Every Ingredient in This Easy Almond and Coconut Granola Recipe Is Good for Your Gut
ICYMI, we’re huge fans of big-batch recipes that you can prep ahead of time to make cooking a walk in the park throughout the week. (One of our favorite eye-opening revelations last year? Discovering that you can make large batches of iced coffee concentrate in your Instant Pot in just five minutes. You're welcome.)
As we dive into 2023, we’d like to continue riding the wave of easy meal-prepping hacks—with special preference given to tips and tricks that guarantee we'll have a delicious, well-balanced breakfast ready to go every morning.
If you're following along with Well+Good's 2023 ReNew Year program, you already know that according to Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN, owner of Brooklyn-based Maya Feller Nutrition and cookbook author of Eating from Our Roots (which comes out January 24), one way to make sure you never ever skip breakfast is by making her prized big-batch granola recipe. It's packed with protein-rich, heart-healthy ingredients and is the perfect combination of crunchy, chewy, and delicious.
Trust: You’ll want to sprinkle this granola recipe on just about everything. Refreshing brain-boosting smoothie bowl or gut-healthy Greek yogurt parfait, anyone?
What makes this big-batch recipe for granola so good for you
According to Feller, this granola is packed with nutrient-rich, plant-based protein and healthy fats thanks to nine simple ingredients, including avocado oil, rolled oats, nuts (like almonds and walnuts), omega-rich seeds, and dried fruit (like coconut flakes, blueberries, and raisins). Her hearty granola recipe also lends itself to being prepped in double (or triple) batches, giving you easy, effort-free access to a healthy breakfast every morning—which is a highly important part of having plenty of energy all day long.
Research has shown that folks who skip breakfast tend to miss out on calcium, vitamin C, fiber, and other necessary vitamins and minerals often found in common breakfast foods, including milk, fruit, and, of course, granola. As for this recipe, the ingredient list helps ensure you meet your necessary nutrient values with every bite.
For starters, let’s talk healthy nuts. Almonds contain heart-healthy fats, fiber, and are one of the best natural sources of the antioxidant vitamin E, containing approximately 35 to 40 percent of the daily recommended intake per one-ounce serving. Meanwhile, walnuts have loads of omega-3 fatty acids which are linked to cardiovascular health, cognitive functioning, and decreased symptoms of depression and inflammation in the body. Plus, the dried fruits (she calls for blueberries and raisins, but feel free to swap in whatever suits your palate) pack a punch of antioxidants and dietary fiber while naturally adding sweetness to the mix. The real star of the show, though, is the rolled oats—they're so good for your gut and digestive regularity thanks to their high fiber and plant-based protein content.
Best part? This simple recipe yields enough granola to satisfy your breakfast and snacking needs for an entire month—so long as you keep it fresh by storing it in an airtight container, and in a cool spot in your kitchen. It’s safe to say this recipe for granola is going to be a total lifesaver in 2023—and for years to come.
How to make Maya Feller's big-batch recipe for granola
Yields 8 servings
Ingredients
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup avocado oil
18-ounce canister of rolled oats (about 5 2/3 cups)
15-ounces sliced almonds (about 3 1/2 cups)
15-ounces crushed walnuts (about 3 1/2 cups)
6-ounces organic triple omega seeds mix (about 1 cup)
1 bag unsweetened coconut flakes
8-ounces dried unsweetened blueberries (about 1 3/4 cup)
8-ounces raisins (about 1 3/4 cup)
1. Preheat the oven to 250°F. In a large bowl, combine vanilla extract and avocado oil, whisk together with a fork, and set aside.
2. In another large bowl, combine the filled oats, almonds, walnuts, seeds, and coconut flakes and pour the oil mixture into the oats while continuously stirring
3. Transfer to two lined sheet pans and place into the center rack of the oven, and bake for 45-60 minutes. Be sure to check the granola every 20 minutes to stir and rotate it.
4. When done, remove from oven. Allow to cool and place into an airtight container away from direct sunlight or heat.
Want more granola inspo? Look no further:
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