These are a take on my favourite hormone balancing protein balls. They contain fresh cranberries for a Vitamin C kick. If you don’t have cranberries, don’t worry, any fresh fruit would do, or grated carrots for a different dose of vitamins!

Flax seeds has 800 times the amount of lignans (plant oestrogen), the highest source of plant oestrogen! Flaxseed also contain a number of flavonols, including progesterone kaemferol. They are also fibre rich.

Dry figs are better to be used for Kapha Ayurvedic constitutions – they are less sweet than dates, which are often used in the protein balls. Plus they are very good for digestion. Do soak them prior to making the balls.

And raw cacao has more than 40 times the antioxidants of blueberries and is an excellent source of plant-based iron. Just be sure you’re purchasing raw cacao powder, not cocoa powder. Cocoa powder is processed and roasted where nearly all of the antioxidants are destroyed and often contains sugar (if you don’t need extra iron, omit cacao and add a some honey).

Ingredients:

  • 100 g dried figs, soaked in lukewarm water
  • 1/2 teaspoon of Turmeric
  • flax seed (use as much or as little as you’d like) I pre-soaked the flaxseed in water for at least 30 mins
  • 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon of almond butter
  • 1-2 tablespoons of cacao
  • ground flaxseed and sunflower seed (not more than 50g)
  • ground almonds (depending on the consistency, mine had 100g)
  • 100g of chopped nuts (I often use almonds, but you can use cashew nuts too)

Method: Mix the figs, lukewarm water (if not all soaked by figs) and Turmeric in a food processor until it’s all mashed. Add softened/melted coconut oil, almond butter, flax seeds and mix all. Once all very well combined and flax seeds are ground (I used whole flax seeds, pre-soaked but you can use the ground flax seeds), transfer in another bowl, add chopped nuts and add ground almonds, as much as you need. The mixture needs to be of the consistency that it is easy to form small protein balls.

To make it easier to roll the balls, melt a bit of coconut oil in your hands – this way they become smooth and easier to roll in cacao. (You can also roll the balls in ground almonds, chia seeds or in ground Golden Snack (see recipe in my blog). This makes the balls even richer and more nutritious – tasting more of turmeric than they would normally do!

Place in the fridge and leave over night or for a couple of hours. They are delicious as a snack after your yoga class or a tasty sweet if you’re really staying away from processed sugars!