Spirulina Protein Power Balls
Do you ever have those days where you’re just rushing around with no time to spare and in need of some quick nourishment. I normally grab a few pieces of fruit or nuts when I’m travelling, trying to munch it down in the car and often spilling my almonds everywhere, making a total mess. This week I’ve been playing around in the kitchen and thought I’d make up a large batch of one of these yummy Protein Power Balls to take on road trips. They take around 10 minutes to make and end up being much healthier and more cost effective then buying them in the gym or supermarket. I’ve thrown in some spirulina which add an extra boost of amino acids and combine well with the nuts and protein powder.
A spoonful of Spirulina is rich in iodine, which is needed for healthy thyroid for metabolism. Spirulina is a member of the single-cell blue algae family and is about 70 percent protein to support a healthy immune system. Raw nuts such as almonds, walnuts, cashew and brazil are full of good fats, protein, antioxidants and fiber. Studies by the American journal of clinical nutrition found that eating a small handful of raw nuts per day can help control weight and reduce hunger, food cravings as well as help lower cholesterol. For an omega 3 boost you can swap all the nuts in this recipe for walnuts. I also love adding cinnamon to a lot of the food I cook because it has the power to help your body metabolize sugar and reduce insulin levels. Eating as little as 1/4 to 1 teaspoons of cinnamon a day is all you need to see the effects as well as cut cholesterol from 10 – 25 percent. Feel free to add more when making this recipe.
This batch of power balls should last up to 4 weeks in the fridge and make a delicious healthy snack or meal any time of day. Enjoy.
Makes 20 protein balls
200 g (2 cups) whole raw almonds
200 g ( 2 cups) whole raw cashew nuts
199 g (1 cup) pumpkin seed
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 scoop (21 g) natural vanilla protein powder (optional)
1 teaspoon spirulina powder
16 whole fresh pitted dates
squeeze orange juice or lemon
coconut to roll
Combine all the dry ingredients into a food processor. (almond, cashew, cinnamon, protein powder, pumpkin seed and sea salt) process until you get a crumb like consistency. Add dates and vanilla and process again. Squeeze the mixture and it should start to combine, if now add 2 more dates. Squeeze over a little orange or lemon juice and process for the last time. The mix should come together when squished with the hands. Using a small ice cream scoop or teaspoon divide mix into 20 balls. Roll in coconut and store covered in the fridge until needed.
Nutrition per ball:
Protein: 6 g
Carbs: 6.1 g
Total fat: 12 g
Saturated: 1.5 g
Fibre: 2.5 g
kilojoules: 665
Calories: 159
NOTE: you can also use sulphur free dried apricots or prunes in place of the fresh dates.
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Contact Teresa Cutter
Hi Teresa, can you give me a substitute for the protein powder please (and would that substitute be viable in all your recipes that require protein powder ?).
Thank You & have a wonderful day, Belinda
Yum yum yum
Hi Belinda, you can give the protein powder a miss if you don’t want to use it. They are delicious with or without. You may not need to add the juice at the end though…just have a play and see
Hi Teresa, when you say fresh pitted dates, do you mean dried ones?
Hi Kate – I don’t mean the ones in the packed where you find the dried fruits, you will find them in the refrigerated section in the supermarket or a grocery store…normally somewhere near the berries. They are soft and squishy, fresh ones.
Hi Teresa,
Are these the same power balls that you have at your cafe??!! Because they are so yummy and I am so excited to make them myself. Also are you able to get vanilla protein powder from woolies/coles or a health food store? I live on the Northern Beaches so please recommend.
Thanks heaps!
Michelle
Hi Michelle, not the same ones from the cafe….but they are very yummy. the ones in the cafe are made from almonds and cacao powder as well as jogi, chia, dates, vanilla and cinnamon.
Hello Teresa, these look great. Do you have a protein powder you could suggest? Also could you use dried dates as a substitute ?
Hey Renae, can’t use dried dates, only fresh – however if you were to soak them in water to hydrate they may work….Another good substitute is dried apricots as well as soft pitted prunes, but they won’t be as sweet
For this recipe I used a sunwarrior vegan protein powder. You can use whatever one you have in the cupboard – will still work with whey based powders.
Hi Teresa
Can you make these in a Vitamix?? I dont have a food processor…
Zoe to make these in a Vitamix, you need to first grind up the nuts seperately in your dry Jug – or use a ground almond or LSA base. Then get your dates, pit them and chop them up with a large knife on a board. Combine the dates, vanilla, cinnamon and nuts in a large bowl and mix well until the mix starts to combine – add a touch of orange juice or water if needed. You can also add protein powder if you want to. This should work nicely. TX:)
Hi Teresa,
Thought I might try using apricots for a change from figs – what quantity do I use?
Thanks!
Try around 250 g soft organic dried apricots – or you can use half dates half apricots. If mix is a little dry, add a little more dried fruit and some orange juice. T:)
Hi Teresa, these look delicious. I am studying naturopathy and have just started a blog, it still has a lot of work to go but it has been really fun and i feel as though I am learning a lot by researching different topics. If you want to have a look it’s healthhealingfood.blogspot.com, let me know what you think.
I have found your website very informative and interesting and it’s always great to get new recipe ideas that are nutritious!
Thanks, Alice.
delicious, I love snacking on nuts during the day and have often made little nut and date balls such as these. My mum has spirulina every day – it’s soooo green! – she’s down in Melbourne soon, I’ll have to make these for her and us to share on our camping trip.
i made these today – and they do taste really great! the spirulina has that very dark green pigment which makes it quite browny greeny – a good idea to add the coconut on top to make them look a bit more attractive! i found it a bit hard to mix the spirulina into the mix – the pigment tended to stick to only certain areas of the mixture.
how big do you make the balls – would you say golf ball size? and would a serving size be one ball?
Divide into about 20 balls…smaller then golf ball…about half the size.
Hi Teresa,
Love receiving your recipes straight to my inbox. I don’t have a great food processor/blender. Can I make these with almond meal?
Thanks so much!
Warm Regards,
Freya
You sure can
They will still be wonderful xx
Hi,
How long do these protein balls last in the fridge?
I made them on the weekend and they are great. I used mostly prunes instead of dates so they sugar content was lower and they were great.
Thanks,
Alisha.
I have just re-read the info at the top and saw that they will last for 4 weeks.
Thanks for the great recipe.
Hi Teresa
I made the Protein Power Balls the other day and love them!! They are so tasty….it’s hard to believe they are good for you!!
How much vanilla should you use? I couldn’t see this listed in your ingredients so I added a tablespoon. Also when do you add the spirulina powder?
Thanks!
Linda
Hi Teresa
how much vanilla should i use please?
regards
Was just in a health food store this week and heard about Spirulina Balls and that I should go “on-line” to find yummy recipes! Printing yours off and can’t wait to try it this weekend.
Thanks so much!
Viveca
These look delicious. I am going to try them with cacao also. I don’t have cashews at home, so I may try brazil nuts instead. Yum yum. Tahini I have found works well in these ‘truffle’ type recipes. Thanks for the inspiration to be good to ourselves Teresa.
Hi Teresa,
My partner is allergic to nuts is there something I could use instead?
Thanks
Hi Teresa,
My partner is allergic to nuts is there something I can use instead?
Thanks
Use seeds in place of nuts
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