Granola is one of my favourite things to make at home and have on hand for a super easy but nutritious breakfast or snack on the go. My granola obsession led me to the question - how about something to sprinkle over creamy soups (hello fall), salads and buddha bowls for an extra crunch and energy boost? And then I went into my kitchen, experimented and created the savoury sister of the sweet granola you enjoy so much.

I am SO excited about this recipe and if you’re anything like me and love adding nuts and seeds to all your meals, you’ll fall head over heels for this savoury granola.

Why love this savoury granola

Super easy to make
Crunchy
Nutty
Nutritious & healthy
Energy boosting
Flavourful

What holds the granola together

My favourite thing about this savoury vegan granola is the crunchy texture. To help bind the ingredients together and create the perfect clusters, I used chia and flax ‘eggs’ olive oil mixture. You can also use coconut oil or any other oil you prefer, however the olive oil really adds to the amazing flavour.

How to enjoy the granola

Just like your sweet granola, the savoury one is also great to make ahead of time, store in a glass jar and have ready for your busy week. It doesn’t get any easier and more nutritious than making a big hearty salad and topping it up with clusters of granola packed with healthy fats, protein, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. This granola also adds texture to any creamy soup and takes it to a whole new level. If you love snacking while watching Netflix like me, swap your chips for the granola to satisfy your savoury cravings.

Benefits of seeds for hormone health

This granola is full of seeds that have some amazing hormone supporting benefits.

Pumpkin seeds are a great source of magnesium and zinc, essential minerals for hormonal health. Zinc is also involved in the regulation of estrogen levels. Maintaining a balance between estrogen and progesterone is key for menstrual cycle regulation and overall reproductive health.

Sunflower seeds are a good source of vitamin E and selenium. Vitamin E can help boost progesterone production, while selenium helps detox the liver of excess estrogen. Selenium is also important for thyroid health. The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate metabolism, and selenium is involved in the conversion of thyroid hormones into their active form.

Flax seeds are one of the richest dietary sources of lignans, which are phytoestrogens with antioxidant properties. Lignans have a chemical structure similar to estrogen and can support balanced estrogen levels in the body.

As with any granola recipe, it is super versatile so you can play around and figure out your favourite nut and seeds combinations. Whether you decide to go with almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, sunflower or pumpkin seeds (or mix them all like I did), you won’t be disappointed. You can also experiment with different herbs and level of saltiness. Have fun!

Easy Savoury Granola

Total time: 40 minutes | Servings: 1 large jar

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup nuts chopped (almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans etc., you can use one type or mix them)
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
2 tbsp sesame seeds (black or white)
2 tbsp ground flax seeds + 4 tbsp water
2 tbsp chia seeds + 4 tbsp water
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp coriander powder
Pinch of salt and pepper

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Mix ground flax seeds and chia seeds with water in two separate bowls and set aside to thicken, about 5 minutes.

3. To a large mixing bowl add chopped nuts, seeds and spices and mix well.

4. In a smaller bowl whisk together olive oil with soy sauce, pinch of salt and pepper. Then combine olive oil together with thickened chia and flax mixture.

5. Add the wet mixture to the dried ingredients and mix everything well.

6. Spread your granola onto the lined baking sheet and press down. Bake for about 15 - 18 minutes, until the edges begin to brown, then flip the granola over in chunks. It should be sticking together at this point. Bake for about 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan.

7. Once cooled down, break into small clusters if necessary and transfer over to a glass jar or air tight container.