I love sunflower seeds. I'm not talking about the shelled ones that look like a dip in your mouth and are waaaaay to much work for a tiny seed. I'm talking about raw seeds tossed on salads, added to breads and granolas, sprinkled over vegetable dishes and now used to make these yummy crackers.
These little guys are packed with protein and healthy fats, along with many other nutrients. Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of vitamin E, the body's primary fat-soluble antioxidant. Vitamin E helps keep free radicals from oxidizing cholesterol. They are also high in many minerals including, Calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and copper. Many of these minerals have vital role in bone mineralization, red blood cell production, enzyme synthesis, hormone production, as well as regulation of cardiac and skeletal muscle activities. They are also one of the best sources of B-complex group of vitamins such as niacin, folic acid, thiamin (vitamin B1), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), pantothenic acid, and riboflavin.
So basically you're getting a handful of nutrients in every cracker you munch on. Feel good about eating crackers, not guilty or bloated from the gluten, preservatives or added sugars of prepackaged crackers.
Recipe: Sunflower Seed Herb Crackers
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups raw sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup roasted sunflower seed butter (Marantha is my favorite)
- 1 egg
- 3/4 tsp basil
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp parsley
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt plus some to sprinkle
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse the sunflower seeds into a fine meal
- Add the sunflower seed butter, egg and all seasonings and pulse until well combined
- Dough will clump together and create one big ball
- Place dough on a piece of parchment paper with additional parchment place over the top
- Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out between an 1/8 and 1/4 inch thick
- Slice with a pizza cutter or sharp knife into desired size crackers
- Place the bottom piece of parchment paper with dough onto a cookie sheet
- Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes until brown
- Sprinkle with a little sea salt as soon as crackers come out of oven
Quick notesThere will be a lot of oil on the crackers as they bake. This is what will give the crackers their crunch. It will disappear shortly after they have been out of the oven. Make sure to sprinkle the additional salt on them while the oil is still present so the salt sticks.
Let us know how you choose to top your crackers!
