Lemon & Chia Coconut Macaroons

These lemon & chia coconut macaroons are part of my healthful eating rep.  And this is a recipe I learned from Julie, at Earth to Table in Bondi Junction, where she makes creative, nutritious and delicious food.  My favourite place to eat right now! I’m especially taken with her cakes, and recently did a workshop with her to learn a few of the tricks!

I thought I’d share this recipe as it’s quick and easy to make, and they make a nice sweet, but wholesome and satisfying snack.  They’re easy and cute enough for kids to make too – I think they will like the hand mushing and rolling required!

Hopefully you won’t find the ingredients too tricky – if you’re interested in shaking up the way you eat a little, I’ve included links to where you can buy pure and wholesome good quality products.  Otherwise get creative!!  I don’t use sugar much these days, and have replaced it with liquid stevia which I buy here, or Rice Malt Syrup and Natvia (both of which you can buy in the supermarket).  I have included some measurements for sugar in the recipe though, for those of you who are still slave to it!! 🙂  As far as lemon essence goes, I like to use the most natural as possible. I bought mine at Earth to Table at 85 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction.  I found this website that sells natural stuff, although it does contain alcohol as a preservative – still, I think it looks good and it’s an Australian product and excellent price.

Chia is an ancient superfood that you can now buy in most big supermarkets – but I tend to buy from the health-food shop as I am particular about buying this only from Latin America.  There lies the plant’s native habitat, and I believe this stuff will have the most nutritional value.  If you didn’t know already, here are some of the many benefits of this simple, versatile & pretty much tasteless beauty:

1. Chia is gluten free

2. It is super high in dietary fibre, making it great for digestion and healing digestion issues.

3. It contains 20% Omega 3 ALA, making it a super food for the brain and heart. Chia has eight times more Omega 3 than salmon!

4. It boasts 20% protein

5. The protein is a complete protein with all 8 essential amino acids

6. It is high in antioxidants (It has a four times higher ORAC value than blueberries)

7. Chia contains five times more calcium than milk

8. Chia contains seven times more vitamin C than oranges

9. It contains three times more iron than spinach

10. It contains twice the potassium content of banana

11. It is food for healthy skin, hair and nails

12. It has a positive impact balancing blood glucose levels (making it awesome for diabetics)

13. Chia makes a great egg replacement. Just combine with water to form a gel, and add it to recipes that call for egg.

(FYI, nutritionists recommend that 15g/0.53oz (one tablespoon) of chia is consumed each day. Be sure to drink plenty of water as chia is very high in fibre.)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of shredded coconut (check pack for no additives- I use this brand here)

1/2 cup macadamia nuts

6-12 drops of liquid stevia (3-4 tablespoons powdered coconut sugar or icing sugar if you’re so inclined.  Maybe check out Natvia – & you don’t’ need to use as much of the stuff as sugar as it’s really sweet)

1/3 cup virgin coconut butter (available here)

2 tblsps lemon juice

1 lemon zested

6 drops lemon extract (see above for good stockists)

2 tblspns chia seeds

Pinch of celtic sea

Method:

* Roughly chop the macadamias

* Place all the dry ingredients together in a bowl and gently mix

*Add the liquid ingredients and mix everything together, I think hands are best tool for this

*Place the bowl in the fridge for 2-3 minutes (this makes it easier to roll the macaroons into balls)

*Remove the bowl from the fridge and the coconut oil should have slightly firmed up making it easier to roll the mixture into balls

*Form the mixture into balls & place onto some non-stick baking paper and place in the fridge to set for about halfa

*These macaroons taste great straight from the fridge or at room temperature, just remember coconut oil melts at 25 degrees C, yes, I have sucked them off the insides of my zip lock bags when I’ve brought them to work and forgotten to fridge them!!  Still yum!

Makes approx. 18 balls