Are you looking for a healthy, energy-packed breakfast? Or wondering what to eat during your next hiking trip? Whether you are looking for a healthy breakfast or a suitable lightweight food for your family outings, granola is a perfect fit. Concerned about what are the different things to eat with granola? Here we are providing dishes that go well with granola.
1. What is Granola?
Granola basically refers to a crispy mix of baked oats, nuts, seeds, and sweeteners. The origin of this easy-to-make healthy recipe dates back to the late 19th century. The granola is now considered as a popular breakfast cereal throughout the world.
It’s easy to make, nutritious and provides a lot of energy. The granola bars are also popular energy boosters.
2. How to Make a Healthy Granola?
Now, let’s go through a basic granola recipe.
2.1. Prepare Your Ingredients
- Three cups of rolled oats
- 120 mL of honey
- One cup of Nuts and seeds of your choice
- 120 mL Olive oil
- One cup of dried fruit
- Cinnamon and salt to taste
2.2. Preparing Homemade Granola
Step One: Mix Oats, Nuts and Seeds
The first step is to add your rolled oats into a large bowl. Then, gather nuts and seeds and mix them thoroughly with oats.
For seeds, you can choose pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc. As for nuts, hazelnut almonds, cashew nuts, and peanuts, all are good picks.
Step Two: Mix Olive Oil and Honey
Take a separate bowl. Mix equal amounts of olive oil or coconut oil and honey. Instead of honey, you can also use sweeteners like real maple syrup according to individual preferences.
Step Three: Combine the Two Mixtures
The next step is to add the mixture of olive oil and honey to the oats, seeds, and nuts mix. Mix them well so that the oats and other dry ingredients are well coated in oil and honey.
Step Four: Bake Your Granola
Spread a parchment paper on the pan and add the granola mix in an even layer. Bake it in a preheated oven. Remember to turn the mixture in every 10 to 15 minutes and make sure that your granola reaches a crispy consistency.
Step Five: Add Dry Fruit, Cinamon, and Salt to Taste
When the mix cools down, add the dry fruits. Raisins, apricots, peaches, etc. are good options. Finally, add cinnamon and salt to taste.
Your delicious granola is ready to enjoy. Let’s talk about the recipes and add-ons that pair well with granola.
3. What to Eat With Granola: Best 21 Combinations
3.1. Yogurt
One of the best ways to eat granola is with yogurt. Granola with yogurt offers a healthy combination. Want to try something more exciting? How about making Yogurt parfait? Yogurt parfaits are easy to make but delicious to eat. It’s one of the best breakfasts loved by people of all ages.
For making Yogurt parfait, choose a glass big enough to add yogurt, granola, strawberries, and blueberries. Add yogurt as the first layer, then add all other ingredients including granola, strawberries, and blueberries in layers. Top the fresh berries with Greek yogurt. The best part of yogurt parfait is, that you can add any fresh fruits or sweeteners of your choice to make it more suitable for your taste buds. Frozen yogurt bark is another yogurt option that goes well with granola.
3.2. Smoothie
Smoothies give a refreshing start at any time. They are rich in flavor and can be made healthy by choosing the right ingredients. You may have your own favorite smoothie flavors. But, together with granola, it makes a great, perfect breakfast food.
It’s easy to make a smoothie, gather your ingredients including milk, fruits, nuts, and other preferred add-ons. Instead of milk, try experimenting with different liquids like juice, coconut milk, water, almond or soy milk, and yogurt to make your smoothies unique.
Add fresh fruit and smoothie liquid of your choice to the blender. As for fruits, pick different ones like bananas, strawberries, mango, pear, apples, blueberries, or other seasonal berries. If you want a creamy texture or a thicker smoothie, add some Greek yogurt. Finally, to add a finishing touch, season your smoothie with spices and herbs.
You can enjoy a smoothie with a healthy homemade or store-bought granola. If you are fond of crunchy texture, add coconut granola mix to your smoothie.
3.3. Almond Butter
Almond butter is a healthy ingredient to add to your granola recipe. If you are a fan of almonds or prefer it over peanut butter, just go for this delightful combo.
Mix the butter and any sweeter of your choice. Mix it well with whole-grain oats, fruits, and chopped nuts of your preference. Bake it and stir in after every ten or fifteen minutes until your granola with almond butter is ready.
3.4. Chocolate Chips
Who dislikes chocolates? How about combining the crunchiness of granola with chocolate chips? Granola with chocolate chip toppings is one of the best ways to eat granola.
You can mix chocolate chip with rolled oats before baking and make chocolate chip granola or sprinkle it on top of your coconut granola. Either way, adding chocolate will make your granola a lot more tastier to eat.
3.5. Fresh Strawberries
Adding fresh fruit always gives a refreshing twist to your meals. You can add sliced strawberries toppings to granola.
Another way of combining the strawberries and granola is to mix frozen, dried strawberries with whole grains of oats while making granola. The addition of strawberries makes your granola unique and flavorful.
3.6. Milk
Milk and granola provide a protein-rich morning bowl. Don’t just try granola with plain milk; go for oat or soya milk. Almond milk is also a good option. You can try milk with granola bars. Milk is one of the best options for granola.
Adding milk to your breakfast not only ensures enough protein but also provides sources of essential vitamins and minerals. The milk with the crunchy goodness of granola is a wholesome treat.
3.7. Nut Butter
Nut butter is undoubtedly a healthy addition to your breakfast, lunch, or midday snacks. It contains healthy fats. Combine nut butter with granola to make amazing energy bites. Mix granola and butter until they stick together. Make balls using your hands and freeze them.
Your perfect energy bites are ready to serve. If you love granola, you will definitely enjoy these energy bites. You can also use homemade nut butter. It is easy to make and gives you the option to choose your favorite nuts. You can either go with a single flavor or go with a variety of nuts in one go.
3.8. Apple Slices
We all love eating apples, plus their health benefits are well-known. Add some sliced apples on the top of your granola. The slices offer not only unique flavor but also additional health benefits. If you are fond of apples, you can also enjoy granola with apple sauces. Apple sauces go well with granola.
3.9. Banana Slices
Bananas are another powerhouse of vitamins, fibers, and minerals. Top your granola with banana slices. An energy-packed breakfast cereal with sliced banana is ready to serve! If you are packing granola for a camping or hiking trip, banana toppings are great options. They will give you more energy during adventure trips.
3.10. Trail Mix
Trail mix is a much-loved daytime snack and midnight bite. Make your own trail mix by adding granola, nuts, and dried fruit. Try add-ons like almonds, dried pineapples, and apricots. It’s an ideal snack for any road trip. So, enjoy the granola trail mix on your next road trip!
3.11. Cottage Cheese
A healthy suggestion to enjoy with granola is Cottage Cheese. It is famous for its health benefits. Combine the cottage cheese with granola, a hearty breakfast is ready to serve. You can also eat it as a midday snack.
3.12. Roasted Vegetables
Roasted vegetables will pair well with granola. Roast your favorite veggies and top it with granola. The crunchiness of granola combined with the flavors of vegetables will be a healthy and hearty addition to your dinner table.
You can choose your favorite vegetables for roasting and sprinkle granola on the top. Carrots are a good choice. Don’t forget to add some seasonings, too.
3.13. Waffles
Are you fond of waffles? How about adding a granola twist to your favorite waffles? Try topping your waffles with granola. Granola adds a crunchy topping to your waffles. This is a great option if you are worried about eating with granola for a midday snack.
3.14. Ice Cream
Everyone likes to enjoy ice cream on a summer day. Let’s add some crunchy goodness to your ice cream with granola toppings. Sprinkle granola as an ice cream topping. Ice creams with granola make fine desserts. If you are a desert fan, try fruit crisps with granola toppings as well.
3.15. Roasted Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are a rich source of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Sweet potatoes with granola is a delightful combination. Try adding your favorite herbs and seasonings to sweet potato to elevate the flavor.
3.16. Peanut butter
Try granola with peanut butter. If you want extra flavors, add slices of banana too. This combination is a mix of healthy ingredients. You can use either store-bought granola or homemade granola.
You can also try making peanut butter at home. To make peanut butter, choose your peanuts wisely. Spanish peanuts are considered ideal for making peanut butter. Gather the peanuts and roast them in a preheated oven. Pulse the peanuts in a food processor. After the peanut is fully ground, process it in the food processor. You can add honey if you want slightly sweet peanut butter. Add salt to taste.
Homemade peanut butter is a healthier choice and it will go well with granola. So, what is stopping you from enjoying granola with peanut butter?
3.17. Salad
Add granola toppings to your salads. The crunchiness of granola will make your salad unique. Granola goes well with salads, especially the ones with added sugar. Choose the salad dressings and other add-ons suitably to get a balanced flavor.
3.18. Pancakes
Try pancakes with granola. The pancakes and chia pudding granola make a good combination for breakfast. You can also add granola to the pancake batter. The granola adds crunchiness to your pancakes.
Adding granola to the pancake batter is one of the best ways to use granola to make a delicious breakfast. Other good breakfast options are French toast and baked goods with granola.
3.19. Apple Nachos
Apple Nachos with granola toppings is a must-try. To make your nachos, you only need a few ingredients. Collect apples, peanut butter, and chocolate chips. Cut your apple into fine pieces and neatly arrange it on the plate.
Heat the peanut butter until it’s runny. Just drizzle it on the top of the apple slices in a zig-zag way. You can also try adding peanut butter in a circular fashion. Sprinkle chocolate chips on the top. Eat with granola. You can also try topping the apple nachos with granola. For a sweet treat, try adding maple syrup!
3.20. Overnight Oats
Most of us love eating overnight oats. Overnight oats with granola is a healthy treat. For making overnight oats, choose your favourite oats, preferably rolled oats. Pick a good airtight container to make overnight oats.
Pour milk into the rolled oats. Add diced apples, spices, and dry fruits of your choice. You can add sweeteners like honey or added sugar. Refrigerate it overnight. In the morning, top the overnight oat with granola. If you want to enjoy a delicious breakfast, try overnight oats with granola.
3.21. Smoothie Bowl
Many prefer smoothie bowls or acai bowls over smoothies. The great news is smoothie bowl pairs well with your favorite granola!
Smoothie bowl is easy to make. To make a perfect smoothie bowl, gather bananas, strawberries, blueberries, and almond milk. Blend them in a food processor. You can also add frozen berries, vanilla extract, and ice cubes to ensure smoothie bowl consistency. Frozen fruit addition makes it ideal for summer. The smoothie bowls or acai bowls with granola are a must-try cool treat!
4. In A Nutshell
Granola is perfect as a breakfast cereal, lunch, and snack. It’s healthy and gives you a lot of energy! Here we provided 21 ways to use granola to solve all your worries about things to eat with granola. So, try all these pairs and enjoy a healthy meal!
Last Updated on by Sathi
