I lovingly refer to this crunchy, salty, lick-your-fingers good savory granola recipe as Salad Granola. Here’s why:

My perfect giant bowl of salad always includes a mixture of:

-Fresh greens (whatever is in season)
-Some protein (usually smoked wild salmon, chicken, or pasture-raised eggs)
-Something creamy (like avocado or tahini)
-Something salty
-Something roasted or cooked (like roasted veg or sautéed mushrooms)
-Something raw
-AND something crunchy

This savory granola recipe is my answer to adding that very essential crunch factor to salad bowls. It’s the perfect blend of nuts, seeds, oats, spices, and flaky sea salt baked together with olive oil and an egg white to make extra crispy clusters.

Although I love this savory granola on salad (Salad granola!), It’s also super tasty by the handful, sprinkled on eggs, pasta (we love it on pesto), and grain bowls.

Health Benefits of Savory Granola Ingredients

Sunflower seeds – There’s a lot of nutrition packed into these tiny seeds! Sunflower seeds are a good source of vitamin E, selenium, manganese, and numerous B vitamins. They’re also a delicious source of heart-supportive healthy fats, antioxidants, and protein.

Pumpkin seeds – A delicious source of fiber, protein, and healthy fats, pumpkin seeds are one of my favorite crunchy little seeds filled with beneficial health properties. Pumpkin seeds contain a variety of vitamins and minerals including zinc, copper, iron, folate, phosphorus, and manganese. They’re also a fantastic plant-based source of magnesium, a mineral that many US adults are deficient in. Magnesium is essential for regulating blood sugar, bone health, and controlling blood pressure.

Pecans – Like other nuts, pecans are a good source of monounsaturated fatty acids, a type of fat associated with lowered rates of inflammation and heart disease. Pecans are a good source of protein, calcium, magnesium, and potassium too.

Oats – I love using rolled oats in this savory granola recipe for added texture and nuttiness. Rolled oats are a wonderful source of dietary fiber, essential for gut health and supporting digestive health.

How to Make Perfect Savory Granola

This savory granola is deliciously unique. Unlike overly sweet store-bought granola (loaded with dried fruits and artificial sweeteners), this savory granola is completely unsweetened, heavily salted (in a good way!), and given a hint of spice thanks to cayenne pepper and a sprinkle of oregano. Here’s how to make a perfect batch, every single time:

• Use parchment paper on your baking sheet. This prevents the granola from sticking to the tray, and burning.

• Spread granola in an even, single layer on a large lined baking sheet. This allows the granola to bake evenly and get nice and crispy – and clumpy.

• For perfect crunchy granola clumps, don’t skip that egg white! The protein in egg white binds to the nuts and seeds and creates heavenly crunchy clusters. Plus, it’s completely tasteless.

• Mix and match you seeds and nuts! If you don’t happen to have sesame seeds and sunflower seeds – no problem. Swap with any other nuts and seeds in your pantry. The only nut I would skip is peanuts, as I think it would lend too much of an overpowering peanut flavor to this granola.

If you’re looking for a homemade sweet granola, you have to try these VK recipes:

Grain-Free Chocolate Orange Tahini Granola
Chunky Grain-Free Chocolate and Coconut Granola
Carrot Cake Granola
Maple Vanilla Pecan Granola

Happy granola-making!

Savory Granola (Salad Granola)

Yields about 3 cups

Ingredients:

1 cup gluten-free rolled oats
½ cup sunflower seeds
½ cup pumpkin seeds
½ cup pecans, roughly chopped
¼ cup sesame seeds
1 tsp. flaky sea salt
½ tsp. cayenne pepper
½ tsp. oregano
1 large egg white, lightly beaten (optional)
¼ cup olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.

2. Add oats, seeds, pecans, sesame seeds, salt and spices to a large bowl. Toss with egg white and olive oil. Transfer granola to lined baking tray and spread out in a single layer.

3. Bake granola for 25-30 minutes, or until edges are slightly golden. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or pantry for a week. Sprinkle on your favorite salad and enjoy!

Notes:

-Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit’s Savory Granola recipe