Pistachio Bars

Makes 16

Olive oil for greasing

75g shelled pistachios

100g mixed seeds (I used a mixture of chia, sunflower and pumpking)

250g oats

8 Medjool dates (I used about 12 normal dates)

100g dried apricots

50g of dark chocolate (70%)

100ml maple syrup (it's quite sweet so can use less but add some water to have same quantity of liquid)

4 tbsp of smooth almond butter (I used chunky, really doesn't matter)

  • Preheat the overn to 180oC/gas 4.  Grease and line a 20cm x 20cm baking tin.
  • Chop the pistachios, then scatter over a baking sheet with the mixed seeds and oats, roast for 20mins untl golded and toasted, turn occasionally.
  • Destone and roughly tear the dates and roughly chop the apricots and chocolate.
  • Place the maple syrup, almond butter, dates and 150ml of water in a small pan over a low heat.  Gently heat for 10mins, mashing the dates with the back of the spoon until you have a sticky sauce.
  • Tip the oats, seed and pistachios into a large bowl along with the apricots and pour over the maple syrup mixture.  Coat everything in the sticky sauce before gently folding in the dark chocolate (don't do what I did!! I added the chocolate to the mixture before adding the syrup...hence yours won't look like mine, they will look lovely and golden with chunks of chocolate!!!).
  • Pour the mixture into the baking tin, use the back of the spoon flatten into and even layer.
  • Bake for 15 - 20 mins, or until golden, then cut into portions.

164 calories

Fat 8.9g

Sugars 9.8g

Salt 0.02g

Protein 5.2g

Carbohydrates 20.1g

Fibre 2.8g

Recipe from Jamie Magazine, by Elspeth Meston