Eleven Madison Park's Granola

This salty-sweet granola includes cherries, pistachios, and coconut flakes.

Overhead close-up of Eleven Madison Park's granola in a white bowl.

Serious Eats / Carrie Vasios Mullins

Why It Works

  • Pistachios, pumpkin seeds, and plenty of salt and olive oil offer a savory contrast to the coconut flakes, maple syrup, and brown sugar.
  • Dried sour cherries add welcome bursts of acidity.

Since I'm so fond of food, people often ask me if I've been to top restaurants like Per Se or Le Bernardin. Since I don't yet have the means to drop $500 on a meal, the answer is unfortunately no, I haven't. I'm always a little ashamed to admit this, as if it means I'm failing at my job. (Though no one asks my tech friends if they've tried out a jet pack, or frown when actors haven't worked with Martin Scorsese.)

This wouldn't bother me too much except that some of my friends have actually eaten at the crème de la crème—restaurants I dream about. Faced with their gushing reports of ten-course feasts, I'll casually respond, "Oh, that's good to hear, because French Laundry is on my radar." (That FL is on the very outer fringe while All Star Donuts is the beep in the middle is information I choose to keep to myself).

Then, because I can't help myself, I'll quietly ask, "But was it really that good?" It's unclear even to me whether or not I'm hoping that they'll confirm the resplendent awesomeness of the restaurant, like in high school when I'd ask friends who'd hooked up with the hottest guys, "So did he have like bacne, or what? I heard he chews off your lips."

I've recently decided that instead of trying to pass off my jealousy as indifference, I'm going to lie. With a little research on the glory that is the internet, I can pick and choose dishes to talk about. If people remark that I speak with the exact narrative poise of Frank Bruni or zip of Adam Platt, well, I'll take it as a compliment.

To really up the authenticity of my fibs, I'll even make some of the dishes. (Did you hear that, Mom? I'd like the El Bulli cookbook for Christmas.) Like this granola, for instance. Some lucky friends have informed me that small jars of it are given to diners as they leave Eleven Madison Park. It's just the kind of insider detail that will help seal my fine dining persona.

"the truth is that this granola is freaking delicious."

Look, the truth is that this granola is freaking delicious. I think it's the best I've had. It's super salty, with just enough sweetness to make it over the top, I-had-to-put-it-in-a -ziplock-bag-and-hide-it-under-my-sink crave-worthy. Seriously, I was about to eat the whole damn tray. It's texturally perfect: crunchy with just a smattering of chewy tart cherries. The combination of olive oil and maple syrup is genius, and I've started to wonder why all granola doesn't have pistachios in it.

I wish I could tell you that Eleven Madison Park is just a fancy circus for people who have too much money to appreciate Shake Shack, but if this granola is any indication, I'll be saving my pennies for a long time to come.

December 2011

Recipe Details

Eleven Madison Park's Granola

Prep 5 mins
Cook 40 mins
Active 10 mins
Total 45 mins
Serves 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 3/4 cups rolled oats

  • 1 cup shelled pistachios

  • 1/3 cup raw pumpkin seeds

  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut chips or flakes (not shredded coconut)

  • 1 tablespoon salt

  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar

  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1/3 cup maple syrup, preferably Grade B

  • 3/4 cup dried sour cherries

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  2. In a medium bowl, mix together oats, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, coconut chips, and salt.

  3. In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, olive oil, and maple syrup. Bring heat to medium and whisk occasionally until sugar has dissolved. Pour over oat mixture.

  4. Spread oat mixture on prepared baking sheet. Bake until lightly golden, about 40 minutes. Remove from oven and mix in dried cherries.

Special Equipment

Rimmed baking sheet, parchment paper

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
304 Calories
18g Fat
34g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 304
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 593mg 26%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 5g 16%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 2mg 9%
Calcium 41mg 3%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 296mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)