Oat and banana energy balls
I love this recipe because it's so healthy and yet so versatile, and it's also really quick and simple to make. It's also an ideal way to use up some over-ripe bananas that have gone a bit soft. They take less than 10 minutes and if you wish to make them a little sweeter, you could add a little agave syrup to the mixture.
I've used pecan nuts in this recipe but you can use any nuts you might have in the cupboard, I often use walnuts as well. The other great thing about this recipe is that you can experiment with different flavours and ingredients. In the past I've added sultanas, dried cranberries or ground cinnamon. Play around with it and choose flavours that work for you.
These are really perfect to take along on a hike or long distance run, due to them being easy to pack up and carry. I often pack up a few in a lunchbox for a beach snack in the summer.
INGREDIENTS:
2-3 bananas (slightly over-ripe are best)
2 tbsp pecan nuts (chopped)
1-2 cups oats
1-2 tbsp raisins
1 tsp chia seeds
1-2 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp agave nectar (optional)
Preheat the oven to around 180°C/350°F/ Gas mark 4. Grease a baking tray or line it with a greaseproof paper.
Mash up the bananas in a bowl with a fork. Add the peanut butter and mix together. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well together, adding more oats if the mixture is too moist.
Roll the mixture into balls (roughly the size of a ping-pong ball) flatten slightly and place on the baking tray.
Bake for between 6-10 minutes. Allow to cool before eating.