Dairy free, egg free, gluten free, refined sugar free, vegan, wheat free
Prep time: 15 mins
Makes: 20 -30 balls depending upon how large you like them
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of almond meal or raw almonds if preferred
- 1 cup desiccated coconut
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1-2 tablespoons of the juice of the lemon
- ½ cup of dates soaked
Method:
- Soak the dates overnight or alternately, pour some boiling water over the dates and let them soak for 10 minutes before preparing mixture.
- Combine the almond meal, coconut, soaked softened dates, lemon juice and zest in a bowl and mix together.
- Put all ingredients into a food processor or thermomix and blend until well combined.
- Add a bit of the water used to soak the dates if extra water is needed.
- Add a bit of extra almond meal if mix feels too wet.
- Roll into balls and coat with extra coconut, or press flat into a pan if that is easier and cut into squares when set.
- Pop into the fridge until firm, they can be kept in the fridge for up to a week.
- Alternately freeze them for up to 3 months or until needed.
Some reasons why these are good for you.
Almonds are antioxidant, good for stress and nervous system, due to their many nutrients. They are high in fibre, Vitamin E, manganese, magnesium and contain a decent amount of copper, vitamin B2, phosphorus, potassium and calcium.
Dates are high in fibre, selenium, copper, potassium, magnesium, and moderate levels of manganese, iron, phosphorus, and calcium. They are good for the brain and heart.
Coconuts contain fibre, vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5 and B6 and minerals including iron, selenium, zinc, copper, manganese, sodium, calcium, magnesium and help raise levels of heart-protective HDL (“good”) cholesterol.
Lemons contain Vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, calcium, potassium, and copper, iron, and magnesium, are an excellent source of fibre, & help alkalise the body.
