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!
Trudi says
These sound & look yummy! Definitely going to give them a try. Love your site & would be thrilled to win the give away!
Lynne says
Oh, these look delicious! I’m trying to figure out how to make these low carb. (Love dates and dried cherries…but just not able to eat the fruit quite yet). Thank you for the marvelous recipes and ideas, Elana – the fruits of your labor are obviously a labor of love and they are a blessing to so many, including me. (Your website and recipes have helped me gain vibrant health back and loose 95 lbs since Nov. 5 , 2009. Thank you again!
Sally says
I would love to win this package! I love you site and am so thankful for this great recipe! I have all ingredients and I’ll go make them right now.
Ellen says
I haven’t been able to find unsweetened dried cherries in stores, so I dehydrated cherries in my oven this summer. I can’t wait to use some of those dried cherries in this SCD-legal (not just gluten-free) recipe. Thank you very much, Elana, for developing and sharing this recipe with all your faithful subscribers.
Because I live in Canada, I am not sure whether I am eligible to be chosen to win the prize package.
elana says
You are totally eligible, everyone everywhere is :-)
Jodi Summit says
Cherries AND cardamom! Can’t wait to try these. Hopefully my little local grocery store will have some macadamias, I have everything else at home.
Susan Curry says
Just wanted to say that I love your cookbook! Everything I’ve made has been fantastic. In Minneapolis it is hard to find blanched almond flour. I now order it on line as you suggested but in a pinch I use Bob’s Red Mill almond flour. If I put it in my Vita-Mix and grind it down a little more it seem to work fine. I especially like it in your wonderful chocolate chip cookies. To be fair I have only used it in your cookies and muffins, I can’t seem to stop making them. Thanks for the recipes they have changed how we eat.
Nirinjan says
Yum! I remember eating Chywanprash off a spoon when I was at school in India. Haven’t thought about that in a long time. Thanks!
Ashlie says
These sound great, and I just bought some dried cherries! Now all I need are macadamia nuts :)
Tessa B says
I am going to make these for my husband to take to work. :)
Barbo Gold says
Dear Elana,
Thanks for this recipe. One question is can you give
us the nutritional values please?
I loved your recipes for breaking of the fast.
Just bought the nectarines.