Who is Jamie?

Jamie is everywhere; I am sure you have seen him on social media or tv and in magazines.

For those who don’t know him I can tell you that he was the first celebrity chef I liked in the UK.

His non meticulous style caught my attention. If one day you have the opportunity to watch Jamie Oliver cook you might notice that everything is everywhere: he uses his hands, almost up to the elbows…but in the end the food looks amazing. In some way I think that he teaches us real cooking, cooking that is not perfect.

In my attempt to find nutritious food for my family, I tried his Granola Dust recipe which is basically a homemade granola ground into dust. The good thing is that once ready, it can be saved in a sealed jar for a quick and healthy breakfast.

Oats and nuts have a bad reputation because of their high-calorie content but their positive long-term effect is undeniable. The right amount of nuts (a handful per day) allows you to feel full for a long time and silences your appetite throughout the day (clinically proven). As a result you benefit from healthy nutrients while (possibly!) losing weight.

Oats are a natural diuretic which regulates our metabolism. They can also help regulate our blood sugar because of their high fibre content and low glycemic index.

Here is a brief description of some of the ingredients I recommend for your Granola Dust:

Nuts

Buy them ‘raw’, without any treatment and nothing added (no sugar, no salt), and buy them organic wherever possible.

• Almonds: their skin has a high antioxidant content and is good for the heart. Almonds act as a metabolism booster – according to the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition study – and have a high calcium content.
• Walnuts: one gram has more antioxidants than any other nut. They prevent cancer, heart attacks and premature cell ageing, among other things.
• Pecans: they have large amounts of minerals and vitamins which help reduce bad cholesterol.

Seeds

• Chia: deserve their own post! If I could suggest one thing: start eating them! Chia seeds regulate blood sugar (ideal for diabetics), lift our mood, facilitate weight loss, and prevent dehydration and joint inflammation. They have a high protein content, reduce bad cholesterol and generally contain loads of nutrients.
• Linseed: prevent heart attacks and reduce the likelihood of type 2 diabetes, while also being high in fibre.
• Sunflower Seeds: prevent heart attacks and cancer.
• Pumpkin Seeds: strengthen the immune system.

Cocoa Nibs

In case you wonder, they are roasted cocoa beans, the purest version of chocolate, without sugar. They are considered by many a ‘super food’ because of their high potassium, magnesium and fibre content. An added benefit is that when you eat them your brain develops endorphins, famously known as love hormones. Cocoa Nibs are not part of the original recipe but I include two handfuls to add a crunchy touch.

Granola Dust

Ingredients

1kg porridge oats

250g unsalted mixed nuts

250g mixed dried fruits

100g mixed seeds

3 Tbs quality cocoa powder

3 handful of cocoa nibs

Equipment

1 Large roasting tray

1 Scale

1 Bowl

Parchment paper

Measuring spoons

1 Food processor

1 Big sealed bag or airtight jar for storage

Instructions 

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/ 350F/ Gas 4.
2. Place the parchment paper on the roasting tray and add the nuts, seeds and oats on top.

3. Roast in the oven for approximately 15 minutes (toss them after 8 minutes and put them back in the oven for another 7 minutes).

4. Remove from the oven and allow to cool, then add the dried fruits and cocoa powder.

5. Grind all together in a food processor until you get a rough powder (you need to do it in batches unless you have a big food processor).

6. Once ready tip the mix into a large airtight jar and add the cocoa nibs. Stir or shake the jar. Keep the granola in the jar for storage.

7. You can have it for breakfast or as a healthy snack. You can mix it with fresh fruit, in smoothies or yoghurt or add it to hot or cold milk (almond milk, coconut milk…etc).

Resource: Jamie Oliver. 

The original recipe was modified. I didn’t include orange zest and coffee. I added cocoa nibs.