I’m eating one of these Spicy Power Bars as I type this. I’m slightly obsessed with them. Because they remind me of my past.
About 20 years ago, when I was living in New York City and had just hooked up with my adorable husband, I became very interested in Ayurveda. One of the amazing practitioners that I learned from, Pratima Raichur, had created her own version of a healing tonic, referred to in Ayurvedic circles as chyawanprash. Her product was called Bindi Chywangrans and it was delicious. My friends used to ask me what it was and I would tell them it was a special, healing, energy supplement. They teased me a lot about it!
Fast forward to the present. About a month ago, I found some interesting looking energy bars in downtown Boulder. I bought one and ate it. It kept reminding me of a taste from my past, though I could not quite put my finger on it. Finally, I realized that this bar tasted like Bindi!
Being the tinkerer that I am, I decided I would recreate the Nude Nutritionals Food Bars to taste even more Chwanpransh-like and my bindi bars were born thanks to Pratima (owner of Tej Clinic) and Nude Nutritionals (creator of the fabulous little grab and go bar).
Here’s my recipe for a super nourishing, delicious, tri-doshic power bar.
Spicy Power Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 cup macadamia nuts
- 1 cup dates (remove pits)
- 1 cup dried cherries
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
Instructions
- Place nuts, dates and cherries in a food processor, pulse until well ground
- Pulse in vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and salt
- Remove mixture from food processor and press into a 8 x 8 inch baking dish
- Refrigerate overnight (6-8 hours)
- Cut into squares and serve
Note: You may want to try my other Power Bar recipe made with almonds!
Update: several readers have commented below that this recipe was not yielding enough to fill the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish. I remade this again today and realized that I needed to double everything, so that it filled up the entire pan –when I was testing this recipe I was smooshing different batches of each version into half a pan. So, you will find that every ingredient has doubled (except for the vanilla). Sorry for the mixup! (This is what happens when you write recipes at 2am!)
I found out only yesterday that my book is now in its 5th printing just about a year after publication. Over on Amazon.com I have received quite varied reviews and I appreciate them all 94 of them, especially this one. If you’d like to add your two cents to the conversation, head on over to Amazon.com and leave a review. It doesn’t matter how many stars you give me, what’s important is to join the chat. Thanks everyone!
Marla Teyolia says
Elena! this recipe looks soooo amazing! i am sitting in my kitchen and will make them right now….i only have raw ginger, so i’ll let you know how it goes.
what a small world. my friend recommended that i visit Pratima Raichur’s clinic last year bc i was feeling very dehydrated no matter how much water i took in (clearly very aggravated Vata!). Pratima was booked months in advance and in the meantime I ended up healing myself by following a more O blood type diet. I’ve been feeling the dryness coming back, so perhaps a visit with Pratima is now in order.
thank you!!!
Marla
Karen F says
These look delish, and so nutritious, too! Dried cherries and spices are lurking in the pantry, just need to go out and buy some macadamias. Yum!
I would love to win the giveaway. Many thanks for your inspirational website.
Eileen says
LOVE these–made them with cashews and pressed them into a 9″x5″ loaf pan. I call them “cardamon candy bars” and my 2 & 3 yo love them for snack!!
Gail says
I made these last night, and I too had to really stretch the final ingredients to cover 3/4’s of a 8 x 8 in glass baking dish and they are only about 1/4 in thick. I was wondering if there maybe a discrepancy in the amount of one of the ingredients. The first three total 1.5 cups.
They are delicious and the fragrance from the spices is absolutely wonderful–I think it is the cardamom as I have never used it before now. I used dried cranberries instead of cherries.
Kelly says
These look great! Can’t wait to try them…I love dried cherries!!!
Laura says
Thanks for the inspiring recipes!! I’ve learned so much from you this past year following your website and reading your book. Much appreciated!!!
lawrence says
Hi Elana
I really liked the look of these…but i have just made them and they fail to fill even a quarter of a 8 by 8 inch baking tray making a really tiny amount. the raw mix tasted good so i’m a little confused? Just checking you have the quantities right?
Thanks
Lawrence
Sarah Peaccok says
It’s not every day that I have both macadamia nuts and dried cherries on hand, but today I do! Can’t wait to make them.
winni says
These look fantastic! I was wondering if they would work with soaked nuts…maybe if I re-crisp them in the dehydrator? I think I’ll try it. Great for my hubby’s lunch. Thank you!
alisa joy says
elana,
i’ve really enjoyed lurking around your blog–reading the recipes and devouring the photos. i think, what i most appreciate, are all your recipes for the high holy days. it fill both a niche and a void. thank you!