Carookies - Carob Bean Cookies

This recipe for sugar-free gluten-free bean and date-based carob cookies was inspired by my friend Annika's outstanding work on other bean-based cookies (which you can find here). They are similar to chocolate cookies, but rather healthy with tons of fibre and a good amount of protein. I use them like energy bars, in particular after workouts when no fresh fruit is available. Carob has been shown to protect against colon cancer.

You need:

2 dl of dried adzuki beans, soak over night or for at least 8h
250g of dates (make sure you get the stones out)
5 big tablespoons of carob powder (available in most organic food shops).
mark of 2 vanilla beans

1 dl of almonds
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger (depending on how spicy you like it)
3 oranges (blended)
1 big chunk of orange peel
2 ripe bananas
baking paper

You do:

Cook the adzuki beans for 1h or longer until they start to disintegrate. Cook the beans so that the water is gone when they are done, but make sure you always have enough water in the pot so that the beans don't burn. Put in the dates and the oranges. Cook for about another 5 to 10 minutes until dates also start to disintegrate.

Afterwards, add all other ingredients except the almonds and process until smooth. Add water if necessary, but the dough should be easy to form with your hands and not be too liquid. Add almonds, either ground or chopped, depending on your preference (you can also do a bit of both). Form into cookies on baking paper and bake for about 30 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius. The recipe is for 2 large trays.

Enjoy.

Michael