Cooking with Bee Pollen
Okay, so you've purchased your fresh bee pollen - now what?
Before we dive right into "cooking" with your local bee pollen, we must first discuss the benefits of the bee pollen and what makes it an essential part of your daily routine.
Fresh, raw bee pollen is thought to be superfood - containing key vitamins and antioxidants as well as protein and fatty acids. Consuming raw bee pollen in the winter will aid in keeping your immune system strong and fight against the common cold and flu. Local bee pollen is also the perfect supplement for fighting seasonal allergies, which can be combated by introducing small amounts of pollen into your system at a time and slowly growing your immunity to the allergens in the air.
Dive deeper into the benefits of bee pollen on our website by clicking here.
So now that we know it's made of the good stuff, let's talk about ways to incorporate it into your diet. If you are not familiar with eating bee pollen on a regular basis, it can be difficult to remember to incorporate it into your diet daily. The truth is, you only want to start out by taking 2-3 granules of pollen a day - this is because too much pollen at once, out of the blue, can actually cause allergies to get worse. After a week, you'll slowly increase by a couple granules per day until you reach a tablespoon/day.
If you're thinking: "I can handle a couple granules at a time, but a whole tablespoon? That's excessive," don't fear! This recipe guide is for you.
Bee Pollen in the Morning
Lemon Juice + Fresh Pollen + Honey + Cold Water
This one is a no brainer; simply combine and you have a sweet way to dissolve pollen into your morning glass of water and kick-start your immune system for the day! The water may also be substituted for cold orange juice or iced tea.
Acai Bowl with Sprinkled Pollen
This one is a classic, that can also be substituted for a smoothie. The açaí bowl is a nutritious way to start your morning, filling you body with key vitamins and nutrients to give you the power to conquer your day. I love açaí bowls because they are so easy to customize and make new every day! Whether you add crunchy granola, coconut flakes, fresh strawberries, or all of the above, half the fun is creating your own unique combinations! Adding bee pollen to the top will only increase your energy stores for the day and boost your immune system, plus its vibrant and various colors will add a fun pop to your açaí bowl.
Peanut Butter Honey Toast with Bananas and Fresh Bee Pollen
I can personally attest to the delicious nature of this toast - I make it at least twice a week for a protein filled breakfast treat! After lightly toasting my bread, I use pollen infused creamed honey as the base (option to use cinnamon infused creamed honey here), and make sure to spread a thin layer of the entire slice of toast. Then I apply a thicker, even layer of peanut butter to the toast. Next step is to sprinkle the pollen over the toast so it sticks to the peanut butter, making sure to stick to the quantity of pollen you have built up to and not exceeding it. Last step is to slice the bananas and layer over the peanut butter and enjoy!
*Sometimes I pre-make the toast and stick it in the fridge overnight to allow the peanut butter and honey to harden (less morning mess!)
Bee Pollen at Lunch
Brown Bag Sandwich with Fresh Pollen Spread
For this recipe, you may need to think outside the box.
This "pollen spread" will make much more sense when you are up to a tablespoon a day, in which case you can opt to sprinkle the local pollen over the spread you would normally apply to your sandwich before adding other ingredients. This way the fresh pollen will stick to your sandwich instead of falling off.
Salt, Pepper,... Bee Pollen? Yes, please!
Local Pollen Infused Hummus with Pita and Cucumber Slices
Hummus is a wonderful base for flavors to blend and come together to form a variety of delicious combinations. Whether you make your hummus from scratch, or you by from the store, you can add pollen to it to make an easy, nutritious way to eat pollen for lunch. Similar to the sandwich recipe above, you can opt to grind your pollen in advance to create a smooth, powdery consistency or leave it in granule form. Simply add to cold hummus along with lime juice, fresh cilantro, and salt & pepper to taste. Enjoy with a slice of warm pita, or a cool cucumber wedge and you have yourself a delicious treat!
Bee Pollen in the Evening
If you've made it home in the evening and realized you haven't had your pollen yet, fear not! You don't have to whip up a smoothie or eat a bowl of fruit - instead, try these recipes:
Bee Pollen Salad Dressing
Salads comes in all shapes and sizes, and it's easy to incorporate pollen into any of your classic go to's! This is our recommendation for incorporating your fresh pollen into a classic, light dressing:
Mix Walnut Oil, Lemon Juice, Bee Pollen in an empty bowl. Add finely ground parmesan, toss with your favorite lettuce and enjoy! Simply and easy, just how we like it!
Vanilla Ice Cream + Raw Bee Pollen & Honey Drizzle
Dessert isn't just for kids, and to think it can also be good for you! Start by scooping out some rich, vanilla ice cream into a bowl (your choice of vegan or cream based). Drizzle your Local Wildflower Honey, or perhaps your Kauai Wildflower Honey, as a delicious and flavorful substitute to processed caramel or chocolate sauce. Sprinkle your bee pollen over the top and enjoy!
Did you enjoy these recipes? Have one you want expanded upon? Feel free to leave us some feedback!
*Always remember that Bee Pollen is a living superfood! It must be stored in the refrigerator to be kept fresh and cannot be added to direct heat or it will be depleted of it's nutrients!
