Not the greatest title for a recipe, perhaps, but these little balls of power are so good – in all possible ways – that I couldn’t not share them with you!
I believe that what we eat is just as much a part of living our yoga as rolling out the mat to practice. Food connects us in the most basic, primitive way to our very aliveness. And we all know that what we put in, we get out. Healthy body, healthy mind, vibrant spirit.
These little beauties are easy to make, require no cooking, are rich in nutrients and full of protein, fibre and good fats to give you a boost – perfect with a cup of tea for a mid-afternoon pick me up, or on the go when you need an energy kick (I carry them round with me for snacking between classes). You can pretty much throw in any nuts or seeds you fancy and have in the cupboard – mix and match. I promise they are delicious, satisfying and totally good for you!
To make 8-10 Power Balls you will need:
– Handful of dried apricots, prunes or dates (or a mixture)
– 1/2 cup (about a large handful) of cashew nuts
– 1/2 cup of almonds
– 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
– 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
– 1 tablespoon coconut oil
– 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
– optional: 1 teaspoon baobab powder (a sherbet-tasting powder from the baobab fruit – high in potassium, fibre + vitaimin C)
– optional (and recommended): 1 teaspoon raw cacao powder (or some good quality dark chocolate chopped finely) – a great source of antioxidants, magnesium, protein, calcium to name a few good things.
– Desiccated coconut
Method:
1. Combine all the ingredients except the desiccated coconut in a food processor until smooth-ish (you might need to add a tiny bit of water if it looks too dry or gets stuck around the blades).
2. Take a large teaspoons’ worth of mixture, roll into a ball and dip in to a bowl of desiccated coconut to cover them.
3. Stick them in the fridge for 20 minutes to harden slightly, and then pop a power ball in your mouth as desired! They’ll keep for about 5 days in the fridge.
Pop one in your mouth for an energy boost!
Adapted from Filmore & Union Apricot + Baobab protein balls recipe. And more on the benefits of raw cacao and a nice alternative version of this recipe courtesy of the Mercola website.
With special thanks to my good friend Tracy, for inspiring my quest for more protein, less sugar!