Granola has built up a rep as a breakfast food and with good reason: The right granolas can pack some serious nutritional punch. You can get a little fiber and some protein in every mouthful. But there’s so much more you can do with the crunchy deliciousness than simply enjoying it in the A.M. And using your granola—both the sweet and savory varieties—as a yummy add-on or quick infusion of crispiness to a dish can instantly elevate your food.
Not sure where to start? These are the ways Women’s Health editors like to incorporate granola into their day. Each hack is a little different, but one thing is for sure: You can get way more mileage out of your bag of granola than you ever thought possible.
Sprinkle It Over Soup
Soups are great and all, but it can be hard to make them exciting…until you add granola to the mix. Add a ¼ cup of the crunchy stuff to savory vegetable-based soups like tomato or cauliflower right before serving to add texture and a hint of sweetness. It’ll make your meal anything but blah.
Use A Handful In Your Salad
Radishes, carrots, and nuts can add crunchy goodness to your salads but, TBH, they’ve got nothing on granola. While this can work on any kind of salad, it’s especially yummy on vegetarian versions. Wait ’til the last minute to toss some granola on top of your greens to max out the texture.
Add Extra Bite To Chocolate Bark
Yep, it’s possible to make chocolate bark even more delicious. Kick yours up a notch (or five) by layering dried cherries, chopped pecans, and granola over dark chocolate. The granola is the perfect flavor balance to the buttery pecans and tart cherries. Check out the (super easy) recipe.
Toss Granola Into Your Baked Goods
This baking hack is so simple, you don’t even need to tweak your recipe. Just add a handful of granola to your muffin, cookie, or pancake batter for a little extra oomph. Pro tip: Make sure you break up the bigger pieces in advance for even distribution.
Trade Breadcrumbs For Granola
No breadcrumbs at yours? That’s cool—granola adds more nutrients anyway. Put a handful in a baggie and smash it up using the flat end of a spoon for a crumb-like consistency (or use a food processor if you’re fancy). Then, lightly coat fish or chicken in olive oil and dredge it in the granola-crumbs. Cook your protein as usual.
Add Serious Crunch To Your Casserole
The best part of casseroles is those crunchy bits that randomly show up. Create an all-over crispiness by adding granola on top right before you bake. You can technically do this with any kind of casserole, but it’s especially yummy on sweet potatoes or baked French toast.
Bake Granola Over Apples
This healthy-ish dessert is so simple to make, you can get it in the oven in five minutes or less. Mix granola, a generous sprinkle of brown sugar, about two tablespoons of melted butter, and a little cinnamon in a small bowl. Then, place halved apples on a lightly greased baking dish and top with granola mixture. Cover the whole thing with foil and bake it at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. That’s seriously it.
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