The Best, Healthiest Homemade Granola
This is something I like to make batches of, particularly when the number of ripe/overripe bananas in the house become a little too much to eat (though sometimes we get extra bananas and ripen them up because I want to make this) - so, you know, you can keep this in mind for the next time you find yourself in a similar situation. Or if you're a little concerned about how many added sugars and preservatives you can find in store-bought granola…
Now, this isn't particularly quick, BUT this all-natural healthy food (and I'm not just trying to make a hard sell here, nope, not at all) can stay for months and makes for a yummy breakfast with yogurt, so this is one of those time investments I'm happy to make.
Let's get to it then, shall we?
Necessary Ingredients
Ripe/overripe bananas
Quantity depends on how much granola you want to make. Mash up one and see what quantity you get, and use that to estimate how many bananas to use.
You'll get granola that's at least 2 times the amount of banana
Oats (no specific brand - Weetabix Oats/Bokomo/Morning Harvest are the ones I've used)
Again, quantity depends. You'll have to mix the oats with bananas and stir to make a thick mixture, and keep adding some more till the banana gets 'saturated', so it varies.
Usually I use 5-6 bananas and about 8 cups of oats.
Ghee - just a tablespoon or so
Vanilla essence - 1 tsp
Cinnamon powder - 1.5 tsp (add more if you like)
Salt - 1 tsp
Optional Ingredients
Whatever else you want!
Seeds (sunflower or pumpkin)
Nuts
Dry fruit
Other 'flavorings' like cocoa powder or peanut butter
Steps
Mash the bananas
In a large pan, melt the ghee and add the bananas to it. Then add salt, cinnamon and vanilla essence and stir for about a minute or two to combine this thoroughly.
Take the pan off the gas.
Add the oats and other optional ingredients, if using, a little by little and stir. This mixture will get thick and it will progressively get harder to stir.
Keep going!
When the mixture is quite thick, spread it out as thinly as possible on greased-out aluminum foil.
Bake in a preheated oven for 60 minutes at 220C. (at the 30 minute point, take out of the oven and break into as many pieces as possible).
Important:
Do NOT try to up the temperature to slow the cooking time. You'll end up burning it - or the outside will become hard while the inside will remain soft - though this can then be a sort-of oatmeal/banana cookie…
Near the end, do not go elsewhere - keep an eye on the oven because when you get to the burning threshold it burns so fast.
Yes, I'm speaking from experience
Serving Suggestion: Layer it up with strained ('Greek') yogurt and fruit and make a healthy breakfast parfait!
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