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Tigernut Carob Energy Bites

Let’s just start with the only question on your mind right now: “What the heck are tigernuts and why have I never heard of them before?” Confusingly, tigernuts are not a nut and they have nothing to do with tigers. They’re also nothing new, but an extremely old root vegetable that was first cultivated in Egypt several thousand years ago. With healthy prebiotics, no allergens, low-glycemic starches, fiber, and tons of vitamins… the nutritional profile on these little tubers is pretty great.

I would have never stumbled upon this awesome ingredient if it wasn’t for Organic Gemini – a company that offers raw organic tigernuts (which can be purchased on Amazon), as well as a horchata beverage (a classic Spanish drink made from tigernuts). I was thrilled when they sent me a package of tigernuts and a full collection of their beverages to sample. The drink is absolutely delicious, and best of all, it is completely natural and One Ingredient approved (they’re even sweetened with nothing but dates!). Good job, Organic Gemini. These drinks are available in Whole Foods around the country, and they also have Tigernut Flour, which is really cool to use in baked goods (also on Amazon).

Tigernuts_Horchata

As for the tigernuts themselves, they have a completely unique taste that’s reminiscent of a chewy almond mixed with coconut meat and dates. They’re really tasty and I’ve found myself carrying a bag of them as an on-the-go afternoon snack lately. They add an excellent crunchy element to dishes, and that’s what we’re doing in this recipe – making delicious superfood energy bites with carob powder, almond butter, maple syrup, and other yumminess, and tossing in some chopped tigernuts for a nutritious crunch. Naturally, they pair perfectly with a cold glass of tigernut horchata 😉

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Makes about 15 energy bites

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup chopped tigernuts
  • 1/2 cup carob powder
  • 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup almond butter
  • 1/2 cup cashews
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • Pinch of salt

Step One

Combine all ingredients (except tigernuts in a food processor) and process until you have a completely smooth texture. Tip: Add the carob powder into the processor first, then load all the other ingredients on top. I Just saved your kitchen from becoming coated in a thin layer of black dust. 😀

Carob Powder? If you’ve never worked with this ingredient before, it’s very similar to cocoa powder but it comes from a totally different plant. Also, the flavor is more bitter and more sweet, all at once. It’s an awesome ingredient in recipes like this one, but you could easily substitute cocoa powder if needed.

Step Two

Loosely chop about a cup of the tigernuts with a sharp knife, add them to the processor, and just pulse until incorporated. I like to chop the tigernuts before adding them to the processor because they have a tendency to get stuck in the blades if simply added whole.

Step Three

At this point, the mixture should be very sticky. Remove it from the processor and press firmly into a parchment-lined 8×8 baking dish (or something similar) and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Once hardened, use a knife, pizza cutter, or dough scraper to cut into little squares.

For best results, store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

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6 Comments

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  1. Yay! This recipe sounds great! I’d never heard of tigernuts & am excited to try them! I love being introduced to new-to-me ingredients! Also, today I was able to use your site, but since you got your beautiful new site, your recipes often turn white once I start to scroll. Could this be because I have a mac? Do I need to update something or download an app? Thank you, Andrew! I enjoy your recipes, food knowledge & sense of humor; keep up the good work!

    • Thank you! I hope you like tigernuts as much as I do… they’re definitely like nothing else I’ve ever tasted. I’ve sent you an email about the page turning white – sorry about that, hopefully we can get it sorted out.

  2. These energy bites look great, I have not seen this version and mix of ingredients before. I make a similar energy food, although I add hemp protein and also create a chocolate truffle using 67% Dark Chocolate, its pretty amazing. What I like about this type of food is that it is clean food that gives long term energy and is also good for pre workouts and in between work day responsibilities. Thanks! Peter, Founder – thinkmatcha.com

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