I asked you guys recently which energy balls would you love to see first & you’ve decided – white ones.
I’m here to deliver 🙂
I must admit, I wanted to share black ones first, because I find them new & amazing – these coconut ones have been on my repertoire for quite some time, and the black ones I came up with just recently.
However, both of them are delicious + nutritious – you know, the usual.
My walnut coconut ones are so good when cold it’s impossible to take only one. I love them as an afternoon snack, for those times when I just feel tired & need a kick.
If you’re a coconut fan, you’re gonna love these. And you should be a coconut fan! If you aren’t, we can’t be friends.
Ok, ok, we can.
But still;
Coconuts are super rich in fiber, which makes them a great choice for our gut health.
Coconut also provides us with iron, potassium & phosphorus. They are rich in fat, which helps keeping us full longer & absorb all the fat soluble nutrients.
Since we’re talking fat, walnuts are also packed with it. However, they contain the best kinda fat – omega-3 fatty acids. Your brain LOVES these, as well as your heart. Another nutrient walnuts contain & your heart’s gonna love is copper.
Walnuts are also a good source of folate & vitamin E. They also contain vitamin B6, phosphorus & manganese.
Aside from vitamins & minerals, walnuts are rich in various plant compounds, which are powerful antioxidants
To boost our omega-3 intake, we’re adding a bit of chia seeds to the balls. When considering how nutrient dense chia seeds are, it’s no wonder everyone is obsessed with them. They’re also rich fiber, high quality protein and several vitamins & minerals, including calcium, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, niacin, thiamine..
They’re also loaded with antioxidants. (1)
Another beautiful seeds we’ll use are sesame! They’re incredible source of copper, manganese, but also calcium & iron, both of which are super important for us girls. Sesame seeds are also a valuable source of magnesium, zinc & vitamin B1.
I really love these foods that are all small & cute, but packed with nutrients. I think they totally kick ass! Click To Tweet
Sesame seeds also contain sesamin & sesamolin, which belong to fibers & are shown to benefit our cholesterol levels + blood pressure.
Almond butter in our balls will make sure we get enough vitamin E for the day, as well as healthy fats & surprise surprise – fiber!
However, the most interesting ingredient in this recipe I think are dried figs. They’re something I don’t see people using a lot (most people opt for dates or raisins), but I love them. Not only because they’re a part of Mediterranean cuisine, but also because they’re nutrient dense. I love that they provide us with magnesium (you want to add them to your PMS diet, along with chocolate :)), but also with calcium, potassium, manganese & copper.
Which means they’re good for our bones, blood cells, energy production, skin, heart, muscles – among other benefits. Pretty cool, ha?
More important than the nutrition part of these balls is how cute & delicious they are. As said, I love them as an afternoon snack. What I love most about them is that they’re done fast.
I love food & making it, but I avoid recipes that make me spend my days in the kitchen. I have other stuff to do in my life, and I believe you do as well.
So we need something to fuel our bodies with marcos & micros, while spending much more time making our dreams come true than.. cooking.
To be honest, I would tell you how long you can keep them in the fridge, but I never got to test that. They’re usually empty in like 2 days in our home.
If I had to guess, I’d give them 4-5 days – ingredients we’re using are not that sensitive, so I believe they can hold a couple of days.
If you manage to keep them that long, please let me know so that I can share info with others 😀
Can’t wait to see you try them, I’m really loving your feedback!
To sum it up;
WHY YOU SHOULD EAT IT:
- Oats: fiber, manganese, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin B1
- Coconut: fiber, iron, potassium & phosphorus.
- Walnuts: omega-3, folate, vitamin E, vitamin B6, phosphorus, manganese & antioxidants
- Chia seeds: protein, fiber, calcium, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, niacin, thiamine
- Sesame seeds: copper, manganese, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, vitamin B1, sesamin & sesamolin
- Almond butter: vitamin E, healthy fats, fiber,folate, calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese & phosphorus
- Dried figs: magnesium, calcium, potassium, manganese & copper.
- Honey: a bit of minerals + vitamins, phenolic acid & flavonoids, enzymes
WALNUT FIG COCONUT ENERGY BALLS
Easy snack
Ingredients
- ca. 1/2 cup, a bit more (80g) rolled oats
- ca. 1/3 cup (30g) ground walnuts
- ca. 1/4 cup (20g) shredded coconut, and more for coating
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 1-2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 1/3 cup (50g) dried figs chopped
- cinnamon to taste
- If needed, 1-2 tbsp water
Instructions
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In a food processor, ground oats a bit. You can skip this step if you want.
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Combine oats & shredded coconut in a sauce pan & roast it a bit on a stove, middle temperature. Until they release the smell, then let them cool.
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Combine dried figgs, almond butter & honey in a food processor, until smooth.
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In a bowl, combine the mixture with oats & coconut. Knead until a dough is formed. If it's crumbly, add tbsp or two of water.
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Form balls & coat them with shredded coconut.
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Keep in the fridge & enjoy!
YOUR TURN:
Do you like dried figs? Especialy combined with walnuts?
What are your favorite energy balls?
When you make a recipe, don’t forget to snap a pic & share it on ‘Gram with #ninasempire!
Lots of love,
Nina
