Protein bliss balls - på tre vis

scroll down for recipe in English

Triss i gotte. Blåbär + ingefära + citron. Lingon + ingefära + apelsin. Choklad + vanilj + kaffe. Ett snabbt proteinrikt snack i farten - eller fika för prick alla fikastunder! Och vet ni? Det finns en magisk formel för alla tre - de är nämligen samma grundrecept, men med lite variation! Busenkelt och görgott!!

Som du kan se nedan så går det att forma och rulla / garnera bitarna på olika vis - även lingon- och blåbärsbollarna är supergoda att skära i kuber, doppa i smält choklad och garnera med nötter, torkad frukt eller blomströssel. Endast fantasin sätter gränserna!

Protein Bliss Balls

Blåbär, ingefära & citron

Ca 16 bollar

Ingredienser

2 dl havregryn

2 skopor Puori Protein Booster

8-10 färska dadlar, urkärnade

4 msk mandelsmör

1 tsk färsk ingefära, riven

Zest + 1-2 msk färskpressad juice ifrån 1 ekologisk citron

1/2 dl blåbärspulver

2 nypor flingsalt

1/2 dl torkade mullbär (valfritt)

Hackade rostade mandlar att rulla i

Gör såhär

Mixa alla ingredienser, förutom mullbär, i matberedare till en deg, tillsätt lite mer vätska om degen känns för torr. Tillsätt mullbären och pulsa några gånger. Forma degen till ca 16 bollar. Rulla i hackade mandlar. Förvara i en tätslutande burk i kyl eller frys.

Lingon, ingefära & apelsin

Ca 16 bollar

Ingredienser

2 dl havregryn

2 skopor Puori Protein Booster

8-10 färska dadlar, urkärnade

4 msk mandelsmör

1 tsk färsk ingefära, riven

Zest + 1-2 msk färskpressad juice ifrån 1 ekologisk apelsin

1/2 dl lingonpulver + extra att rulla i

2 nypor flingsalt

1/2 dl torkade mullbär (valfritt)

Gör såhär

Mixa alla ingredienser, förutom mullbär, i matberedare till en deg, tillsätt lite mer vätska om degen känns för torr. Tillsätt mullbären och pulsa några gånger. Forma degen till ca 16 bollar. Rulla i lingonpulver. Förvara i en tätslutande burk i kyl eller frys.

Choklad, vanilj & kaffe

Ca 16 bollar

Ingredienser

2 dl havregryn

2 skopor Puori Protein Booster

10 färska dadlar, urkärnade

4 msk mandelsmör

2 msk starkt kaffe

1/2 dl kakao

1/2 tsk äkta vaniljpulver

1/2 dl torkade mullbär (valfritt)

2 nypor flingsalt

50 gram mörk choklad

godsaker att garnera med; exempelvis torkade mullbär och frystorkade hallon

flingsalt

Gör såhär

Mixa alla ingredienser, förutom mullbär, i matberedare till en deg, tillsätt lite mer vätska om degen känns för torr. Tillsätt mullbären och pulsa några gånger. Kavla ut till en rektangel, skär i fyrkanter. Smält chokladen. Doppa fyrkanterna i choklad och strö över garneringen. Låt stelna. Förvara i en tätslutande burk i kyl eller frys.

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Blueberry, ginger & lemon

Makes about 16 balls

Ingredients

2 dl rolled oats

2 scoops Puori Protein Booster

8-10 fresh dates, pitted

4 Tbsp almond butter

1 tsp grated fresh ginger

zest + 1-2 Tbsp juice from 1 organic lemon

1/2 dl blueberry powder

2 pinches flakey salt

1/2 dl dried mulberries, optional

Chopped toasted almonds for rolling

How to

Mix all the ingredients, except for the mulberries, in a food processor until a dough forms. Add a bit more liquid if to dry. Add the mulberries and pulse a few times. Form in to about 16 balls, roll in lingonberry powder. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Lingonberry, ginger & orange

Makes about 16 balls

Ingredients

2 dl rolled oats

2 scoops Puori Protein Booster

8-10 fresh dates, pitted

4 Tbsp almond butter

1 tsp grated fresh ginger

zest + 1-2 Tbsp juice from 1 organic orange

1/2 dl lingonberry powder

2 pinches flakey salt

1/2 dl dried mulberries, optional

How to

Mix all the ingredients, except for the mulberries, in a food processor until a dough forms. Add a bit more liquid if to dry. Add the mullberries and pulse a few times. Form in to about 16 balls, roll in chopped almonds). Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Chocolate, vanilla & coffee

Makes about 16 balls

Ingredients

2 dl rolled oats

2 scoops Puori Protein Booster

10-12 fresh dates, pitted

4 Tbsp almond butter

2 Tbsp strong coffee

1/2 tsp pure vanilla powder

1/2 dl cacao

2 pinches flakey salt

1/2 dl dried mulberries, optional

50 grams dark chocolate

things for garnish; for example dired mulberries and freeze dried raspberries

flakey salt

How to

Mix all the ingredients, except for the mulberries, in a food processor until a dough forms. Add a bit more liquid if to dry. Add the mullberries and pulse a few times. Roll out to a rectangle and cut in to 16 cubes. Melt the chocolate. Dipp the cubes in chocolate and sprinkle with you preferred garnish and some flakey salt. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Tahini oat cookies with carrot

These cookies are a mix of pretty much all of my favourite things. The result? My favourite cookies (chocker)! A bit more savoury than sweet, perfect to always have in the freezer for spontaneous fika-moments, or when you come home after a long day and want something to munch meanwhile you think about what to cook for your evening meal. In other words - these are really must-have-cookies!

Tahini oat cookies with carrot

Makes 12

Ingredients

4 dl rolled oats

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 Tbsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cardamom

1/2 tsp pure vanilla powder

14 fresh dates, pitted 

1 dl light tahini

2 Tbsp oat mylk or water

1 medium carrot

1 pinch flakey salt

How to

Pre heat the oven to 175°C. Mix oats, baking powder, spices and vanilla in a food processor. Add the dates and mix until crumbly. Add tahini and oat mylk, pulse until the dough starts fo get together. Add the carrot and mix until you get a dough. Form in to 12 balls, put on a baking tray and press lightly with a fork to get the look. Bake in the oven for 15-17 minutes, until they get crispy underneath and lightly golden on top. You want them to have a crispy outside and and chewy inside! Store in an airtight container, in the fridge or freezer.

Recipe was first published in The Gothenburg-Post/Två dagar

Plant-based by Thess Chocolate Mountain bars

During my mountain trail running adventure in the Swedish Jämtland mountains these ones were one of the few precious things I filled my tiny backpack with. Delicious and creamy bars filled with chocolate, protein and plant power to fuel you up during weekend hikes, long or short adventures, fika at home or whatever you’re up to!

As I like my bars / bliss balls to be reeeaaally creamy rather then only nutty (as it would be if using only nuts / dried fruit, something many of the bars you get from different stores are if you ask me), I like to use oats and protein powder (I use vegan unsweetened / natural pea protein to get it as clean as possible) in addition to the seeds and seed butter (which contains LOTS of protein!). Makes the most creamy chocolate protein bar ever believe me!! And also, feel free to use any nuts or seeds you want instead of the pepitas / tahini to fit your taste buds / pantry!

Let’s get baking!

Plant-based by Thess Chocolate Mountain bars

Ingredients

14 fresh dates, pitted

1 scoop protein powder (I use vegan unsweetened / natural pea protein)

1 dl / 0.4 cups rolled oats

1 dl / 0.4 cups cacao powder

2 dl / 0.8 cups pepitas / pumpkin seeds

1/2 dl / 0.2 cups light tahini

1 good pinch flakey salt

1-2 Tbsp water if needed 

For garnish

Flakey salt

dried flowers

How to

Pre heat the oven to 175°C. Spread out the pepitas on a baking tray, toast in the oven for 5-10 minutes, until they get slightly golden and start to pop. Let cool.

Mix alla the ingredients in a food processor until super creamy! Add a bit more water to combine if necessary. Put the dough in between two baking papers, roll out to a square using a rolling pin. Garnish with salt and flowers, roll with the rolling pin again to make the salt and flowers stick. Put the whole thing in the freezer for 1 hour. Take it out and cut in to good-size bars. Wrap them up in baking paper or aluminium foil (or just a glass box if you’re not taking them with you on adventure), store them in an air tight container in the freezer. Stays well for months! However I doubt they would ever last that long…

Hope you like them!

Lentil cracker with seeds and rolled oats

A staple which can vary in so many different ways! Depending on what seeds or nuts + flour I have at home my crackers always look different. This one though, with red lentils, have become one of my absolute favourites! Why? The lentils make the crackers if possible even more crisp - try for yourself!

My favourite way to serve them is with some kind of spread - you find a few of my favourites when scrolling though my recipes here on my website!

Lentil cracker with seeds and rolled oats

2 small trays

Ingredients

1 dl / 0.8 cups red lentils, soaked over night or for at least 8 hours

1 dl / 0.8 cups pepitas or pumpkin seeds

1 dl / 0.8 cups flaxseeds

1 dl / 0.8 cups rolled oats

1 dl / 0.8 cups oat flour

1 1/2 Tbsp chia seeds

1 1/2 Tbsp psyllium husk

1/2 tsp salt

2 dl water

2 Tbsp cold pressed rapeseed oil

How to

Soak the lentils, then rinse. Mix all the dry ingredients and the lentils in a bowl. Bring the water to a boil, pour over the dry mix together with the oil. Mix until a dough.

Divide the dough in two. Roll out, until very thin, between two pieces of parchment paper. Put on two baking trays. Let sit on the kitchen counter for at least 30 minutes.

Pre heat the oven to 150°C fan / 300°F fan. Bake the two trays in the oven for 30 minuter, carefully then turn the whole cracker thing around and bake for another 10 minutes, until dry and crisp. Let cool and indulge!!

Recipe was first published in The Gothenburg-Post/Två dagar

Chocolate cranberry bliss balls with toasted sesame

Bliss balls is what I make when I crave something sweet but don’t want to make a whole cake. I use whatever dried fruits/berries (such as organic apricots, blueberries or mulberries) or fresh dates I have at home. Instead of oil I prefer to get my fat from tahini or any kind of nut butter as I like to use the WHOLE food, plus it’s adds LOTS of awesome flavour. Cacao is every so often in my bliss balls, and maybe some additional flavour such as cinnamon, blueberry powder or like here - cranberry powder! Then it’s the rolling left - coconut, toasted sesame seeds or nuts or berry powder all works perfectly!

These ones are my new favourites because A) they contain tahini which I love B) they are tangy thanks to cranberry powder and C) lightly crisp on the outside thanks to the toasted sesame seeds!

Hope you like them too! And please let me know your favourite bliss ball combinations!

Chocolate cranberry bliss balls with toasted sesame

Makes about 16

Ingredients

3 dl / 1.2 cups rolled oats

12 fresh dates, pitted

3/4 dl / 0.3 cups cacao, preferably raw

2 tsp cranberry powder

2 Tbsp light tahini

2-3 Tbsp water

1 Tbsp cacao nibs (optional)

a good pinch of flakey salt

For rolling

1 dl / 0.4 cups unhulled sesame seeds

How to

Mix the oats, cacao, cranberry powder and salt in a food processor. Add the dates and mix until crumbly. Add tahini and water to combine. Add a bit more water if necessary. Now you might want to add your cacao nibs. The batter should be a bit sticky as the oats will soak up the liquid when you let it sit for a moment.

Pre heat the oven to 175°C / 350°F. Spread out the sesame seeds on an oven tray and toast the seeds for 10 minutes. Let cool.

Form the batter in to about 16 balls. Roll in the sesame seeds. Store in the fridge or freezer - I like them best well chilled, pretty much straight from the freezer!

Chocolate peanut butter truffle bites

Might be one of the most heavenly chocolate truffles I’ve ever tasted. Very easy to make, with only a few ingredients and melting-in-your-mouth-kind-of-yummy. Any further description unnecessary - let’s get baking!

Chocolate peanut butter truffle bites

Makes 12

Ingredients

3 dl / 1.2 cups rolled oats

1 dl / 0.4 dl cacao (preferably raw)

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 pinch flakey salt

12 fresh dates, pitted

1/2 dl / 0.2 cups unsweetened crunchy peanut butter

Frosting

8 fresh dates, pitted

3 Tbsp cold pressed coconut oil, room temperature

5 Tbsp water

1/2 dl / 0.2 cups cacao (preferably raw)

1 pinch flakey salt

How to

For the base: Mix oats, cacao, cinnamon and salt in a food processor. Add dates and peanut butter and mix until a sticky batter (I like when there are still some crunch to it so I tend to not mix until completely smooth). Add some more water if it feels too dry. Firmly press the dough in to a a small baking mold (covered with parchment paper). Put in the fridge.

For the frosting: Mix all the ingredients until completely smooth in a food processor. Spread out the frosting over the base. Put back in the fridge for an hour before serving.

Cut in to 12 pieces. Powder with extra cacao and sprinkle with salt before serving. DIG IN!

PS. Store in the fridge, or freezer (if any left…)

Recipe for Coop Sverige. Photo by Magnus Carlsson.

Savoury banana muffins with ginger and cinnamon

This a my twist on my beloved banana bread from my second cookbook The new green protein, in the form of a muffin! Moist, savoury and perfect to bring to your picnic, as snack or serve for weekend breakfast. For variation try adding berries to the batter before baking them!

Also, fo a even more savoury muffins add a handful of finely grated carrot or parsnip!

Savoury banana muffins with ginger and cinnamon

Makes 12

Ingredients

2 dl / 0.8 cups oat flour

2 dl / 0.8 cups buckwheat flour

2 tsp ground ginger

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

3 green bananas (as in not the most ripe ones)

3 Tbsp shia seeds

1 1/2 dl / 1 cup unsweetened oat mylk, or your choice of plant mylk OR water

1/2 dl / 0.2 cups cold pressed rapeseeds oil

How to

Pre heat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius / 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bring the oat mylk to a boil, remove from heat and mix with the chia seeds. Let sit for 10 minutes until you get a pudding, mix half way through to avoid the chia seeds from clumping.

Peel and mash the bananas with a fork.

Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl.

Add the chia mix, banana and oil to the dry mix and stir until you get a sticky batter. Divide in to 12 muffin moulds. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, until the muffins get all golden.

ENJOY!

Ps. Check if the muffins are ready sticking a toothpick in the center of the muffin, the toothpick should come out clean with only a couple of crumbs clinging to the sides when the muffins are done!

Loveable (raw)yum

This is my - semi raw - take on a Swedish classic called Kärleksmums. Chocolaty, slightly salty, sweet, crunchy, creamy and PACKED with plant based protein!

The recipe is from my second book The new green protein where I call them “Kärleksfulla (raw)mums”. That’s not all, it’s also my first ever recipe shared in a live television show! This very morning that happened! So, let’s just say that from this day on this cake will be quite special - not only because it’s yummy and works for as well fika as an afternoon snack but also because it reminds me to sometimes take a step back and enjoy the feeling of reaching milestones. And appreciating where hard work has taken me. Well done!

So, I’ll probably make another batch as soon as I get home (the friendly people at SVT enjoyed it all) and spend the rest of the evening with a couple of blankets, lit candles and all my new cookbooks that have finally reached me!

I know you wonder about the recipe. Here it comes!

Loveable (raw)yum

12 pieces

Base

2 dl / 0.8 cups toasted whole buckwheat *

1 dl / 0.4 cups pepitas

1 dl / 0.4 cups raw cacao

10 fresh dates, pitted

2 Tbsp cold pressed coconut oil

1-2 Tbsp water

Ganache

2 Tbsp cold pressed coconut oil

1/2 dl / 0.2 cups raw cacao

3/4 dl / 0.3 cups water

8 fresh dates, pitted

1 pinch unrefined salt

1/2 dl / 0.4 cups shredded coconut

How to

Mix all the dry ingredients until a fine crumble using a food processor, it’s nice to keep some of the buckwheat whole as that will give an extra crunch! Add dates, oil and water and mix in to a dough. Press out the dough in a small baking tray, put in the fridge.

Melt the oil on low heat. Mix all the ingredients for the ganache, except for the shredded coconut, until completely smooth. Preferably use a high speed blender if you have one - or continue mixing using a food processor - this might take a bit more time.

Spread the ganache over the base, sprinkle over the shredded coconut. the cake in the fridge for at least 20 minutes before serving. I even keep mine in the freezer as I love my bite properly chilled!

ENJOY!

• Toasted buckwheat: Put the buckwheat in a fine mesh strainer. Bring some water to a boil and then pour over the buckwheat. Rinse with cold water and let drain for a few minutes. Toast in a dry pan, on medium heat, until golden and crisp. Let cool. 

Recipe from The new green protein. Photo by Fanny Hansson.

Swedish Chokladbollar By Thess

To make sure we’re all in the game: “Chokladbollar” is the Swedish word for this brilliant and VERY traditional no bake little treat. Directly translated it means chocolate balls, and that it just what they are!

For years I’ve been making several types of raw food bliss balls (no grains, only nuts/seeds etc), then I remembered that I’ve eaten the most delicious chokladbollar every other day when growing up. Chokladbollar might be the one thing ALL Swedish kids learn to bake as soon as they kan stand on a stool (so they reach the countertop).

Anyway, I went back to the roots, made a batch of classic ones - but with a #plantbasedbythess twist. And to be honest they are great. No fuss.

Swedish Chokladbollar

By Thess

Ingredients

Makes about 20-24 balls

🌿3 dl / 1.2 US cups rolled oats

🌿12 fresh dates, pitted

🌿1/2 dl light tahini or almond butter

🌿1 dl / 0.4 US cups raw cacao powder

🌿1 Tbsp brewed coffee

🌿1/2 tsp ground cinnamon or vanilla powder, optional

🌿A good pinch of flakey salt

🌿Shredded coconut for rolling 

How to

Mix all of the ingredients until smooth (you want it to be sticky but rollable) in a food processor. Add a bit water or oat mylk (any plant mylk really) if it feels too dry, or a bit more rolled oats if it feels to wet.

Form in to balls. As big or small as you want. Basic knowledge - if you make smaller ones you can eat many and you get more (!) coconut coating.

Put shredded coconut in a bowl, add a few balls at a time and give the bowl a good shake so the balls get all covered. OR even smarter - use a bowl with a lid, then you can give it a proper shake!!

Let the chokladbollar sit in the fridge for about an hour before eating. Best when chilled! Eat within a couple of weeks (you will never be able to keep them for that long. Trust me on that one!).

Good to know!

The chokladbollar can be stored in the freezer if you want to keep them for longer, or make in advance in you have a fika coming up.

Apple cake bliss balls with cacao nibs

Delicious small bites of - my take on - a soft and sweet Swedish apple cake! Inspired by my dear friends at Food Pharmacy I made these ones the other day when I wanted something sweet for fika (Swedish word for a time of day when you sit down/chill out/have a snack + cup of tea or coffee or some other drink maybe). And I am very happy with the result - natural sweet, nutty and nutritious ingredients flavoured with two of my favourite spices; cinnamon and cardamom cannot go wrong. So it wasn't much of a gamble to be honest.

Unlike most bliss balls these ones are soft - and almost kind of chewy. As the cashews are soaked before mixing the bliss ball batter, they are easier to digest (+ nutrients even more accessible)+ adds an extra creaminess to the balls. Now let's bake!

Apple cake bliss balls with cacao nibs

Makes about 20 bliss balls

Ingredients

2 dl cashew nuts, soaked for 1-2 hours in 5 dl water I 1 tsp unfiltered apple cider vinegar

2 dl steel cut oats

1 red apple, roughly grated

6 fresh dates, pitted

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground cardamom

2 tbsp cacao nibs (optional)

grated coconut for rolling

How to 

Drain and rinse the cashews. Mix with the rest of the ingredients, except for the cacao nibs, until a soft and smooth batter. Add the cacao nibs and pulse a few times. Form in to 20 balls, and roll in grated coconut.

Store in the fridge or freezer. 

Favourite cracker spreads

Seed cracker is one of my big obsessions. It's a staple in my kitchen and I make a batch every other week to make sure I always have some at home. I like them with a creamy avocado and sprouts for breakfast, as a side to a hearty salad or delicious soup, as a nibble during a party or just as they are. Nutty, crispy and yummy. No matter when they are served a creamy spread goes very well with them. And creamy spreads is just what this blog post is about. 

These two are easy to make, contains lots of nutrition and flavour AND can be stored in the fridge for quite a few days. Make a big batch and keep some for upcoming breakfasts, lunches, afternoon snack moments and dinners. Except from having the spreads on a crispy cracker they could also be served to a hearty salad or in your favourite wrap. 

* The cracker above is "Oat and walnut cracker" from my cookbook The new green salad.

Pea and cilantro hummus

250 grams green peas 

2 tbsp tahini (I prefer the light one here, made of raw sesame seeds instead of toasted) 

1/2 dl water 

1 big handful of fresh cilantro 

1/2 dl cold pressed olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

fresh or dried cilantro for garnishing 

Carrot and tarragon hummus

4 dl/320 grams cooked chickpeas

250 grams cooked/steamed/baked carrots

2 tbsp tahini (I prefer the light one here, made of raw sesame seeds instead of toasted) 

1/2 dl water

1 small garlic clove, minced  

1 tsp dried tarragon

2 tbsp cold pressed olive oil

salt and pepper to taste 

sesame seeds + cold pressed olive oil for garnishing  

How to

Green pea and cilantro hummus: Mix water and tahini until creamy using an immersion blender or food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until creamy. Salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with cilantro before serving. 

Carrot and tarragon hummus: Mix water and tahini until creamy using an immersion blender or food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the olive oil, and mix until creamy. Add the oil and mix to combine. Salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving. 

DONE! 

Almond and apricot bliss balls with wintery spices

Sweet, tangy and chunky at the same time. This is my favourite seasonal bliss balls which I make with toasted almonds, dried organic apricots and all my favourite wintery spices. Make a big batch and store in the freezer - ready to be taken out and served whenever during the upcoming season! 

I make my own "wintery spices blend" that I use both for bliss balls like these but also in hot and cold porridge and hot drinks throughout the season. Try making your own (or use my "recipe" below), using your favourite spices, or by blends like "ginger bread spices" found in the grocery store. 

Almond and apricot bliss balls with wintery spices

Makes about 14 bliss balls

Ingredients

2 dl almonds (preferably toasted for extra flavour) 

1 dl oats (use gluten free if gluten intolerant)

1 dl shredded coconut

12 dried organic apricots

2 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil

2 tbsp freshly pressed orange juice (optional) 

1-2 tbsp almond milk or water (optional)

1 tsp ground cinnamon 

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cardamon

1 pinch ground cloves

1 pinch sea salt 

How to

Pulse almonds, oats, shredded coconut and spices until coarsely chopped * in a food processor. Add the apricots and mix until crumbly, then add the coconut oil and orange juice and mix just until the mixture sticks together. You might have to add a bit of almond milk or water (especially if not using orange juice. This usually depends on how big/soft the apricot are)  to get it to stick together. You want to mixture to be slightly sticky. 

Form mixture in to balls and roll in shredded coconut. Place in the fridge and served slightly chilled - thats how I like them best! 

* I like having quite big bites of almonds in my bliss balls! You could also mix until a flour like mixture before adding your wet ingredients, this will give your bliss balls another consistency. 

Buckwheat chocolate bliss balls with blueberry and coconut

I really love almonds, nuts and seeds. As a snack, on top of a salad, on my morning porridge, mixed to a nut butter and in raw desserts. Nuts contain LOTS of greats nutrition, and they also contain a lot of fat. Good fat, but still, even good things can be to much. Therefore I like to sometimes use toasted buckwheat whenever I make raw desserts or bliss balls for afternoon snack. Buckwheat groats contains lots of great nutrition, but less fat then nuts and seeds. And also - the toasted buckwheat gives a delicious crunchy texture, and it's gluten free. 

So, I came up with a simple recipe for a perfect and delicious little ball with buckwheat instead of the commonly used nuts or seeds. This buckwheat bliss ball is the perfect “fika” but also a great afternoon snack. I made them the other day, during one of the retreats here in France this summer - and everybody loved them. The chocolate together with the blueberry is a really tasty combination. And the tiny bit of sea salt that I always add makes all the difference. 

A few things to have in mind is: add more cacao for an even more chocolaty flavor, add more blueberry power for even more of a berry taste, and more dates for a sweeter touch. Mix it until you make it - so to speak! 

Enough writing. So, here is the recipe for these little ones, hope you like them! 

Buckwheat chocolate bliss balls with blueberry

Makes about 20 bliss balls

Ingredients

2 1/2 dl dried whole buckwheat groats (buy toasted ones if you find in your store, then you kan skip the first instruction below on how to toast them yourself)

3/4 dl cacao 

2 tbsp blueberry powder 

A pinch of flakey salt 

10 fresh dates, pitted 

2 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil 

1-2 tbsp water

Shredded coconut for rolling

How to

Put the buckwheat in a fine mesh strainer. Bring some water to a boil and then pour over the buckwheat. Rinse with cold water and let drain for a few minutes. Toast in a dry pan, on medium heat, until golden and crisp. Let cool. 

Mix buckwheat, cacao and blueberry power until some of the buckwheat has been crushed. I like my bliss balls to have quite a few whole buckwheat groats left as I like the crunchy consistency, but you can also mix until a flour like consistency. Add dates, coconut oil and water, mix until a dough. You might want to add a bit more water to get the dough to stick together. 

Form the dough in to about 20 balls, roll in shredded coconut. Put on a plate and let chill in the fridge for at least 30 minites before serving. Allowing time in the fridge (or freezer if you cannot wait to dig in!) will make them even more firm and - if you ask me - even tastier!

Crispy kale with nori and sesame

Kale. I like (love) kale in every possible way you can have it. Therefore I was beyond happy yesterday when I visited the amazing Ugglarps Grönt, a renown farm shop in the southern part of Sweden where I was wandering around the unbelievable brassicas fields. There they grow not only kale but every type of brassica that you could think of. Got a lot of inspiration for the upcoming season ot say the least.

Thinking of,  and writing about, kale I wanted to share with you one of my favourite ways to have it - baked until perfectly crisp! To get the kale really crisp you need to have a little trick down your sleeve. Scroll down to read more! 

Crispy kale with nori and sesame

Serves 1-6, all depending on how and when you serve it (as a Friday snack when hanging out with yourself, topping on a salad etc)

Ingredients

250 grams kale

2 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil

2 tbsp sesame seeds, preferably a mix of white and black ones

1 tbsp nori flakes 

1 tsp flakey salt 

How to

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius. 

 Wash the kale and remove the stalk. Tear the leafs in smaller pieces and put on a oven tray. Dry the kale carefully (!) with a clean kitchen towel. This is the secret part, by drying the kale completely before you massage it with the oil the kale will bake and not steam, which will happen if you have wet kale. Baked kale = really crisp. Steamed kale = impossible to get crispy. 

Blend sesame seeds, nori and salt. If you can't find nori flakes you can finely chop a nori sheet, or even better mix in a food processor. Massage the dry kale with coconut oil until every part is covered. Sprinkle with the sesame and nori mixture. Give it a toss.  

Bake in the middle of the oven for 10-15 minutes, until the kale is crisp. Make sure to stay close as the kale can easily burn if in the oven for to long. Toss it around every now and then to get evenly crisp kale. Let cool. 

White bean dip with mushrooms and herb pesto

Sometimes simplicity is what makes a dish (big or small) really good. Like with this recipe. A simple white bean dip, topped with some pan fried mushrooms, a delicious yet simple pesto and a handful of mâche lettuce for some extra freshness. Together with some seed crackers or crisp bread from my cookbook The new green salad this is really YUMMY! 

I would serve this as a starter, as a side to any dinner or as a great part of a weekend brunch with family and friends! Or, as I will do later today, as a light evening snack. You can also make a big batch and store some of it in the fridge, then you have the perfect spread to your breakfast crisp bread or filling for a hearty wrap sorted out for the next couple of days. 

Photo by dear Fanny Hansson. 

White bean dip with mushrooms and herb pesto

Serves 2 two as a starter/snack, or 4 as a side

Ingredients

230 g cooked giant white beans (about 4 dl cooked)

2 tbsp tahini 

1/2 dl water 

1/2 cold pressed olive oil

a small handful of fresh tarragon 

250 grams mushrooms of your choice (preferably chanterelles when they're in season!)

70 grams mâche lettuce

flakey salt and freshly ground black pepper 

Herb pesto

1 1/2 dl cold pressed olive oil

1 small garlic clove, minced

2 dl mixed fresh herbs

1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

flakey salt and freshly ground black pepper 

To serve

seed crackers or oat crisp bread (recipe in my book The new green salad) 

cabbage (really nice to cut in pieces, similar to the size of a cracker) or endive

How to

Soak and cook the white beans according to instructions on the packaning (PLAN & PREP. Make a big batch if you're in the making and keep some of it in the fridge for salads, dips or soups fillings during the next few days. Or even put them in the freezer, in small bags, for other occasions through out the next weeks). If using pre cooked beans rinse them well. Mix tahini and water in a food processor until smooth and fluffy. And the white beans and mix until smooth. Add the oil, lemon juice and tarragon. Mix until completely smooth. Salt and pepper to taste.   

Brush and cut the mushrooms in quarters. Drizzle some oil in a frying pan and fry the mushrooms on medium heat until soft and lightly golden. 

Mix all the ingredients for the herb pesto in a food processor or immersion blender. Add more oil for a runnier texture. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Put the white bean dip in a bowl, top with mushrooms, drizzle some herb pesto and top with a handful of mâche. Serve with some seed crackers, cabbage or endive! 

Toasted bliss balls

Never get tired of nutty bliss balls. These little yummy ones are covered in toasted, finely chopped hazelnuts and toasted coconut flakes. Can be the most delicious covering ever! 

This is a recipe that doesn’t have any exact measurements, I just mix the ingredients until I get the desired consistency and flavor. Therefore they never taste exactly the same, which I like! And I rarely get the exact same number of bliss balls, it all depends on how much I happen to eat before they’re even ready(!), and on how big ones I can bare to roll…If I had any freeze dried raspberries I’d probably put them in here as well. Use your imagination!

I call these ones toasted as I toast the buckwheat and any seeds or nuts I have in them – does a lot for the flavor!

Best,

T

Toasted bliss balls

toasted whole buckwheat groats

toasted sesame seeds

oats (gluten free if gluten intolerant) 

toasted coconut flakes

cacao

a pinch of sea salt

a pinch of cinnamon

dried dates

tiny bit of cold pressed coconut oil

oat milk/almond milk/coconut milk/your choice of any plant based milk (water works just as fine!)

toasted and finely chopped coconut flakes and hazelnuts for rolling

How to

Start with mixing the buckwheat (use dried, whole buckwheat and rinse in boiling water before draining and toasting in a hot, dry frying pan until golden and crisp), add the rest of the dry ingredients and mix until a powder-like consistency. 

Add pitted dates (use more for a sweeter taste, fewer for a less sweet bliss ball. Then you just have to use more plant milk instead!) and oil, pulse a few times. Add the plant milk until the right consistency. You may have to add a bit more cacao/salt/cinnamon to fit your preference, or more oats to get the right consistency. 

Form in to balls and roll in toasted finely chopped hazelnuts or toasted, mixed coconut flakes. Store in the freezer or fridge.