Chunky Granola

It's been fun experimenting with granola here in Kyiv. I have an abundance of inexpensive kasha grains readily available--I can't identify them all and my Russian dictionary doesn't give much detail beyond "grain cereal." I think we've used oats, wheat, corn, buckwheat, millet, and I'm not sure what else.

My favorite recipe is Mollie Katzen's stove-top, dry roasted granola. (I believe is in her "Enchanted Broccoli Forest" cookbook.) It's best for small batches of granola.

For large batches, I like this recipe. It is low-fat and I can adjust it to be low-sugar. The technique that makes it "chunky granola" also helps the smaller, crushed grains, be part of the chunks instead of gathering at the bottom of the granola jar.

CHUNKY GRANOLA

8 c Rolled oats
1 c Nuts (more if desired -- up to double this amount)
1/2 c Sunflower seeds
1/2 c Whole millet -OR- whole buckwheat groats
3 c Whole wheat flour (or more)
-OR- part cornmeal, rice flour,or other whole-grain flour
1 t Salt (or more, as desired)
1/2 c Honey (or more, -- up to double this amount)
1 c -Hot water, or up to:
2 c -Hot water *
1 t Vanilla

* Note: More water makes the granola chunkier, less makes it crumbly.

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl or pot, combine oats, nuts, seeds, millet, flour, and salt. Mix together honey, water, and vanilla, and stir into dry ingredients. Spread on a lightly oiled baking sheet and squeeze mixture together to form small chunks, but don't crowd; the chunks need to bake clear through. Roast until golden brown, about 10 to 20 minutes. (With the larger amount of water, reduce heat and bake longer.) As it bakes the granola may need stirring to brown evenly. Cool thoroughly before storing.

Variations: Replace part of the water with the freshly squeezed juice of 2 oranges (and add the grated rinds if the oranges were not sprayed with pesticides), or use 2 teaspoons orange oil.

For "gingerbread" granola, use half molasses (for half honey) and add 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ginger and 1/4 teaspoon cloves.

For a nice change, substitute maple syrup for honey.

Source: "Diet for Small Planet" by Frances Moore Lappe

Family Favorites:

* Pina Colada Granola: No nuts, dried coconut, dried pineapple bits, coconut sweetened condensed milk

* Carmel Apple Crunch: Dried apples, raisins, dinnamon, carmel sweetened condensed milk, walnuts

Variations:

* I like to use sweetened condensed milk in place of the honey, because it is less expensive and I can get flavored milks here (peach, coconut, strawberry, lemon.) I usually use half a can for a big recipe--I find I need very little sweetner when adding dried fruits.

* I like to add a handful or two of store bought cereals--rice puffs, corn flakes, whatever--to give a little more variety to the texture.

* I use a cream-of-wheat type kasha in place of the flour in this recipe, and use a bit less than the recipe suggests.

Posted by TulipGirl | 09:57 PM| TrackBack (0) | Words

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Comments

Oh yum! I need to try this!
Posted by: Jordana at March 31, 2004 10:29 PM

I like to make granola and dried fruit upside down cake! Also works well with banana bread! Gives a nice crunchy top!
Posted by: inAZ at April 1, 2004 12:15 AM

inAZ, not fair to give a teaser like that without a recipe. *eg*
Posted by: TulipGirl at April 1, 2004 01:01 AM

We (my pal Jamie & I) loved zolotiy kranch when we were in Kiev. So yummy! Paul's not a cereal guy.
Posted by: Lenise at April 1, 2004 05:00 PM

Just out of curiosity, which Russian dictionary do y'all have over there?
Posted by: Chris T at April 1, 2004 05:16 PM

Katzner's.

And a couple of smaller ones. . .
Posted by: TulipGirl at April 1, 2004 07:09 PM

I used to make my own granola back when I was stationed in Germany. This recipe makes me want to make it again.
Posted by: mostly cajun at April 3, 2004 02:48 AM

Sounds so good! I've been looking for some granola recipes. I'll have to try that one and some variations! Thanks.
Posted by: Emily at April 3, 2004 07:44 PM

Recipe? You know i don't use those... *grin*
Yesterday was cold and rainy, so we made banana/pinapple bread with granola top. If you must use a recipe - use any bread or cake batch you like. I melt about a tbs. of butter in the bottom of our bread pan, sprinkle brown sugar and granola (with craisens or raisens sometimes) and then pour the batter over and bake... That's about as close to relating a recipe as i get!
Posted by: inAZ at April 3, 2004 09:32 PM

Ahhhh. . . I get what you mean by "granola upside down" now. *g*
Posted by: TulipGirl at April 4, 2004 03:05 AM

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