Yummy granola

I have always known the health benefits of oats and I have tried many times to eat a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, but somehow....I don't like the taste of it! I know oats are good.....so I try to use them in crumbles, cakes, muffins, etc. But oats in sinful desserts tend to lose their goodness, right? Definitely doesn't give you an excuse to eat more of them! 

Then one day I came across homemade granola while going through some food blogs. My first thought was "why didn't I think of this sooner?". I guess because granola isn't very common in India! I loved the idea of making some granola at home....lots of oats, nuts,  and not too much sugar.....a bowl full of goodness and taste.

Most recipes I browsed online used rolled oats, but I used the instant variety since I could find only that. I think it worked just as well! The baking time did reduce significantly. 30 minutes in the kitchen, and I had some healthy and yummy home-made granola.....that I know is going to become a staple in my house now!

Enjoy with fruit, thick yogurt, cereal, icecream......or like I have been doing....straight out of the box! Any other interesting way you eat your granola?

 For 3 cups of granola:

2 cups instant oats

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup chopped almonds

1 tbsp flax seeds

1/3 cup chopped figs

2 tbsps raisins

2 tbsps dried cranberries

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup honey

2 tbsps vegetable or canola oil

In a big bowl, combine the oats, walnuts, almonds, and flax seeds. Sprinkle the salt, sugar and cinnamon over it. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper of aluminium foil. Pre-heat your oven to 150C/300F.

Mix the honey and oil in a small pan and heat until it becomes a thin homogenous mixture. Add the vanilla extract to it. Pour over the oats mixture and toss well until the nuts and oats are evenly coated.

Spread the mixture on the baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Make sure you toss the granola around every 5 minutes so that it cooks evenly. Oats burn very easily so you have to be careful.

Remove from oven and add the raisins, cranberries and figs. Mix well and cool for an hour. 

Store in an air-tight container in a cool and dry place. Should keep for a week to 10 days.

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