Coconut and Berries

Healthy, Vegan Recipes by Emma Potts

Raw Lemon-Lucuma Macaroons

L is for…Lucuma!

This is the first recipe on Coconut and Berries made in my new home! I moved into my own flat just yesterday! I’m having a few internet issues so you’ll have to excuse me for posting later than usual and probably commenting less too.  Hopefully I’ll get things sorted soon so I don’t have to go and pay for tea in a café forever just to blog!

Raw Lemon-Lucuma Macaroons

Lucuma is the sweet fruit from the Peruvian Lucuma Tree. The raw powder can be used as a sweetener in foods and has a delicious caramel maple-y flavour. I first tried it in what is still the best ice cream I’ve ever had- the Raw Lucuma & Pecan Ice Cream from Inspiral Café in Camden, London.

Lucuma is considered a “superfood” since it boasts a variety of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals and fibre. I’m generally a little sceptical of “superfoods” and prefer to just think of them as ingredients like any other, rather than supplements. It just so happens that I love the taste of lucuma which is what has earned it its place in my kitchen, rather than its supposed health benefits.  You’ll have to make your own mind up about it!

Raw Lemon-Lucuma Macaroons

As I’ve just moved in I don’t have any desserts or snacks hanging out in my freezer,  so to keep my sweet tooth happy and to give me a little energy boost whilst I’m sorting I made these Lemon Lucuma Raw Macaroons.

I think the Lucuma, Coconut and Lemon are lovely together and the lemon also prevents these from being too sweet, as raw desserts can be. No cooking or cooling time needed, just whiz everything together in your food processor and you can be enjoying these in 10 minutes.

Raw Lemon-Lucuma Macaroons

Raw Lemon-Lucuma Macaroons:

Even if you don’t believe in “superfoods” these bite-sized treats are still very healthy. They’re satisfying too because of the protein, fat and fibre provided by the almonds, coconut and flax.

1/2C Almonds
1/4C Soft pitted dates
1/2t Vanilla extract
1/2t Lemon extract (if unavailable, add a little extra lemon zest)
Zest of one lemon
1t Lemon juice
1 1/2T Maple Syrup
2T Ground flaxseed
2T Lucuma
1/2C Shredded Coconut (+ 1/4C for rolling)

Pulse almonds in a food processor until coarsely ground. Add dates through to lucuma and process until a sticky dough forms. It should stick together when pinched between finger and thumb.

Add Shredded coconut and pulse briefly to incorporate.

Shape mixture into 12 macaroons and flatten slightly. Roll in remaining shredded coconut.

Makes 12

I’m submitting this recipe to Wellness Weekends and Raw Food Thursdays

These have a great chewy texture and hold together easily too, with no need for any time in the fridge. I’m looking forward to trying other flavours with the same base ingredients and different extracts and add-ins- I think vanilla with cacao nibs,almond, maca, hazelnut and chocolate would all be good.

Raw Lemon-Lucuma Macaroons

Since lucuma is a powder it can be used in so many types of recipes. Here are a few I’ve got my eye on:

Lori and Michelle of Purely Twins have a Cashew Lucuma Frosting recipe that looks divine, especially spread in a thick layer on top of their pumpkin squares.

These Butterscotch-Tahini Bars use lucuma as a main ingredient and look as if they’d taste like “Caramac” bars if anyone remembers those…?

Ricki’s Lucuma-Walnut-Coconut Butter looks like another fabulous speedy recipe. I bet it would be delicious as a dip for crunchy apple slices Smile

As usual, I want to know what you’ve made or want to make with today’s ingredient!

Have you tried Lucuma? What do you think about “superfoods”?

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Comments

  3. These look so tasty! I love sweet things with this kind of texture. I’m going to make some this weekend. Where can you get lucuma? Would whole foods have it?

    • Yay! Glad they appeal. I’m sure Wholefoods or Planet Organic would sell lucuma, or even Holland + Barrett probably do now too.
      Another flavour would also be yummy though as suggested. You could do 2T cocoa instead of the lucuma and maybe add a touch extra sweetener for chocolate ones!

  5. Oh this just looks perfect for uni. I am totally making these (soonish… I keep saying I’ll make stuff and then get busy. UGH. I HATE BEING SO BUSY.) I’ve missed a lot of your posts since I started uni and it makes me sad :( Do you think I could make these with pre-ground almonds and no dates, but just the maple syrup? I’m trying to give my blender a break because I’ve put it through a lot in the 3 years that I’ve had it.

    • Boo for being busy :( I bet that will be me very soon when my course starts…
      I could definitely see your method working. Obviously you’ll have to adjust quantities but you’re a little whiz-kid in the kitchen so I’m sure you can do it! Let me know how they turn out!

      • Not yet but some waiting to go up! I was really pleasantly surprised by it, it’s really delicious. I love to sprinkle it on warm pancakes! Yes I can imagine you have lots to sort, it’s a stressful time, I feel for you! Just let it gradually get sorted, it’ll be organised before you know it… 😀

  7. These look so delicious! I’ve never heard of lucuma but I’ll have to look out for it next time I’m at the organic market. LOVE your photos. The gorgeous little pops of lemon yellow do so much for the macaroons. Glad that you’re settling in nicely in your new home. Beautiful blog x

    • Really?! I’ve never heard of anyone reacting to lucuma before…although I know some people don’t do well with maca so maybe it’s something about these “superfoods”!

  11. I’ve heard of lucuma, but never seen it in a store or used it. Question: can it be used in place of Stevia? Is it a similar level of sweetness? I ask because I rarely, if ever make sweets that resemble cookies or other desserts, but I do make things that require some sweetening, like when I use unsweetened cocoa. Your macaroons do look good…

    • No, not at all. It’s much milder, and unlike stevia it has its own “taste” if that makes sense. Do you use dates? They’re probably my favourite ingredient to sweeten food, and a whole ingredient of course which is an added bonus :)

      • I do not currently use dates, but I have seen so many recipes calling for dates that I have considered using them. The only thing I’m not sure of about dates is that they seem to be high in calories. However, it is now occurring to me that I might have misread the label, so I’ll check them out again next time I go grocery shopping. Thank you for getting me to think about them again.

        • Oh I see, I’m not too concerned about calories as I need a lot, especially as I’m trying to gain some weight right now. I prefer my cals to come from healthy sources of course and dates and other dried fruits are fairly calorific but are also packed with other good stuff- fibre and vitamins etc.

  12. good luck with settling into your flat - hope you have a nice new kitchen to cook in - have never tried lucuma but I do love hearing about how yummy it is just as much as how healthy it is (not that I dislike healthy but I feel superfoods are sometimes trendy and I remember seeing an article about how we ignore superfoods such as apples that I can find and afford easily)

  14. Congrats on the new home! I hope many awesome foods will be made there:)
    I never had lucuma and I wasn’t exactly sure what it was. I agree with you to think about so called superfoods as regular ingredients. Those raw macaroons look tasty!

    • Thanks for visiting! Hope to see you round these parts again :)
      No, definitely don’t add another flour instead of lucuma. It’s not necessary for the recipe, although a nice flavour, so if you can’t get it simply omit it. If you do find the mixture is a little sticky then simply add a touch more shredded coconut.

  19. How exciting that you’re in your new home! Enjoy the settling in process. I can’t believe you’re already posting a recipe! And with such a great picture! I love the sound of these macaroons. I’ve heard about lucuma for years (Ricki) but could never find any until just last month. So I’ve only tried it in smoothies and am ready to experiment with desserts! Your recipe just might be my first experiment! Thanks for sharing at Raw Foods Thursdays!! (And I already know I’ll be highlighting them next week!!!)

    • Ricki teaches me about so many ingredients! Lol! Glad you like the look of the recipe and hope you give it a try. I’m sad I’ve finished them all up already :( Thanks so much for the well wishes for the new flat too.

  20. Sorry to hear about the Internet - I hope it comes back to normal soon! And welcome to your new flat, hope all is well there and the move. I have heard of Lucuma, but I’m not sure where I’ve heard of it…it must be from somewhere in Latin America. Man, these raw lemon-lucama macaroons look so good…the coconut on them…yum!

  21. Those look fabulous! And CONGRATS on the move! Yay! I hope you love it and can already tell you’re mixing up some amazing food. :) Thanks for the shout-out re: Walco-Nut Butter. . my absolute FAVE and just had some for breakfast this morning!

    • Thanks Ricki :) It’s so nice to have my own place even if the kitchen is much smaller than what I’m used to…
      I’ve never tried walnut butter of any kind but really really need to try yours.

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