Fancy an indulgent yet wholesome afternoon break? These little energy balls combine cashews, vanilla, goji berries and lemon into an irresistible trio of flavours. Easy to make in a few minutes, they are also perfect low-glycaemic snacks to take anywhere.
Vanilla and goji berry energy balls
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Ingredients
- 1 cup cashews
- 1 cup dried shredded coconut
- The juice of one lemon, plus the zest
- 1 tablespoon powdered vanilla
- 1 to 2 tablespoons goji berries
- ⅓ cup coconut nectar (or honey, or rice syrup)
- 1 pinch of salt (or the equivalent of 1 tablespoon - 15 ml - of seawater)
Method
- In a food processor, blend the cashews, the coconut, half the goji berries and the salt until you have a fine, flour-like texture.
- With the motor running, add the lemon juice and zest, the coconut nectar and the vanilla, until you reach a dough that gathers together.
- Add the remaining goji berries for crunch and blend for another minute, without breaking them down completely.
- Roll into balls the size of a large walnut and chill for about 15 minutes, until firm.
Tip
These balls keep easily for several days in the fridge in an airtight container, handy to take along as a snack on the go. If the dough stays crumbly, add a soft date rather than more liquid: it binds without making things wet.
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FAQ: your questions about vanilla and goji berry energy balls
When should you take goji berries?
There is no set moment. Many people work them into breakfast or the afternoon snack, simply because that is where a snack naturally belongs. Goji berries can be eaten as they are, rehydrated for ten minutes in a little warm water if they are very dry, or folded into a preparation as here. One useful precaution: they can interact with anticoagulant treatments, so it is best to mention it to your doctor in that case.
Are goji berries good for the liver?
Goji berries are rich in antioxidants, notably zeaxanthin and polysaccharides, and research is interested in their effect on oxidative stress. That said, no health claim is authorised in Europe on this point, and you should not expect a detoxifying effect from them. See them as an interesting dried fruit to include in a varied diet, not as a remedy.
What effect do goji berries have on the skin?
They provide carotenoids and vitamin C, two families of compounds found in many colourful fruits that contribute to the normal function of the skin. Here again, no cosmetic promise holds: it is your whole diet, your hydration and your sleep that count, not a single ingredient taken as a course.
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