RECIPE - Cricket Protein Energy Balls

I won't go into all the benefits of cricket protein over other forms of protein here - that's in this article post - but suffice to say it is an extremely efficient source, kind to the environment (& on the gut) and contains a lot of the body's essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

This is an all raw, no-cook recipe that make little balls of 'power', which not only pack a BIG protein punch but will also give you an energy boost to get you ready for a high-octane workout or just pick you up in your working day!

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Shopping list (makes approx 20 large bite-sized balls):

Essential items:

• Your choice of unsalted nuts and seeds 280ml - I used cashews, almonds & sunflower seeds

• Cricket Powder 125ml - See image below for the brand I sourced from Thailand

• Shredded Coconut 125ml

• Ground Flax Seeds 95ml

• Dates (pitted) 10-12

• Honey 60ml

• Cocoa powder 60ml

• Coconut Oil 1tbsp

• Vanilla extract 1tsp

• Salt 1/2tsp

Non-Essential items/items you can substitute for your favourites/what you have:

• Cocoa nibs 60ml

• Cranberries or raisins 60ml

• Maca Powder 6tsp

• Cayenne Pepper 1pinch, or to your taste

• Chia Seeds

To be honest, some items on the 'essential' list could also be 'non-essential', for example, if you don't like coconut, just leave it out. If you don't have Ground Flax Seeds again, leave it out, it is in there just for its nutritional value. If you did leave either out, you may just want to increase some of your other dry ingredients, so that the wet and dry balance in similar quantities, to make the balls easy to form. I used Maca Powder for its energy boosting properties and I love the kick of Cayenne with chocolate. The Chia Seeds are again there for their nutritional value and used as a 'coating' for the balls.

Method

• Put your nut/seed mix into a food processor and blitz until it becomes a 'chunky' grind.

• Add this ground nut/seed mix to a bowl and add the following dry ingredients: cricket powder, shredded coconut, ground flax seeds, cocoa powder, salt, cocoa nibs, cranberries, maca powder & cayenne pepper.

• Put the pitted dates into the food processor, with a splash of water and blitz into a very thick, sticky 'paste'.

• Add this date paste to the dry mix bowl, along with the honey, vanilla extract and coconut oil.

• Mix with your hands until thoroughly combined into one large sticky ball! This can also be done in a food processor, if you can fit it all in - mine was a little too small!

• Once thoroughly combined, pull off large bite-sized portions and roll in the palm of your hands to form balls.

• With your chia seeds in a small bowl/on a dish, roll these formed balls in the seeds to coat them.

• Place these balls in a baking sheet lined tupperware and put in the freezer for one hour, to fully firm them up.

• After an hour, remove from the freezer and place into the fridge.

• Eat at your leisure, when needed. These are probably good for the best part of a month, but you'll probably get through them faster as they're so delicious! ;)

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Doesn't it just MAKESENSE to increase your protein intake in both efficient and environmentally friendly ways? Having these delicious snacks on hand whenever you need to fill a hole or need a bit of a pick-me-up, before a workout or when you're feeling sluggish, is a game-changer! Not only will you get an instant energy boost and be building muscle, you will also been absorbing a plethora of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients!

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