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 – 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.