RECIPE: Oaty Ginger Bars

Words and Photo: Karen Hill

What’s Great About Them?
 
These little oaty ginger bars pack a powerful punch of energy. The carbohydrate and fat content will keep your legs spinning for hours. The almond meal is one of the major sources of fat content in this recipe and is a great source of vitamin E, manganese and magnesium. The other main source of fat is the rice bran oil. Rice bran oil is commonly praised for its content of vitamin E, ideal fatty acid balance, antioxidant capacity and high smoke point.

The flour and oats are a good source of B vitamins which are essential for active people. They help break down carbohydrates and protein into energy and are involved in cell repair production. All very important functions for life but in particular sports performance. You can also get plenty of B vitamins from whole and enriched grains, dark green vegetables, nuts, and many animal and dairy products.

A good dose of ginger gives this little bar big flavour. Ginger is among the healthiest (and one of my favbourite) spices on the planet. It is loaded with nutrients and bioactive compounds that have powerful benefits for your body and brain. My main reason for adding it in these bars is for the anti-inflammatory properties, digestion aid and help with fighting off any lingering lurgies from winter.
These bars are also a fairly good base to add many other flavours – cacao or berries. Super quick and easy too.

Ingredients – makes 8 bars
·      ¾ cup white flour (any alternate flour you like – be aware this will change fibre and useable energy content)
·      1 cup rolled oats
·      1 cup of almond meal
·      1 teaspoon of baking soda
·      ½ cup rice bran oil (you can use any other oil you like)
·      ½ cup golden syrup
·      4 teaspoons vanilla extract
·      Cinnamon (use more if you love it)
·      Ginger – a massive chunk grated

Directions
1.     Preheat the oven to 180°C . Grease and line a small slice tray with grease proof paper.
2.     Mix all ingredients in one bowl – mixture will be quite sticky.
3.     Spoon in lines into the slice tray and flatten with spatula.
4.     Cook for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
 
Nutrition per serve