choice of ingredients, the nutritional value of granola varies accordingly. In any case, it is rich in fibre (bestowed by oats) and protein (bestowed by nuts and seeds)—both conducive to a feeling of fullness.

• Oat Flakes: Rich in fibre and carbohydrates, oat flakes are the basis of granola and provide the necessary energy needed by the body in order to cope with the demands of the day.
• Nuts and Dried Fruit: You can choose a single item or a mix of walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, etc., and also add a handful of raisins and dried apricots, blueberries or figs, which provide a small dose of sugars and add a pleasant sweet note to the mix.
• Seeds: Pine cones, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds and poppy seeds, which are rich in vitamins, minerals and trace elements, also fit perfectly in the mix.
• Rice: Rice can add a nice crunchy note to the mix.
• Dark Chocolate: For extra taste!
• Honey, molasses, sugar, agave or maple syrup: Only a small amount is needed, just enough to bind the materials together.
• Oil: Also a necessary material to bake the mix and get its characteristic brown colour and crispy taste.

Granola vs Muesli

Some people confuse granola with muesli. However, they are not the same thing. Unlike muesli, which is consumed raw and unsweetened, granola is always baked and a sweetener is added in the mix, such as honey, brown sugar or agave syrup, to bind the ingredients together. Like muesli, granola is usually added to cold drinks or products (e.g. yogurt) so as to preserve its crispiness.

Both are an excellent choice for breakfast, but also for a nutritious snack later in the day. I often carry a small portion of granola in my bag to snack between activities. A handful of granola can keep me full for several hours and save me from starving to death when the time comes to sit for my main meal!

Recipe

For the Granola we will need:

• 300g fine oat flakes
• 100g organic almonds coarsely chopped
• 80mL coconut oil
• 50mL honey or other sweetener
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon or other spice optional

Preheat the oven to 160 degrees in the air or 180 degrees Celsius. Melt the coconut oil in a saucepan. Add the liquid natural sweetener that we chose, the cinnamon, the oat flakes and mix well. Transfer the mixture to the pan with the greaseproof paper and spread it evenly. Bake for about 10-15 minutes until it gets a light brown color. It may take up to 25 minutes depending on the mass we have spread. As soon as we take out the Granola, let it cool completely and then break it into pieces. Now we can add the ingredients we like. E.g. nuts, dried fruit, cocoa, chocolate chips. During baking, turn the Granola with a fork. We watch the oven for the last 5 minutes, so that it doesn't burn. Store in an airtight jar for up to 2 weeks.