Trifecta. Isn’t that a fantastic word?! I’m not enirely sure it is an appropriate term for what I am describing, but as I’ve said before, I love words. This one gets stuck in my head more than any other word I can think of right now (Weird Fact: It is usually James Franco’s voice saying it in the same manner he did in the film “Pineapple Express“), and I hardly ever get a chance to use it. Until now.
There are three super-powered seeds in this granola: Hemp, Flax, and Chia. They are all considered super foods because of their amazing health benefits. Hemp seeds are an excellent source of very easily digestible protein, and they are full of omegas and crucial amino acids that most vegetable proteins lack. Flax seeds are very rich in lignans and omega-3 fatty acids. They have been proven to control cholesterol, regulate bowel movements, and prevent cancer and heart disease. Chia seeds, on top of being chock-full of soluble fibers, omegas, and proteins, they are full of cleansing and hydrating properties. Aztec warriors would cross the dessert for days at a time, keeping chia seeds under their tongues to prevent dehydration. I’m not an Aztec warrior, but I am totally on board with all of these health benefits!
This granola unites all three seeds creating a trifecta (Yay!) of wondrous health benefits. With gluten-free oats and crisp rice cereal, as the base, andusing brown rice syrup as the base, this granola is light and not overly sweet. It is gluten-free, sugar-free, and very low in oil. It is, by far, my favorite granola to date. Usually it is just Chris who eats the granola for breakfast, but I have quit my oatmeal (for now) and have been enjoying this trifecta (Yay!) of goodness every morning.
SUPER SEED TRIFECTA GRANOLA
Ingredients:
- 3 cups crisp brown rice cereal (gluten-free)
- 3 cups gluten-free rolled oats
- ½ cup hemp hearts (shelled hemp seeds)
- ½ cup brown flax seeds
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- ½ cup brown rice syrup
- 2 T flax oil (or other oil)
- 1 T molasses
- ½ T vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 275. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In a small bowl, combine the wet ingredients.
- Heat the wet ingredients in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes. Alternatively, you can heat the wet ingredients in a saucepan, until it just begins to bubble around the edges.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and thoroughly combine. Divide the mixture between the two baking sheets and spread out evenly.
- Bake the granola for 45 minutes, switching shelves for each sheet (i.e. placing the sheet from the top shelf on the lower shelf and vice versa). Once done, let cool completely before transferring to an air-tight container. You may be able to make this granola raw (and retain much more of the seeds’ health benefits) by using a dehydrator or perhaps letting it set in the refrigerator until clusters are formed. I have not tried this route, so I cannot vouch for it. When I do try it, I will post and update. Enjoy!
As if this Super Seed Trifecta (I had to say it one last time!) wasn’t great enough by itself, I’ve been using it as an ingredient in another super-powered recipe! Stay tuned for more super goodness!
All Photos taken by Chris Miller
© Kristy Turner and Keepin’ It Kind, 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material (content and images) without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kristy Turner and Keepin’ It Kind with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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what a beautiful trifecta of seeds in this granola! it’s the perfect snack for a hungry, seed-loving vegan..and even better, you can share it with bird friends on a park bench! (but if you’re like me, you don’t do sharing..)
Caitlin, this granola wouldn’t even make it to the park. I would be shoving fistfuls in my mouth on the way over, so by the time I got there, there would be none for birds. I guess I’m not a good sharer either. But who needs sharing when it comes to this seedy granola- Keep it all for yourself, I say!
Wow Kristy, that really is a trifecta of amazingness! It sounds so delicious! I love granola, but it is so hard to find prepackaged ones that are wholesome and GF! this looks divine! thanks for sharing! have a great day!
Thanks, Caralyn! That is the whole reason I started making my own granola- I don’t care for the idea of spending a fortune on an over processed product. I can’t get enough of this granola, though! It’s my new fave! I hope you’re having an awesome day too!
Mmmm this super granola is calling out to be in a breakfast parfait!
Definitely! Especially one of your parfaits!
As soon as I saw the word TRIFECTA I had to come right over. I mean, that is serious talk! I’m SO into the hemp seeds and chias right now – I’m kinda goofy about it. Yummy granola!
Goofy would be the perfect word to describe how I am about hemp seeds right now- and you’re the one who convinced me to try them. Totally goofy! Thank you, Annie!
I can just imagine you in your kitchen making this and singing, “Ch-ch-ch-chia!” And then with your best James Franco impersonation, “Trifecta.” This looks substantive and so healthy!
Have you been watching me? Did you see my practicing my James Franco in front of the mirror? You know me oh so well.
I have a jar of chia-hemp-coconut shreds and a jar of flax-wheat germ, to sprinkle over breakfast, smoothies, and dessert!
A girl after my own heart! I have been a hemp-sprinklin’ machine lately!
So I made this last night… who knew making granola would be so easy… ok so I had puffed brown rice cereal but who cares…. My hubby loved it..
My teen says mom you know how to follow recipes so its not like your a chef..lol being Vegan only 18 months I had to now follow recipes and change everything so its a work in process, hence the finding new blogs with great recipes to try…. hmmm maybe I should start a blog about that… instead of finding vegan… it could be trying vegan.. (recipes that is) HAHA
thanks again…
That’s exactly what I said the first time I made granola- Who knew it could be so easy? And so much healthier and cheaper…
It’s amazing how changing one’s eating habits can be so inspiring in the kitchen. I’ve always liked cooking, but it wasn’t until I started preparing vegan food that I really fell in love with it. I think your blog idea is so great- I think the more that’s out there that shows the world how easy and fun and tasty it can be to make vegan food, the better. Go for it!
I ran out of brown rice syrup, think it’d work with agave or molasses?
I would do a combination of both. Some PB might be a nice twist too.
Dude, you even have the perfect trifecta bowl! How cute is that!?! I love a supercharged breakfast!!!
Thanks! It’s actually a dip trio bowl, but shhhh! Don’t tell anyone!