Go-Balls

Raw Recipe Challenge Entry

Go-Balls

by Lauri Germain, Avena Member — Edmonton, AB

Ingredients:

½ cup Avena's goji berries, soaked
1 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice (2 large oranges will yield enough juice)
grated zest (bright orange part only) from one large organic orange
25 Medjool dates, pits removed
1 cup Avena's cacao nibs: measure nibs first, then grind until fine using a coffee grinder
½ cup golden flax seeds: measure seeds first, then grind until fine using a coffee Grinder
1/8 teaspoon finely ground Avena's Celtic sea salt (ground before measuring)
2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts
1 1/4 cups finely shredded coconut

In advance: Soak goji berries and dates in orange juice and zest, pressing fruit down into liquid; cover and refrigerate overnight. Next day, using a food processor, combine soaked goji date mixture (including orange juice and rind), cacao powder, flax seeds and sea salt. Blend until chopped and combined. Transfer mixture to a large mixing bowl and add walnuts, blending well by hand. Refrigerate mixture several hours or until firm. Measure coconut into a shallow, medium-size bowl. Using a tablespoon measuring spoon, scoop a spoonful of the mixture, level off with a butter knife (important step for uniform balls), then drop mixture onto the coconut. With dry fingers, toss coconut onto the mixture, then roll between palms to form ball shape. Refrigerate in a tightly-sealed container, or freeze. Makes about 55 walnut-size balls.