Ever since my husband started his low-carb, high-fat diet, he’s eaten eggs for breakfast. This can get a little samey, and on mornings when he needs to get out the door fast, it’s nice to have a quicker option. For this reason, I’ve been developing a grain-free granola for him, and I’ve finally succeeded. Unfortunately for him, we all like it!
My first attempts at this granola mostly involved using regular recipes and subbing in seeds for the oatmeal. The result was gross and greasy, because the seeds and nuts release oil, in addition to the butter and oil my recipes called for. This recipe is so much easier and tastier!
I checked this diet with a few friends (not doctors, mind you; this is all the advice of laymen) who follow specialized diets:
Gluten Free–My friend with celiac disease confirmed that the recipe is gluten free as long as you are careful about the vanilla extract, as some contain malt. The kind she uses says, “Gluten Free” right on the box.
Paleo–This recipe should be good for Paleo according to my research, though some do not accept honey on a Paleo diet. Vanilla should be fine, especially if you use the gluten free vanilla. However, reduce or eliminate these ingredients if you like–I bet it would still be good!
Gestational Diabetes–My sister recently had a baby and also recently had Gestational Diabetes. Her nutritionist advised her to have three meals with 45 carbs each and three snacks of 15 carbs each. At about 7 net carbs in a half cup serving, this can work into that diet anywhere. Pregnant woman are advised not to go into ketosis, so pair this with some other healthy carbs if you’re making it a meal. (Berries and yogurt sound tasty.)
Keto–this very low carb, high fat diet is followed by some epiletics and by spouses who want to drive their mate mad with unusual menu demands. My husband, who is not epileptic, advised me that he wanted only 23 net carbs a day (the carbs left after fiber is deducted from the total carbs.) A 7 carb serving could fit into that diet, or leave out the honey for only 4.15 net carbs.
(You many notice in the picture that I added chocolate chips. Blessedly, I had house guests who were not on strict diets of any kind at all.)
Grain Free Granola
12 ounce bag of unsweetened flaked coconut
9.5 ounce bag of pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)
9 ounce container almonds (I prefer salted)
Generous dusting of ground cinnamon
2 t. vanilla
3 T honey
Directions
Preheat the oven to 250
Divide the coconut, pumpkin seeds, and almonds between two cookie sheets and mix.
Dust with cinnamon
Combine the honey and vanilla, drizzle over both sheets, and mix. (This is a little easier if you heat it so it becomes runnier.)
Put both sheets in oven for 15 minutes; stir and return to oven for another 10-15 minutes, until nice and brown.
Let cool and pack in an airtight container if your family doesn’t eat it all while it’s sitting on the counter!
Notes
If you aren’t counting carbs, chocolate chips are yummy in this. Add when cool.
Delicious with plain greek yogurt and berries, or even with just plain milk.
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