Tropical Mango and Coconut Muesli (and a Bircher muesli)

January 4, 2009 by Not Quite Nigella

Each year for Christmas, we go to the Blue Mountains and rent a house to stay in. And every year I’ve brought a batch of my own Home Made Muesli or Granola so that the healthy eaters can have it for breakfast. Don’t worry, there’s also sky high stacks of french toast and pancakes made, we’re not all virtuous at this time of year. Last year I made a cranberry, macadamia and yogurt coated berry version of this but this year I thought I’d make it a bit more tropical, a toasted muesli studded with dried mango, macadamia and coconut.

Most toasted mueslis or granolas spray the oats with oil so that they crisp up nicely but this also means that the healthy breakfast you were seeking is effectively negated by the generous spraying of oil. Not this one, it gets its crunchy texture via apple juice.I don’t want to give any claims or low fat since the nuts and seeds have fat in them(but the healthy kind) but the fact is that this is free of all added fat. It’s not exactly low in sugar with the amount of honey and sugar in it but I’ll take what I can at this point. It’s fabulously filling and low GI which means that a small bowl will sustain you easily until lunch. If I have a medium sized bowl I sometimes find I don’t even get the urge to have lunch but of course my eyes take over and I see something that I just must eat.

This also makes the most delicious Bircher Muesli, that lovely juice and yogurt soused breakfast. The apple juice and yogurt also plumps up the fruit and gives it a gorgeously cooling quality in the hot weather. A quick way to Bircher-ify your muesli is to take a cup of the muesli, mix in  1 1/2 tablespoons of yogurt (I used a Hastings Valley honey yogurt my friend Lou gave me but plain unsweetened yogurt is also fine) and 1/4 cup of apple juice. Cover and refrigerate overnight and in the morning, it’s absolutely delicious. I make this when I feel like something sweet and dessert like and save the regular crunchy muesli for when I yearn for some crunch. And I find that this coffee cup always makes me smile in the morning. It has the famous Oscar Wilde quote “Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast”. As someone that loves their sleep a bit too much, I wholeheartedly agree.

Bircher Muesli

Tropical Mango and Coconut Muesli

Ingredients

  • 400g rolled oats
  • 120g sunflower seeds
  • 120g dessicated coconut
  • 175ml apple juice
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 7 tablespoons runny honey
  • 100g light brown sugar
  • 150g unsalted macadamias
  • 1/2  tsp sea salt
  • 150grams dried mango
  • 50g shredded coconut extra

1. Mix everything except the mango and shredded coconut together very well in a large mixing bowl using two large spoons.

2. Spread this mixture on two baking tins and bake in a gas mark 3/170c oven turning over after 20 minutes and redistributing the granola evenly during the baking process. The object is to get it evenly golden without toasting too much in any one place. This should take anything from about 40 minutes.

3. Once its baked, allow to cool and mix together with the dried mango and shredded coconut. Store in an airtight jar or container.

Adapted from Feast by Nigella Lawson

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Posted in Breakfast recipes, Cooking and Recipes, Healthy

37 Comments | Add your own

  • 1. Arwen from Hoglet K | January 4, 2009 at 7:34 am | #

    This sounds so much yummier than the stuff in a bag from the supermarket. Macadamias and cinnamon, yum!

  • 2. Bria | January 4, 2009 at 9:27 am | #

    I eat toasted muesli/granola for breakfast everyday, so I’ve been meaning to make my own. Thanks for reminding me- it looks delicious!

  • 3. Lisa | January 4, 2009 at 9:45 am | #

    I’ve been making my own granola for breakfast since last August, but I love the addition of tropical fruits! Might try that for something different next time :)

  • 4. Biz | January 4, 2009 at 10:41 am | #

    What a great recipe! Thaks for sharing!

  • 5. FFichiban | January 4, 2009 at 11:33 am | #

    Yummmmm I love granola! I would drive up to the Blue Mts for some of this :)

  • 6. Hayley | January 4, 2009 at 12:23 pm | #

    This sounds like the perfect breakfast. I’ve never heard of Bircher Muesli, but now I must try this. Thanks!

  • 7. Reemski | January 4, 2009 at 12:25 pm | #

    Need to spice up my breakies! Must try this.

  • 8. Christie @ fig&cherry | January 4, 2009 at 2:54 pm | #

    Great flavour combo! I’m munching on some macadamias right now.

  • 9. Sylvia | January 4, 2009 at 3:53 pm | #

    Thanks for the recipe, I saw Nigella do this on one of her programs and have been meaning to give it a try. I also love Bircher so thanks for the tip.
    I went back to your previous muesli post and read your comment about dried cherries. I have been trying to get these everywhere as Bill Grainger uses them in his breakfast bread, which we love to make. Any tips for where I can get my hands on some? I live in Crows Nest.

  • 10. Cakelaw | January 4, 2009 at 4:03 pm | #

    This looks delicious – after all my excesses, I am looking for things that are a little more virtuous, and dried mango and macadamia bircher muesli sounds perfect.

  • 11. Madison Song | January 4, 2009 at 5:15 pm | #

    wow this look DIVINE! and hahah i totally love that Oscar Wilde quote :)

  • 12. Lilia | January 4, 2009 at 7:08 pm | #

    I triec bircher many times and found that I didn’t like these. I prefer eating warm rolled oat though, but oat can’t be crispy.
    About dried mango, have you try the Bega dried mango? Last time I bought it at The Rock market. An old lady selling these Bega dried mango, it is sweet and so *let me borrow your word* “ambroisial”

  • 13. Sarah | January 4, 2009 at 7:51 pm | #

    YUM, this looks so good and finally one of your recipes I am not afraid to try, haha!!

    I am going to make this and atempt to keep it for breakfast only (knowing me I will eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner until finished!)

  • 14. Helen | January 4, 2009 at 8:39 pm | #

    Yum I love granola. It’s the kind of stuff I love to eat straight out of the packet – no milk required!

  • 15. Not Quite Nigella | January 4, 2009 at 9:13 pm | #

    Hi Arwen-Funny you say that, because whenever I go to buy it from the supermarket, I never find one that looks nice enough after this one! :lol:

    Hi Bria-I really like making my own when I have time. It’s so good knowing that everything in it is good for you and doesn’t have any added fats :)

    Hi Lisa-Yes they’re great, especially for Summer. And winter fruit for the colder months too with hot steamed milk :)

    Hi Biz-You’re more than welcome, I hope you like it! :)

    Hi FFichiban-Haha the best thing is that you don’t need to! :P

    Hi Hayley-I love Bircher muesli, it’s like a soft, cold, porridgey muesli. Some people don’t like it preferring the crunch but I love both, especially Bircher for a late night snack :)

    Hi Reemski-If you like wholesome, crunchy muesli, I think you’ll definitely like this :)

    Hi Christie-I’m really partial to honey macadamias-I made a request for them for Christmas :lol:

    Hi Sylvia-Oh excellent! :D It’s such a great recipe and the fruit and nuts can be mixed up easily to accommodate tastes and whatever you might have in the cupboard. I did see some dried cherries in Coles but that was quite a long time ago and around Christmas last year but I don’t recall seeing them this Christmas. Other than that, The Essential Ingredient is the other place I’d think might have them?

    Hi Cakelaw-I totally hear you! Christmas was fun but a total indulgence! :P

    Hi Madison-Haha I do too, because I totally agree with it! :lol:

    Hi Lilia-I adore Bircher but of course like every food, there are always people that don’t like it. But if you don’t like crispy oats then isn’t Bircher ideal for you?

    I haven’t tried Bega mango, is it very different from other dried mango?

    Hi Sarah-Haha! That’s good, it’s healthy so I think it would be fine to eat for several meals a day :)

    Hi Helen-I admit I rarely eat cereal with milk. I prefer to eat it dry as a snack! :P

  • 16. Moya | January 4, 2009 at 9:42 pm | #

    http://www.seriouseats.com/

    Congratulations on being referenced in Serious Eats for your homemade Pocky!

  • 17. rachel askey | January 4, 2009 at 10:25 pm | #

    Dang, I’ve just made a huge batch of Bill Granger inspired granola with cranberries and almonds so I shall have to wait a couple of weeks to try this – sounds yum

  • 18. Paula | January 4, 2009 at 11:37 pm | #

    Now, being on a new year’s diet and all, this one is made for me!!
    Tell me, I’m intrigued by what your cup and saucer say, something about boring people?

  • 19. Kevin | January 5, 2009 at 2:08 am | #

    Great muesli combination!

  • 20. Sarah | January 5, 2009 at 2:29 am | #

    I just realised I put ATEmpt instead of attempt in my comment… what can I say? Your blog makes me hungry!!

  • 21. Jorden | January 5, 2009 at 3:22 am | #

    I will be having a go at this one at home! It looks beautiful!

  • 22. grace | January 5, 2009 at 7:09 am | #

    macadamia nuts are extremely underused around here. in fact, i can’t think of the last time i had one in my mouth. that’s really unfortunate, because they just might be my favorite nut. thanks for reminding me about how delicious they are. :)

  • 23. holler | January 5, 2009 at 8:33 am | #

    That sounds really delicious! I haven’t tried making muesli before, but this recipe really appeals to me. I am taking a note of it right now :)

  • 24. Not Quite Nigella | January 5, 2009 at 9:13 pm | #

    Hi Moya-Wow, that’s fantastic! Thanks for letting me know :D

    Hi rachel-The Bill Granger sounds divine too. Is the method and/or ingredients very different?

    Hi Paula-You and me and everyone else I know I think :P It says “Only Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast” :lol:

    Hi Kevin-Thanks so much! :)

    Hi Sarah-Hehe that’s a good Freudian slip I have to say! :lol:

    Hi Jorden-Fantastic, please let me know what you think of it! :)

    Hi grace-Yes I guess they’re more to do with Hawaii than the South. They’re grown in Australia so we have them quite a lot, well also because I love them!

    Hi holler-Oh cool! Do try it if you have a chance and let me know what you think of it :)

  • 25. Y | January 7, 2009 at 8:56 am | #

    Mmm.. I love your choice of flavours with this muesli. Nothing like homemade muesli, because the bought stuff rarely has enough of your favourite bits in it!

  • 26. Olga | January 7, 2009 at 1:58 pm | #

    I just wanted to say that the egg holder is the cutest thing ever.

  • 27. Not Quite Nigella | January 7, 2009 at 9:21 pm | #

    Hi Y-I so agree, that’s why I started making my own. They never put enough “bits”! It’s always full of boring bits.

    Hi Olga-Thankyou! They always give me a chuckle every time I use them too :lol:

  • 28. Custard Bun | February 12, 2009 at 9:49 pm | #

    Hello NQN,
    I have recently discovered your site and enjoying it regularly now. Thanks.

    I am going to try your granola recipe. Hope it works for me! With regard to the ginger, is it fresh ginger? If so, how does it need to be prepared – grated, cut or juiced?

    Thanks so much.

  • 29. Not Quite Nigella | February 12, 2009 at 10:20 pm | #

    Hi Custard Bun-Thankyou so much! :) I use dried ground ginger for the recipe along with ground cinnamon as they’re both easy to use :)

  • 30. Soph | March 8, 2009 at 8:55 pm | #

    I made this today formy husband who LOVES muesli… I don’t usually eat muesli, but even I thought it smelt fantastic. I used dried pawpaw instead of mango. I’ll let you know tomorrow what he thinks!!

  • 31. Custard Bun | March 23, 2009 at 9:52 pm | #

    Hello NQN,

    Just wanted to let you know that I have made this recipe twice now, and really love it. Will definitely continue to make my own as it is so much healthier than the store-bought varieties.

    Thanks again.

    Cheers,
    Custard Bun.

  • 32. Jessie | April 2, 2009 at 1:02 pm | #

    Lorraine,
    Can you please, please tell me where you got that cup and saucer from?
    Jessie

  • 33. Not Quite Nigella | April 3, 2009 at 12:58 pm | #

    Hi Soph-Fantatsic! And that substitution sounds great! :D

    Hi Custad Bun-YAY so glad that you like it! I agree it’s so nice making your own and then you know exactly what is in it :D

    Hi Jessie-I bought it from Kirribilli markets I’m afraid. It was a one off. If it helps it’s by a company called “Past Times” and is made in Japan :)

  • 34. Brenda | August 3, 2009 at 9:50 pm | #

    Thank you for the receipe looks great and reminds me of the many fantastic healthy breakfasts I have had when visiting Sydney.

  • 35. Not Quite Nigella | August 3, 2009 at 10:06 pm | #

    Hi Brenda-You’re more than welcome! :D

  • 36. Beau | October 23, 2009 at 11:23 am | #

    Wauw,thats looks yummie,,,and healthy. Gnna give it try this weekend.

One Trackback/Pingback

  • 1. Saturday Blog Surfing:Breakfast Edition | January 11, 2009 at 2:45 am

    [...] Mango and Coconut Mueseli at Not Quite Nigella seems like it would be a great choice when you were feeling crunchy. [...]

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