Nut-Free Ginger Granola

Welcome back to another recipe! I hope you all had an amazing week and that you are doing well. I, unfortunately, fell sick after our holiday and have (more or less) spend the last five days in bed. I was debating whether even to post a recipe this week, but I stumbled across the pictures for this awesome nut-free ginger granola and knew that this would be the perfect post for this week!

Have you ever made your own granola? I have done so for a number of years now and I can tell you that once you start – there is no going back to store-bought options. Not only is self-made granola a lot cheaper than buying, but it is also so much more delicious. The difference is literally like night and day.

A couple of years ago, my friends visited me from my home town and we had granola for breakfast. They went back and I had pictures from both of them, individually, making granola the very next day 😂.

This nut-free ginger granola will make your tastebuds sing. It is delicious, tastes slightly of ginger and is super crunchy. Simply a dream 🤩. It is one of these recipes that is on constant rotation in my house.

Why is this nut-free Ginger Granola good for you?

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin Seeds contain quite a bit of protein, as well as a healthy dose of fat. They also contain some vital nutrients such as Vitamin K, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Manganese, Iron, Zinc, and Copper. Phosphorus, amongst other things, keeps your bones and teeth healthy and filters out waste from your kidney. Magnesium allows your body to convert food into energy. It is also involved in helping to build new proteins in your body. In addition, Pumpkin Seeds are stock-full of antioxidants, which are great in lowering inflammation in your body. They have also been linked to reducing certain types of cancers, particularly in the stomach, breast, lung, prostate and colon area.

Sunflower Seeds

These little nuggets of goodness come from the head of the sunflower and are – also – antioxidant powerhouses. Sunflower seeds are full of Vitamin E (great for your skin) and Selenium. Selenium contains a lot of antioxidative power but it is also a superfood for your thyroid. The little gland located in our neck areas contains more Selenium than any other part of our bodies. Selenium protects the thyroid gland against oxidative damage, thus ensuring that the thyroid is regulated optimally. This ensures both a healthy metabolism and optimal growth.

Dates

Dates are a lovely addition to any diet as they contain a large amount of fiber, which is great for your overall gut health. The high amount of fiber may also help with blood sugar control, as it allows food to move more slowly through your gut and thereby preventing spikes. Dates are full of antioxidants, amongst others one called “Flavenoids”. They help to reduce inflammation in your body and they have been studied to help with a reduced risk for diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. They also contain “Carotenoids”, which are both beneficial for your heart and eye health.

Ginger

Ginger – another strong friend in the “anti-inflammatory” category. I find that some people cannot stand the taste as it is too strong for them, but if you can – stock up on it! Ginger has long been used as medicinal property. It is great to promote digestion, fight off nausea and also helps to beat both cold and flu. Next to this amazing granola – I love to cut up fresh ginger and add boiling water, drinking it like a tea. Fun fact: I am also the girl that eats ginger from ALL of the plates when I am out for Sushi with my friends 😉.

How to adjust this recipe to your dietary requirements?

This granola is nut-free and vegan. I am conscious not everyone can have nuts and quite a few of my recipes are with nuts on this blog. It is also naturally gluten-free, however, if you are celiac be sure to use certified, gluten-free oats. To make this recipe paleo, you can swap the oats with equal amounts of blanched or chopped almonds and the buckwheat with equal amounts of walnuts. If the sugar content in the dates is too high for your liking, feel free to swap in goji berries for the dates. the processing of the recipe does not change.

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And there you have it for this week. I hope you enjoy this super awesome deliciousness! If you get a chance to make it over the weekend, do not forget to tag me in your recipes on Instagram under @life_and_lemons_foodblog and with the #lifeandlemonsfoodblog. You can also leave me a comment below. I always love hearing from you!