Grain Free Granola – Paleo Granola Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is grain free granola made of? ›

Grain free granola is made from a base of nuts and seeds instead of oats. This version is bound with coconut oil and nut butter, and it's flavored with cinnamon and vanilla.

Clumpy Granola Method: Add Egg White

About this method: According to Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen, “Nothing glues like protein.” While there are many granola recipes that include an egg white, I got this tip from the Big Cluster Maple Granola recipe in The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook.

This granola skips the oats (no wheat allowed on paleo), instead using 2 whole cups of nuts and 1 1/4 cups of seeds to compensate. For the sweetener, we go with honey, which produces a granola with nice clusters, and coconut oil for the fat.

Grain-free granola is indeed healthy. One of the critical nutrients in granola is the fiber that it provides. Grain-free granola still provides a hefty serving of fiber. Nutnola from Square Root is actually higher in antioxidants than traditional grain granola.

Grain-free usually features nuts and seeds rather than oats. These ingredients are sources of fiber and protein, both of which slow digestion and curb post-meal glucose. Fiber also increases the production of short-chain fatty acids in the gut. High levels of SCFAs are associated with improved insulin sensitivity.

Both oatmeal and granola make for a healthy, nutritious breakfast, but the winner for us is granola—the added nuts, seeds, and dried fruits give you a source of fiber and healthy fats that oatmeal can't quite compete with.

When dampened, chia seeds gel and swell to several times their original size, plus they get very sticky. Since they're already used as egg alternatives in baking, it's not surprising that chia seeds act as the ideal granola binder, but it is strange that they do it better than eggs.

Higher temperatures can cause ingredients like nuts, seeds, and coconut to burn before the batch has a chance to properly dry out and crisp up, Perry says. Stick with a low temperature, keep an eye on your mixture, and stir it from time to time to help it brown evenly.

Add an egg white.

The whites act as a kind of glue that binds the ingredients together. To ensure that the egg whites coat all the ingredients, I beat them with a whisk until foamy and increased in volume, which makes it much easier to fold into the granola.

The paleo diet allows for natural sweeteners like honey in addition to maple syrup, raw stevia and coconut sugar, so use your judgment when including these in your food.

What is the hidden sugar in granola? ›

Sugar varies by brand, but one example is a popular brand of low-fat granola, which packs more than 1 tablespoon of added sugar per serving. To know for sure, scan the ingredient list for sugars like honey, maple syrup, brown rice syrup or molasses. Then head to the Nutrition Facts label to scout out added sugars.

But the best bet is to choose a granola with minimally processed sweeteners such as maple syrup, honey and agave. Dried fruit will also add fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Granolas fortified with extras like flaxseed and chia seeds are fabulous for a post-workout snack or for a dose of Omega-3 fats.

Shelf Life and Storage Tips

Typically, store-bought granola that remains unopened can retain its quality for 6 to 12 months from the date on the label, which can extend beyond the "best by" date if kept in proper conditions.

Still, you're encouraged to focus on whole, minimally processed foods. A grain-free diet allows most foods, as long as they're devoid of grains. This includes fruits, vegetables, legumes, meat, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, pseudocereals, nuts, seeds, and non-grain-based flours.

How much granola should you eat a day? The prevailing belief is that you should consume 45-50g of granola daily. This is frequently the recommended portion size on the granola cereal package. Suggested portion sizes are often 45g, only about three tablespoons full.

Packed with 13g of protein per serving, this granola provides at least 22g of whole grain per serving (at least 48g recommended daily).

It combines rolled oats, spelt, teff, amaranth and other grains into a healthy power punch. You may need to explore the bulk-food section of your grocery to gather these ingredients, but the extra shopping time will result in a sweet, salty crunch, laden with dried fruit.

Granola may prompt weight gain if eaten in excess, as it can be high in calories from added fats and sugars. What's more, sugar is linked to chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

We hear these questions all the time, and the quick answer is: YES. Pure oats are naturally gluten-free. However, oats are often farmed, transported and stored together with grains that do contain gluten (such as wheat, barley and rye), which causes cross-contamination.