I’ve had baklava once. Just once.I was eating lunch with a beloved professor of mine on a visit back to my college town. She had ordered a slice of baklava, and she offered me a bite. I remembered detecting such incredible flavors: the honey, cinnamon, and pistachio. I never had it again, and after going vegan, I didn’t think I ever would.
This is far from a flaky phyllo slice of heaven, but the flavors are there. Don’t skimp on the cinnamon; trust me, you need the whole teaspoon! As for the banana? It’s completely optional. The honey sweetens it enough on its own; the banana just adds nutrition and texture.
This is certainly a decadent dish, but nutritionally, it’s not all that bad. It has less than 400 calories, more than 7 grams of fiber, and a healthy dose of potassium. It’s high in sugar, but at least the fiber will help balance that out. 🙂
What you'll need:
- 1 cup milk of choice, or water
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
- 1 tsp flax meal (optional)
- 1/2 a banana or 1/3 cup pureed zucchini
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp honey
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 drop lemon extract (optional)
- pinch of salt
- handful of pistachios
How to make it:
- Bring milk (I use 1/2 c almond milk and 1/2 c water) to a boil, add oats, and reduce heat to medium. If using flax, add now.
- Mash banana thoroughly and stir into the oatmeal.
- Once more of the liquid has absorbed, add cinnamon, honey, lemon juice and extract, and salt. Stir.
- When you're pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, transfer to a bowl. Add a handful of pistachios, a drizzle of honey, and another dash of cinnamon. Finish with a splash of your milk of choice and any other additional toppings.
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