Making your own granola is always worth it.

Recipe: Extracted from Modern Mediterranean Diet by Dr Catherine Itsiopoulos & Vivienne Koutsis

Greek yoghurt, a healthy fermented dairy staple in the Mediterranean diet, is rich in protein, calcium and probiotic bacteria, which are important in maintaining a healthy microbiome. I love to start my day with 2–3 tablespoons of Greek yoghurt straight out of the container. Combining Greek yoghurt with fresh fruit, granola (gluten-free options for me), honey and cinnamon may involve a little more effort, but is the perfect way to kickstart the day.

Serves: 1

INGREDIENTS

200 g Greek yoghurt
½ cup (about 60 g) fresh fruit in season (berries, diced peach, sliced banana or fig work well)
1 teaspoon honey
Ground cinnamon, for dusting

Granola:
1½ cups (150 g) rolled oats
¾ cup (75 g) walnuts
¼ cup (40 g) sesame seeds
¼ cup (30 g) pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
¼ cup (30 g) sunflower seeds
¼ cup (25 g) flaked almonds
½ cup (175 g) honey, warmed
½ cup (135 g) tahini
½ cup (125 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
1⁄3 cup (50 g) currants
2 tablespoons dried cranberries

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.

To make the granola, combine the rolled oats, walnuts, sesame seeds, pepitas, sunflower seeds and flaked almonds in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the honey, tahini, olive oil, vanilla, cinnamon and cloves. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir until the oat mixture is well coated. Spread the granola in a single layer on the tray. Bake for 35 minutes until lightly browned and crisp, stirring and pushing the granola from the outer edges into the middle every 10 minutes to prevent the mixture from sticking and burning. Set aside until completely cool.

Break the granola into chunks, then add the currants and cranberries and mix them in. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

To serve, spoon the yoghurt into a bowl. Top with the fresh fruit, scatter with 2 tablespoons of the granola and drizzle with the honey. Finish with a dusting of cinnamon.

---

Text and images extracted from: Modern Mediterranean Diet by Dr Catherine Itsiopoulos & Vivienne Koutsis, Macmillan, RRP $44.99.