Mealtime Magic: Four-Ingredient Citrus Bars

 Four-Ingredient Citrus Bars

(3 plant-points)

Makes 25 squares

Prep 10 minutes

Chill 30 minutes to 4 hours

*freezer 

For those days when a piece of fruit won’t cut it, but you’re short on time for baking. Move over store-bought granola bars—this refreshing treat is the ultimate high-fiber accompaniment to a comforting cup of tea.

Ingredients

• Scant 1 and 1/2 cups (200 g) cashews

• 2 and 1/2 cups (200 g) unsweetened shredded coconut

• 21 dried apricots (about 5 ounces/150 g)

• Juice of 1 large orange (about 1/3 cup/80 ml), plus zest to taste

Instructions

1. Line the base and sides of an 8-inch (20 cm) square baking pan with parchment paper.
   
   

2. Place the cashews in a food processor and blend for 30 seconds until ground. Add the coconut and apricots and pulse until the apricots are finely chopped. Add the orange juice and blend again until the mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute. Taste and add zest to preference.
   
   

3. Firmly press the mixture into the pan with the back of a spoon. Chill in the fridge for 4 hours (or in the freezer for 30 minutes) or until firm enough to cut. Slice into 25 squares.

Storage: These will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Or you can freeze the sliced squares between pieces of parchment paper in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Switch: For an extra plant point, add a shredded carrot (about 3/4 cup/75 g) and reduce the orange juice to 1/4 cup (60 ml).

Credit line: Recipes from How to Eat More Plants: Transform Your Health With 30 Plant-Based Foods per Week—and Why It's Easier Than You Think © Dr. Megan Rossi, 2021. Reprinted by permission of The Experiment. Available everywhere books are sold. theexperimentpublishing.com