Although we haven’t shared thousands of sweet granola bar recipes, they certainly are out there on the web for your viewing pleasure. They come with small variations – some add more ingredients; others make it simple with no baking directions, and a few even venture into exploring unexpected ingredients such as red pepper to spice things up. However, a bar recipe you haven’t seen quite enough of is the savory variety. These bars aren’t sweet based– on the contrary, they are perfect for when you crave something salty and would rather not dip your hands into a bag of junk food. A common approach to salty snacking used by those looking for better nutrient balance than that found in chips for example, is to eat mixed nuts. This is a smart choice for snacking of course, but when it comes to mixed nuts, it’s easy to overindulge and potentially end up consuming more calories than intended. Therefore, these savory type of snack bars are a fantastic solution to your salty snack demands. It is also easy to control portion size with these bars.
There are currently only a couple of savory bars available on the market. The good news about these bars is they are incredibly fast to make and uncomplicated. . Also, they give you the opportunity to add your favorite flavor twists, too.
The recipe shared below is for a Savory Curry Bar. It draws influences from Indian cuisine, with the addition of spices such as curry and turmeric. Curry powder is most often a mixture of coriander, turmeric, cumin, fenugreek, and chili peppers. Turmeric is an excellent source of iron and manganese. It is a good source of vitamin B6, fiber, copper and potassium as well. Rich in phytonutrients such as curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, tumerones and tumenorols, this spice offers anti-inflammatory benefits and promises a decreased cancer risk. Research has also shown its potential for improving cognitive function, blood sugar balance, kidney function and helping in the management of some arthritic and digestive disorders. Both curry and turmeric have strong and unique flavors. If you have not tried these before, I would recommend trying them first before making the recipe given below. Here is an experiment: Mix about 1/8 of a teaspoon of curry powder into plain brown rice to test if you enjoy this Southeast Asian spice. The same method can be used for the testing of turmeric alone. If you don’t enjoy these flavors, you can make the recipe below by simply skipping those spices, or substituting them with ones you actually do love. For example, a rosemary and lavender combination works well for this bar. In the video below, I go through the steps of making this bar. The trick is to adhere to the resting time in the freezer, enabling the bar to set. After making this recipe a couple of times, I noticed that the crumbles at the bottom of the container were just too good to waste. I added them to salads as toppings, and that was a genius move! Here is an idea: If you don’t want to wait for it to set in the freezer, just pour the mixture into an airtight jar and store in the refrigerator. Use it as a crunchy topping for your salads, soups or even a rice and bean bowl that calls for more flavor!
The notion of “salty” bars might just be the new trend for 2017. What do you think? Let us know in the comments if you think this trend will be a winner.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of puffed rice cereal
- ½ cup of sunflower seeds
- 2/3 cup of slivered almonds
- 2 tablespoons of flax seeds
- 2 tablespoons of flax meal
- ¾ cup of Once Again Sunflower Seed Butter or Almond Butter
- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon of curry powder
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients, in no special order! Just mix them well.
- It is a bit easier to start with the coconut oil and Once Again Nut Butter, and then add in the powders and next the seeds, nuts, and cereal.
- Once well mixed, press the mixture it onto an 8×8 baking dish. Place it in the refrigerator to set for four hours, or in the freezer for 30 minutes. Cut it into bars and enjoy! Store in refrigerator for up to seven days. You may also crumble it up and use it as a salad topping!
Recipe sponsored by Once Again Nut Butter, posted on onceagainnutbutterblog.com