Türkçe | English
Some food have a story, these are always my favorite.
I love granola, so I’m making very often. Especially when the weather is getting warmer, some yoghurt, fresh fruits and homemade granola is my favorite breakfast.
How did this granola love started?
A few days ago, when I was making some granola (yes, again) I stopped for a while and I asked myself “How did this granola love started?” And then the story began:
I live in a small city in Germany. Although my friends like to travel around, it is hard to expect any guests in a town without an airport. So the ones who visit me in this little place, are the most precious ones. And they are either family, or the closest friends.
The subject here is that closest friend
The friend I know since high school, whom I entrust blindfolded, who I can’t call a friend anymore but “sister”, who never lets me take a step without her no matter what I want, and who is always by my side… of course she didn’t leave me alone in this little city 🙂
Turkish Gifts
Of course she came with a full bag of special foods from Turkey. Her mother’s “tarhana”, which she makes herself (and it costs a lot of time and effort!), roasted eggplant (she told me this is so special that they barely eat at home), canned tomato-chili sauce for “menemen”, a traditional breakfast (or even dinner) dish made with eggs in Turkey. And some world famous Black Sea hazelnuts!
Hazelnuts?
I’ve eaten all the things she brought eagerly, tried a variety of recipes with eggplant and was for a long time not sure what to do with the hazelnuts. I really didn’t like hazelnuts that time, but how could they know! And of course I wouldn’t throw away these little things, which came that long way for me!
A Light Bulb In My Head
After a long thinking, I remembered the granola that my ex-roommates used to make. I had just seen once, but how hard could it be? So I tried. The first one was already delicious but I brought it to perfection with each new try. When the hazelnuts were finished, I had found the best way to make perfect granola.
The young woman, who dislikes the hazelnuts, transformed into a hazelnut-lover that day and the new expense of my household became the hazelnuts for granola 🙂
Each time I reach out to hazelnuts to make granola, this story pops out. Maybe I can finally get rid of it by writing… And of course I will share the secret of the perfect granola, which I found out with “those hazelnuts”
Granola Is Actually Very Easy To Make
The perfect granola doesn’t have an exact recipe but has a few tricks. Put the oats and roughly chopped nuts (almonds, sun flower seeds, and –of course- hazelnuts) with some butter into the oven. Bake at 150 degrees, steering time to time, until turns lightly brown. Then take out and add dried fruits (raisins, apricots, figs…), some cinnamon, and the other ingredients which shouldn’t be roasted (cacao nibs, because they taste better raw; coconut chips, because they burn really fast). And all these must be added when the oat-seed mixture is still warm, it helps the flavors combine better. And of course some honey for a perfect sticky and also crunchy breakfast. If you are vegan, you can substitute honey with maple syrup and butter with coconut oil. Both work well.
Thank You Both!
Each time I try a new version with some adds and subs. But the main idea is always the same. If you need some ideas, there are plenty on my Instagram account, have a look at it. Maybe you also become a granola/lover and send you best wishes to my best friend Asuman and her mother 🙂
