Nut and Seed Crackers and Hummus

Two simple variations on nut and seed crackers from scratch and hummus.  These are super easy, gluten free, dairy free and one variation is egg free so suitable for almost everyone 🙂

Basic Nut and Seed crackers

This makes a small quantity, generally I double so suggest you might like to also. Seeds and nuts are rich in many micronutrients. You can also make with ground up oats or any ground up seeds. Use a coffee grinder.

1 cup LSA (linseed, sunflower, almonds – available pre ground at the supermarket) or grind up your own nut/seed combo

1 egg

2 Tablespoons sesame seeds (could also use different seeds)

Flavour to taste – i.e salt and garlic powder, herbs like rosemary from the garden or dried spices and herbs

Preheat over to 160 degrees celsius.

Mix all ingredients together to form a very sticky dough.

Between 2 sheets of baking paper roll out the dough thinly (about 3mm thick). If you need to tidy up with your hands wet them.

Carefully peel off the top sheet of baking paper and slice cracker to desire size. If this is difficult you can cook for 5 mins then slice.

Place on a baking tray (still on paper) and cook for 15 mins or until golden (they burn easily when this thin so keep a close eye as oven temps can vary).

Let them cool right down before eating for perfect crunch!

Basic Hummus

1 can chickpeas drained (reserve some of the brine in case you need to thin out)

1-2 Tablespoons of Tahini

Garlic powder or 1-2 cloves of garlic (some people do not like the bite of raw garlic but can quickly sautee in the oil)

1-2 teaspoons of cumin powder

Juice of half to one lemon

1-2 Tablespoons olive oil

Salt to taste

Whizz all together in food processor. I prefer to use dried chickpeas and soak overnight in water then cook for about an hour. It is much smoother and really cost effective. I make a big batch for the week.

Once you have made it a few times you will work out what you want to use more or less of. It really is to taste as you can’t go wrong. You can also add in roasted vegetables like beetroot, carrot or pumpkin for example. Hummus is a good source of protein and a good way to encourage Children to eat more raw veges. Nuts and seeds are full of fiber, protein and fat so these are a nice balanced meal or snack.

Only Seed crackers

1 cup mixed seeds (Sesame, chia, hemp, pumpkin, flax, sunflower etc)

2 Tablespoons Psyllium husk

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or crushed garlic

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon paprika

Ground pepper

500mls water

Start by slowly mixing the psyllium and water together.  This is the ‘glue’ that holds the seeds together to form the crackers.  Once you have all the psyllium and water combined add your seeds and flavouring and press out onto an oven tray.  You can do the method in the first cracker recipe if easier and if you need to tidy up with your hands, wet them.  These will be a little thicker and will take a little longer to cook as they will be a wetter mix.  They will also not burn as easily.  I find them easier to cut once they have cooked for a bit longer but you could also make into shapes prior to cooking.