What is granola?
Granola is a mixture of roasted oats, various nuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, agave syrup (or honey or sugar), and various flavorings like fruits or chocolate pieces. It is an excellent base for a delicious, healthy breakfast. Just add natural yogurt or milk to the granola. It can also be used to make bars and desserts. In recent years, granola has gained enormous popularity among adults and children alike due to its health benefits and ease of preparation.
Homemade granola is a great alternative to store-bought products, which often contain high amounts of sugar and artificial additives. By making granola yourself, you have full control over the ingredients and can customize the recipe to your needs and taste preferences. Additionally, homemade granola is a perfect way to use up leftover nuts, seeds, and dried fruits in your kitchen, allowing you to create a unique blend perfectly suited to your tastes.
Why make homemade granola?
Our champion breakfast often takes the form of homemade granola with yogurt and favorite toppings. The better the ingredients you use, the tastier and healthier the granola will be. It’s worth reaching for organic dried fruits, especially freeze-dried fruits, which retain most of their nutritional value, intense flavor, and crunchiness thanks to the freeze-drying process. Homemade granola also allows for experimenting with different ingredients, making it never boring.
By choosing natural ingredients like organic oats, nuts, and seeds, you can create a granola full of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Agave syrup, which has a low glycemic index, is an excellent sugar substitute, making the granola healthier and more suitable for those watching their blood sugar levels. Additionally, making granola at home allows you to adjust its sweetness to your needs, which is particularly important for those on a low-sugar diet. Homemade granola is also a great way to involve children in the kitchen and teach them healthy eating habits.
Benefits of freeze-dried fruits
Freeze-drying is a process that involves drying fruits by freezing and then removing the water at low temperatures. This allows freeze-dried fruits to retain their natural properties and are rich in vitamins and minerals. Adding these fruits to granola not only enhances its flavor but also increases its nutritional value. Freeze-dried fruits have a long shelf life, making them an ideal ingredient for pantry storage.
Freeze-dried fruits retain their original structure, color, and taste, making them an excellent addition to many dishes, not just granola. They can be used as a healthy snack, an addition to yogurts, smoothies, or desserts. Moreover, freeze-dried fruits are lightweight and easy to store, making them perfect for travel and outings. Thanks to freeze-drying, the fruits are protected from spoilage, allowing them to be stored long-term without losing quality.
How to make homemade granola?
The following recipe is a basic granola recipe. Once you make it yourself, you won’t buy it from the store again. The difference in taste is colossal, and its preparation is incredibly simple. You know what you’re eating and control the amount of sweeteners added. We use agave syrup, which has a glycemic index five times lower than sugar. We don’t use honey, although it is very healthy, because it would lose its valuable properties during roasting (it loses them at temperatures above 40°C).
Making granola is great fun that involves the whole family. You can experiment with different types of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits to create a unique blend. You can also add spices like cinnamon, vanilla, or ginger to enrich its flavor. It’s important to stir the granola regularly during baking to ensure all the ingredients roast evenly. The finished granola can be stored in an airtight jar for several weeks, making it always on hand for a quick and healthy breakfast.
Ingredients:
– 2.5 cups of rolled oats
– 1 cup of walnuts (shelled)
– 0.5 cups of almond flakes
– 1 cup of sunflower seeds
– 3 tablespoons of olive oil
– 0.5 cups of agave syrup
– Favorite freeze-dried fruits
You can modify the ingredients to suit your preferences. You can add pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, or other favorite nuts. It’s also worth trying different types of cereal flakes, such as buckwheat, barley, or rye flakes. Freeze-dried fruits can be chosen seasonally, allowing you to enjoy the taste of summer fruits all year round. Agave syrup can be replaced with another natural sweetener like maple syrup or date syrup, depending on your taste preferences.
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F). Line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, combine the rolled oats, coarsely chopped walnuts, almond flakes, and sunflower seeds; add the agave syrup and olive oil; mix everything thoroughly and spread it on the baking tray lined with parchment paper. Place in the oven.
3. Bake for 20–30 minutes, stirring twice during baking to ensure all ingredients roast evenly to a golden brown.
4. Remove from the oven, let cool, and transfer to an airtight jar.
While baking, keep an eye on the granola to prevent it from burning. If you prefer crunchier granola, you can bake it a few minutes longer, but remember to stir regularly to avoid burning. After cooling, the granola can be stored in an airtight container for several weeks. Adding freeze-dried fruits just before serving ensures they stay fresh and crunchy, further enriching the flavor and texture of the granola.
Properties of freeze-dried foods
Freeze-dried foods retain the natural flavor, aroma, and full nutritional and biochemical value of their ingredients. They also maintain their natural appearance, color, shape, and internal structure. They have a residual moisture content of less than 5%, which protects them excellently from spoilage and allows them to be stored for years in airtight packaging under any climatic conditions.
Freeze-dried fruits are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals essential for health. The freeze-drying process preserves most of the nutritional value of the fruits, making them as healthy as fresh fruits. Freeze-dried fruits are also easy to store and transport, making them an ideal choice for snacks on the go. Additionally, these fruits are lightweight and have a long shelf life, making them a perfect choice for active people and those who care about a healthy diet.
Advantages of freeze-drying
They obtain a microscopically porous structure with a large internal surface area, ensuring the original state is achieved within minutes after rehydration. Compared to preservation by freezing, freeze-drying eliminates the high costs associated with transport, storage, and maintaining the cold chain, as well as the risk of product spoilage in the event of a power outage or equipment failure. Therefore, freeze-drying is not only an effective but also an economical method of food preservation.
The freeze-drying process was developed for astronauts who needed lightweight, durable food with high nutritional value. Today, this technology is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Freeze-dried products are popular among athletes, tourists, and health-conscious individuals. Thanks to freeze-drying, we can enjoy the taste and nutritional value of seasonal fruits all year round, which is especially important during the winter months when access to fresh fruits is limited.
Why choose freeze-dried fruits?
Freeze-dried fruits have many advantages. First and foremost, they retain most of their nutritional value, making them a healthy addition to granola. They are lightweight, making them an ideal snack for travel. Additionally, they have a long shelf life, meaning they can be stored for a long time without fear of losing quality. This allows us to enjoy the taste and nutritional value of fruits all year round.
Freeze-dried fruits are also convenient to use. They require no preparation; just add them to granola, yogurt, smoothies, or desserts. Thanks to freeze-drying, the fruits retain their natural structure and flavor, making them an excellent addition to many dishes. Freeze-dried fruits are also free from preservatives and artificial additives, making them a healthy choice for the whole family. It’s worth including them in your daily diet to enrich it with valuable vitamins and minerals.
Homemade granola with freeze-dried fruits
Our favorite combination is homemade granola with yogurt and freeze-dried fruits. In season, we add fresh raspberries, currants, and blackberries, and out of season, freeze-dried fruits. This way, we can enjoy the taste of summer all year round. Freeze-dried fruits add exceptional flavor and crunchiness to granola, while also increasing its nutritional value. Homemade granola with freeze-dried fruits is a great way to enjoy a healthy and delicious breakfast that provides energy for the entire day.
Granola with freeze-dried fruits is also a great option for a snack during the day. You can take it with you to work, school, or on a trip. Just store it in an airtight container to keep it fresh and crunchy. With a variety of ingredients, granola never gets boring, and its preparation is quick and easy. Try our recipe and see how easy it is to make healthy and delicious granola at home.
Conclusion
Making homemade granola with freeze-dried fruits is a great way to enjoy a healthy and delicious breakfast. With a simple recipe, you can enjoy crunchy granola full of nutritional value. Adding freeze-dried fruits makes the granola even more special and tasty. Freeze-dried fruits retain their nutritional value and flavor, making them an ideal addition to granola. Try our recipe and see how easy it is to prepare healthy granola at home!