Lower Calorie Chocolate Granola

GRANOLA is what I call a "halo food", it's not healthy at all. The normal ones are loaded with sugar.

Every super market is flooded with varieties of granola and muesli. Most say "no added sugar" in large letters. This is a great marketing gimmick. They literally mean "no white sugar" this doesn't mean it doesn't have other sweeteners. Honey, jaggery, coconut sugar etc all raise your blood sugar levels and are marginally better than sugar. Even these alternatives need to be consumed in small quantities. Most store bought granolas are loaded with oil. Something else we need to consciously reduce.

This is a simpler lower calorie version. I have substituted and reduced a number of things. You can add it to hung curd or cold curd or a little milk too and enjoy. It tastes great on it's own too. 

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup quick or rolled oats
• 1 cup puffed rice
• 1/4 cup Peanut butter
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tbsp honey / sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional) or 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1+1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup choco chunks ( for kids )
• 1 tbsp raisins (optional)
• 1 tbsp chopped nuts

METHOD

• Roast the oats in a Kadhai till it turns slightly brown, keep aside.
• In the same Kadhai dry roast the puffed rice till slightly crispy. Add the oats back in and stir to combine.
• In a pan on low heat mix together the coconut oil, honey, cinnamon, cocoa powder and salt. Mix till it reaches a chocolatey consistency
• Slowly pour it over the hot puffed rice and oats while continuously stirring until all of the dry ingredients are coated. Turn heat to low and keep mixing.
• When it is browned and feels dry to the touch, remove from the Kadhai and sprinkle with the raisins, nuts and chocolate chunks. Let it rest for about 2 minutes until chocolate have melted, and gently mix till the chocolate coats the granola. Let the granola cool completely.
• Store at room temperature in an airtight container

ALTERNATE RECIPE (even lower calories)

Let's make it even quicker, even faster and even LOWER CALORIES !!!!

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup quick or rolled oats
• 1 cup puffed rice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional) or 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 pieces of dark chocolate
• 1 tbsp chopped nuts
• 1 tbsp raisins (optional)
• 1+1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup Peanut butter
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tbsp honey / sugar

METHOD

• Roast the oats in a Kadhai till it turns slightly brown, keep aside.
• In the same Kadhai dry roast the puffed rice till slightly crispy. Add the oats back in and stir to combine.
• Switch off heat. Add the chocolate prices to a warm pan. ( not hot else the chocolate will burn)
• The chocolate will start to melt. Push it around the kadhai so that it coats the bottom
• Once melted add in the Puffed rice and Oats
• Add the toasted nuts
• Mix till the chocolate covers the oats and puffed rice
• Let it cool then store
• Store at room temperature in an airtight container

Total Calories for 1/2 cup serving :