Poppy Seed Balls – Only 4 Ingredients
Well, thank you very much, Purim.
I can't even tell you how many Hamantaschen I've eaten.
Don't ask.
But I have a confession.
I hope you're sitting down: I am absolutely crazy about poppy seeds.
There, I said it.
Hamantaschen or poppy seed cakes really do it for me.
Maybe it's an age thing (like developing a taste for sparkling water), I don't know.
Aside from the taste and the texture that I love, I’m a huge fan of the incredible nutritional values these little black seeds offer.
Let's talk a bit about nutritional values:
Poppy seeds are a fantastic source of calcium.
In 100 g (3.5 oz) of poppy seeds, there are 1,500 mg of calcium—that's 15 times more than in milk!
Look at this: a single tablespoon of poppy seeds contains as much calcium as a glass of milk.
In addition to the high calcium content, poppy seeds are also calorie-dense due to their high healthy fat content.
How many calories?
In 100 g (3.5 oz) of poppy seeds, there are 500 kcal and 40g of fat.
Poppy seeds also contain high amounts of dietary fiber and minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and potassium.
If that’s not a superfood, I don't know what is.
So, it is highly recommended to add a tablespoon of poppy seeds to your morning porridge or protein shake instead of tahini or peanut butter.
You can also add it to sweet or savory baked goods for a quality boost of calcium and fat.
And here’s an idea (remember where you read it first): Poppy Seed Tahini!!!
A bit about the recipe
Honestly, this recipe is very easy.
I used half a cup of poppy seeds, finely ground in a spice grinder.
If you don't have such a grinder, go get one—or if your blender is powerful enough to grind poppy seeds, you're all set.
To bind the mixture together, I used half a cup of *white* raw tahini (not whole grain).
The reason is that whole grain raw tahini is slightly bitter, and combining it with poppy seeds can result in a bitter and unpleasant taste.
I sweetened it with 3 tablespoons of coconut sugar because it gives a slightly nutty and deep flavor. You can use any sweetener you desire.
Nutritional values by Nutritionist and Fitness Trainer Noam Bachar:
One ball out of 20 (weighing 10g per ball) contains:
40 kcal
1g protein
3g carbohydrates
3g fat
29 mg calcium
Poppy Seed Balls
Ingredients
- 60 g Poppy seeds 1/2 cup
- 50 g White raw tahini 1/2 cup
- 3 tbsp Coconut sugar
- Shredded coconut for coating
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 squeeze Lemon juice
- 1 pinch Salt
Instructions
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In a spice grinder, grind the poppy seeds well until a sticky paste is formed.
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Mix all ingredients except for the shredded coconut into a uniform, sticky mixture and refrigerate for one hour.
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After an hour, use your hands to form small balls weighing 9-10g each.
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Coat with shredded coconut and enjoy!
