Everything you need to know to make your homemade granola a success

What is granola?

In 1863, Dr. James Caleb Jackson created “granula”, a filling bar made from oats and milk, presented as an alternative to breakfast. Since then, granola has changed a lot. Classic of Anglo-Saxon culture, this mixture of cereals, nuts and honey or sugar is related to muesli. The difference ? The first is a cooked mixture, while the second is raw. Some granolas also contain dried fruits: goji berries, grapes, diced apples, etc.

Why is granola a hit?

For several years, granola has taken over trendy canteens and Instagram accounts. The advantage of this product? It ticks all the right boxes! Rich in fiber and good fats, it is delicious, crunchy, instantly boosts any yogurt, can be nibbled at snack time, suitable for no-gluten fans, can be customized endlessly and is quite simple. to prepare.

Is granola good for your health?

Yes, as long as you don't overuse it. In fact, some granolas can contain up to 30% sugar, as well as fat. Eating handfuls of it every day is therefore not recommended.

How to make granola?

The basic granola recipe

In a salad bowl, mix 250 g of oat or spelled flakes, 150 g of roughly chopped nuts (macadamia nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, etc.), 2 tbsp. tablespoons of coconut oil or fat, 5 tbsp. tablespoon of sweetener (honey, maple syrup, agave syrup, rice syrup), 1 tbsp. teaspoon of fleur de sel. Place everything on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the oven preheated to 150°C/th. 5 and stir the mixture every 7 to 8 minutes. Let cool. Store everything in an airtight jar.

Variations of granola

There are countless granola recipes, each one as good as the next. For example, you can replace the oats with other cereal flakes such as barley or buckwheat, and add chestnut flakes or wheat germ. Regarding the choice of oil, first cold pressed oils (sesame oil, safflower, flax, evening primrose, or even borage) are more interesting from a nutritional point of view. Before cooking, it is also possible to incorporate seeds such as flax, alfalfa, pumpkin, poppy and nigella into the classic recipe. When adding dried fruits such as apricots, grapes, dates, bananas, we prefer to add them to already cooked granola so that they retain their softness. Are you a big fan of spices? Don’t hesitate to flavor everything with vanilla, cinnamon, star anise, anise, ginger or even licorice… In short, anything goes!

Chocolate. After cooking, add 50 g of crushed dark chocolate to the basic recipe.

With dried fruits. After cooking, add 100 g of chopped dried fruit (grapes, diced apples, blueberries, dates, figs, apricots, etc.) to the basic recipe.

Little sweet. Replace the sweetener in the basic recipe with 20 cl of apple juice. And add 50 g of raisins. Ideal as a dessert for a “trifle” alternating layers of granola, whipped vanilla cottage cheese and fresh fruit.

Thai savory. Mix 250 g of puffed rice (obtained by cooking for a few minutes in a pan over high heat), 125 g of plain peanuts, 50 g of coconut shavings, 2 tbsp. teaspoon of powdered ginger, the zest and juice of 2 limes, 3 tbsp. tablespoon of coconut fat. Cook everything for 15 minutes at 150°C. 5. Ideal with a salad of green papaya, shrimp, curry…

Rosemary savory. Mix 150 g of oatmeal, 50 g of pumpkin seeds, 25 g of pine nuts, 50 g of sunflower seeds, salt, 1 tbsp. tablespoons of chopped rosemary sprigs, 3 tbsp. tablespoons of honey, 100 g of tahini, 3 tbsp. tablespoon of olive oil, 1/2 tsp. of cumin and 1/2 tsp. sweet paprika. Cook everything for 15 minutes at 150°C/th. 5. Ideal with soups, salads, vegetables…

If you are a little more in a hurry, you can always use ready-made mixtures, purchased in supermarkets. Just add oil, honey and water, and toast them in the oven. Otherwise, here are 11 super simple and delicious homemade granola recipes!