When I was in primary school which was over 30 years ago, times were simpler. In India where I grew up, packaged food was non existent. Sliced bread had created much excitement amongst the community but besides that there wasn't a lot available in terms of cereal and snacks. So of course, everything was homemade. One of the most popular homemade snack was Savoury Granola.
Known as chivda or Bombay Mix, it was a dry roasted mix of rice flakes, nuts, fruit and spices often made fragrant with the addition of curry leaves. Besides eating it straight up, we used to sprinkle it on yoghurt or dry curries. My most favourite way of eating it was rolled up in a flatbread which was totally weird but oh so delicious. Every mouthful was like a lotto, you never knew what you would bite into next.
While browsing my newest cookbook buy one night - the gorgeous Green Kitchen At Home by David Frenkiel and Luis Vindahl, I came across a recipe for Savoury Granola. It brought back so many memories of yore. A cleaner-tasting version of the one we used to make back home, it was packed with oats, buckwheat, pepitas, sunflower seeds and a generous hit of grain mustard. I did not have any rye flakes on hand so added rice flakes instead, doubled the recipe and tweaked it to be more savoury. This resulted in a granola that was quite simply delicious, full of crunch and beautiful big flavours.
Although you could use this granola in any manner you see fit, its claim to fame would be as a salad or soup topper. Try topping this soup, this daal or these salads with the savoury granola. Since making this batch I have given some away to friends and family in small mason jars. I also find myself heading to the big mother jar and scooping out a handful to munch on while I cook dinner. It is such a tasty and nourishing snack to have on the kitchen counter. It definitely stops me from reaching for the cake slice.
Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 cups (200 g) rolled oats
- 1 cup (100 g) rice flakes
- 1/2 cup (100 g) raw buckwheat
- 1 cup (150 g) hazelnuts
- 1 cup (140 g) pepitas
- 1 cup (140 g) sunflower kernels
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons wholegrain mustard
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- sea salt flakes and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 180°C (355°F). Line two large rimmed baking sheets with baking paper.
- Place all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Spread the granola mix on the prepared trays.
- Roast in the pre-heated oven in the middle racks for approximately 25 minutes. Turn the trays around halfway through the roasting and gently toss the granola so it cooks evenly.
- Remove from the oven when the time is up and allow to cool completely in the trays.
- Fill in a large air-tight glass jar and store in a cool corner of your kitchen.
- The granola will keep for up to three weeks.
Hi, please could you explain the maple syrup. I don’t like it much and wanted something really savoury. Can you taste it in the finished dish or does it just act to stick the rest of the stuff together?
Thanks
Liz
Hey Liz! This is definitely a savoury recipe. The maple syrup balances the bite of the mustard and doesn't give it a sweet taste at all. It is definitely more-ish and savoury 🙂
Looks like something I need for breakfast. My wife will love it also!
YUM! We're requesting this for Mother's Day!
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Woah this look so good, Sneh!!! I have such a fond love of granola, will definitely have to try this!
Omg, this made me nostalgic thinking about big bags of rice flake chivdas that my aunt used to make for us. We would snack on it for days! Beautiful twist and I am I will be snacking on it non-stop if I make it.
This made us so happy! Thank you for the kind mention.
We're addicted to our savory granola and use it on top of everything (almost).
Gorgeous photos as always!
Big love!
David & Luise
I love savory breakfast and did try making savory granola a few times in the past. Mostly with Indian spices. Going to try yours soon! Sound very interesting.
This looks so delicious Sneh! I am definitely going to have to try this out. Love your photography as always xoxo
Thanks dear Kath. x
This sounds amazing. I love your description of a lotto in every bite.
In my quest to cut out added sugars, I also have been postponing eating anything sweet until after noon. It makes me feel so much more energetic, because I don't get that sugar low after a sugar high. I read that breakfast has bizarrely become dessert at the start of the day, with so many sweet options. I've been eating homemade whole-grain bread, eggs and cheese to shift toward proteins and slow-metabolizing carbs that will give me steady energy all morning. This recipe is a perfect fit. And thanks for the cookbook tip!
Love what you are doing, sounds perfect. I am trying to do that as well. I am astonished at the amounts of (indirect) sugar people are consuming nowadays in the form of smoothie bowls and ginormous fruit platters for brekkie. I love eggs for breakfast and mushrooms, although I am still struggling with the 3:30 sugar craving 🙂
SUCH beautiful photos! I love the subtle grain and way you've captured the light!! Amazing! Love nostalgic foods, for me it's Iranian meals & black tea with cardamom cookies. Thanks for sharing xx
Thanks Anisa! I love the sound of black tea and cardamom cookies, yum! x