Ever since we came to Goa, I have seen the coconut being used in so many ways. Right from when it is taken down from the tree to the time it is consumed as sol kadhi or used in a fish curry. I am amazed by everything that it gives us. Coir, fresh/dried coconut meat, coconut milk and coconut flour. And it goes so well in all dishes, be it sweet or savoury! I have become a full fledged coconut fan.
I came to make these coconut flour carrot balls when my son refused to touch the carrot halwa that I had made. (Hubby and I loved it and devoured it.) We make it a point to make carrot halwa at least 2-3 times, when carrots are in season. It is almost a tradition. But this time I had to give it a tasty twist.
Instead of regular flours like semolina or bengal gram flour, I decided to use coconut flour because I am a coconut fan. (Did I mention that already? ) And oh boy did it do its job! It added so much flavour to the already yummy and sweet carrots. My son was eating the mixture right from the mixing bowl! Mission accomplished! I didn’t even have to roll it into balls at that point, but did it anyway.
With these coconut flour carrot balls, I managed to not only feed him carrots but also dates, which he has a love hate relationship with. You can add more dried fruits, nuts and seeds to suit your palate. Its like a ball of nutrients all rolled together. They also make for a guilt-free post-meal dessert, or when you simply want something sweet to munch on. They are very soft and chewy and juicy.
These coconut flour carrot balls also make for a good and healthy dessert at a party. You can make them in advance and serve with 2-3 different types of dips, like chocolate syrup, cheese fondue and white chocolate sauce. (I am already making a shopping list! )
Defatted, dehydrated coconut meat is used to make coconut flour. The resultant flour is low carb, high in healthy fats and high in protein. It has gained popularity over the past few years because of its gluten free nature and low glycemic index. Coconut flour is a good addition to the diets of people with Celiac disease or other gluten sensitivities and diabetics . You can read more about its benefits here.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Peel the carrots, grate them and then spread them on a sieve. Press gently to remove water. If the carrots have too much water, the balls may not form.
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In a blender, add the dates, coconut flour and coconut sugar. Blend till the dates are smoothened.
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Remove the above mix in a bowl. Add in the carrots, shredded coconut, 1 tablespoon of honey and the salt. Mix well. I added the honey in two steps to allow everything to gel well.
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Add the remaining honey and mix again. Roll into balls of any size you want and place on a tray lined with butter paper. You can roll them in some more shredded coconut. I couldn’t resist adding a dollop of chocolate sauce on top.
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Place the tray in the freezer to allow the balls to set. They can later be stored in the fridge (if any are left that is!).
