Despite what it might seem like on the outside (being a blogger and all), I actually am not that experimental with my food choices. I am so not an “early adapter” or “trend setter”–and eat and buy the same things over and over again. But recently I’ve become obsessed with a totally new food item that I’d never heard before until a few months ago: tigernuts.

I discovered Tigernuts when Organic Gemini (a local, Brooklyn-based independent company) introduced me to their products. Tigernuts are not nuts, but actually teeny tiny tubers (like potatoes!). They look sort of like wrinkly hazelnuts or very small, hard dried figs (see them on the plate above!). They made up to 80% of our actual Paleo ancestors’ diet 2 million years ago–interesting, huh? And they’re a nutritional superstar, with 1 oz serving containing 10% iron (energy), 7% zinc (good skin, immune system, hormones), plus heaps of magnesium, calcium, B6, and E. Because I’m always trying to be mindful of meeting my zinc and B needs, these have come in so handy. Not only that, tigernuts are the #1 source of resistant starch, which is a “prebiotic” fiber that help your “good” bacteria and flora flourish in your system.

The taste is mildly sweet, nutty and sort of addicting, and I have been eating the tigernuts with a little dried fruit and pumpkin seeds like a trail mix. But the really nice thing about tigernuts is how it lends itself to raw vegan and gluten-free cooking! Tigernut flour has become such a pantry staple to whip up quick raw vegan recipes. You can add it to other desserts to give it extra nutritional boost, or use it as a main “flour” in a raw vegan recipe. My favorites are raw vegan (and paleo, natch) cookie dough balls. These things are so packed with energy and delicious–they taste just like your “regular” cookie dough except they’re actually good for you! I added some maca powder for extra protein, energy, calcium, iron, and vitamin C. Try not to surprise people with your soaring energy. 😀

Raw Vegan Paleo Cookie Dough Balls

8 mini cookie dough balls

1/2 cup tigernut flour (find this and other tigernut products from Organic Gemini at their online store, Whole Foods and natural retailers)

2 tbsp maca powder

2 tbsp raw tahini or raw cashew butter

1.5 tbsp liquid sweetener of your choice (like raw agave)

1.5 tbsp water

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp vegan chocolate chips*

1. In a medium mixing bowl, mix together all the ingredients except chocolate chips until a dough forms.

2. Stir in the chocolate chips and combine.

3. Form into mini ball shapes with your fingers. They’re ready to eat now!

*Chocolate chips are not technically (or untechnically) raw or paleo, but they are a non-negotiable in my book and I’ve said so in the past.

Have you tried tigernuts? And do you try for more raw vegan, gluten free or paleo cooking?

More raw vegan recipes: Raw Vegan Curry Rice!

Raw Vegan Pizza!

Raw Vegan Key Lime Pie!

Raw Vegan Tiramisu!

__

Photo: Peaceful Dumpling