photography by: Nicholette von Reiche
This delicious and versatile breakfast favorite is the perfect gourmet gift.
Makes: 16 ½-cup portions
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Baking time: 30 minutes (plus cooling)
3 cups rolled oats
¾ cup pecan nuts, roughly chopped
¾ cup pistachios, roughly chopped
1 cup shredded coconut
½ cup dried cranberries, diced
½ cup dried figs, sliced
Zest of 2 lemons
2 tsp cinnamon spice
1 cup honey, warmed
Pre-heat the oven to 320ºF (160ºC)
Place the oats, nuts, half of the coconut, the dried fruit and zest onto a large baking tray or cookie sheet.
Sprinkle with the cinnamon and mix to combine.
Pour over the warmed honey and use a wooden spoon or your hands to make sure all the ingredients are coated well.
Bake in the centre of the oven for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
Transfer to a bowl, stir in the remaining shredded coconut and leave to cool.
Serving suggestions:
Serve it for breakfast with milk, on its own as a snack or layered with yoghurt and fresh fruit.
Gift guide:
Pile the cooled muesli into big generous jars or spoon them into cellophane bags. Make sure that whatever you use is tightly secured so that the muesli will stay crisp for longer.
Variations:
You can add any combination of dried fruits, nuts and seeds to make your own muesli flavors. Also keep in mind ingredients such as coconut, dates and spices.
Tropical muesli:
Replace the dried cranberries and figs with diced, dried pineapple and sliced mango and papaya. Add ½ cup desiccated coconut and some banana chips and omit the cinnamon if desired.
Pear, coconut and almond muesli:
Replace the fruit and nuts in the recipe with sliced dried pear and almonds. Add extra coconut if desired.
Kid-friendly:
Spend some quality time together as you prepare this recipe and share in the delicious reslults!
Good for you:
Unlike many store-bought cereals, this luxurious blend of oats, nuts and exotic dried fruits is preservative-free, wheat-free, not overly sweet and also perfectly good for you.
TIP: Give your muesli an extra health boost by adding pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of iron, Omega 3’s and Omega 6’s fatty acids.
Muesli preparation. Look at all the beautiful colors.
photography by: Nicholette von Reiche