Ayurvedic energy balls with coconut oil

I was inspired to create these delicious energy balls by my friend Daniela from Ayurfood. When she contacted me about ghee and sesame oil for her shop, we discovered we had a lot in common: We love Ayurveda, are both Kundalini yoga teachers, and have roots in Vorarlberg. Since then, I've not only been supplying her wonderful cooking workshops with oil and ghee, but we also practice yoga together, and I enjoy being inspired by her amazing recipes.

Find Daniela's simple recipe for about 30 energy balls here.

Ingredients:

• 150 g dried figs
• 150 g ground almonds
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
• 1-2 tablespoons rose water
• 3 tablespoons coconut flakes

Here's how it's done:

1. Remove the stems from the figs and chop them in a food processor. Then add the ground almonds and blend briefly until a smooth mixture forms.
2. Stir in the coconut oil. If it's still solid, you can briefly heat it in a water bath to make it liquid.
3. Add cardamom and rose water to the mixture and mix well.
4. Form teaspoon-sized balls with wet hands and then roll them in the coconut flakes.
5. Let the balls dry on baking paper for at least 30 minutes.

The energy balls will keep in the refrigerator for at least a week.

There are countless variations of energy balls. Try them with different dried fruits, grains, and spices to find your personal favorite.

I also love the balls with two or three spoonfuls of raw cacao, and I like using dates instead of figs. What I particularly like about Daniela's recipe is the addition of rose water; it gives the balls a lovely, exotic flavor. In Ayurveda, rose water is said to have cooling, heart-opening, and digestive-supporting properties.

A brief Ayurvedic food guide to the properties of coconut oil

Coconut oil is valued in Ayurveda for its many benefits. It is particularly vata-soothing and pitta-balancing, meaning it is calming to the nerves and can reduce excess heat in the body. The medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) found in coconut oil provide an excellent source of energy and aid digestion. Furthermore, coconut oil can also promote skin health and strengthen the immune system. In these Ayurvedic energy balls, the coconut fat not only contributes to the delicious flavor but also provides a soothing dose of nerve food and helps cool down an overheated mind. Enjoy these balls as a morning snack, before or after yoga, or whenever you need an extra energy boost.

Find more Ayurveda recipes at: ayurfood.ch