Monday 16 September 2013

Goji berry bliss balls



I’m doing my best to eat more goji berries after I discovered how good they are for you. Unique among fruits because they contain all essential amino acids, goji berries also have the highest concentration of protein of any fruit. They are also loaded with vitamin C, contain more carotenoids than any other food, have twenty-one trace minerals, and are high in fiber. Amazingly they contain 15 times the amount of iron found in spinach, as well as calcium, zinc, selenium and many other important trace minerals, there is no doubt that goji berries are
a nutritional powerhouse.

This amazing little superfruit also contains natural anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal compounds. Their powerful antioxidant properties and polysaccharides help to boost the immune system. It’s no wonder then, that in traditional Chinese medicine they are renowned for increasing strength and longevity.

These are a great nutritional hit of all the good things. I’m loving the chewiness of the apricots & sultana’s, the slightly earthy bitterness of the hemp seeds (if you live outside of Australia where they are legal to eat) and the very chewy pieces of goji berries that are all through these yummy balls!

I hope you love them like I do. I’m not a huge fan of goji berries so I was delighted to discover that these balls really work well and the goji berries don’t overwhelm the overall flavor but add an amazing texture.

Makes = 16 balls (weighing approximately 45gm)

½ cup goji berries
1 cup dried apricots
2 cup almonds (or nuts & seeds of your choice)
½ cup sultana’s
½ cup desiccated coconut
1 tbs lucuma powder (superfood)
1 tbs mesquite powder (superfood)
¼ cup hemp seeds
1 vanilla pod or 1 tsp vanilla powder
pinch good salt
¼ cup coconut nectar or raw agave syrup
¼ cup coconut oil

Process almonds and vanilla bean pod in a food processor until finely ground. I like to leave a little texture with the almonds but see how you like it.
Add apricots, sultana’s & 1/2 the goji berries and process until roughly chopped.
Add the agave & coconut oil next and blend until combined, it should start to really bind now.
Add remaining ingredients and pulse for 5 seconds.

Remove the mix from  food processor and rolls the balls into the size of a small lime (approx. 45gms)
Chill for 2 hours or over night for best chewy results. Yum!

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