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

Print

Poppy Seed Balls

Prep Time 5 minutes

Servings 20 balls

Calories 40 kcal

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

1. In a spice grinder, grind the poppy seeds well until a sticky paste is formed.

   

2. Mix all ingredients except for the shredded coconut into a uniform, sticky mixture and refrigerate for one hour.

3. After an hour, use your hands to form small balls weighing 9-10g each.

4. Coat with shredded coconut and enjoy!