Turmeric Energy Balls

This turmeric energy ball is a perfect superfood snack that can benefit the heart and reduce inflammation.  With the addition of plant-based pea protein, this balanced protein ball will keep you satisfied while pleasing your taste buds. 

This turmeric ball recipe is filled with heart-healthy ingredients like plant protein, omega 3,  fiber, and curcumin to give you a perfect morning or midday boost!  The addition of honey and oats provides a sweet flavor and a crunchy texture that is irresistible.

Thank you to Naked Nutrition for sponsoring this blog post. All opinions are my own, as always.

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Why Make Turmeric Energy Balls

These ginger energy balls are:

• No bake treats – simply blend and roll and you are done
• Take minutes to throw together
• Filled with good for you ingredients
• Can make a quick portable breakfast or snack
• Great for meal prepping

Turmeric Balls Benefits

Two turmeric energy balls have:

• 12 grams of protein
• 2 grams of fiber

at only 204 calories.  Talk about a nutrient dense snack. 

I named these turmeric energy balls because they provide slow burning energy in the form of protein, which keeps you energized and satisfied.  I was able to achieve this amazing nutrient profile with the help of Naked Nutrition’s protein powder that only has one ingredient – yellow pea protein.  

Healthy Fats

Adding cashew butter, adds deliciousness to the turmeric ball recipe, but it also helps with the utilization of the antioxidant curcumin from the turmeric powder to reduce inflammation.

Fiber

The oats add fiber to this turmeric balls recipe, which soaks up the oils from the nut butter that holds everything together.

Oats specifically contain beta glucan, a soluble fiber that can lower cholesterol levels.  This fiber also aids in digestion and contributes to weight management.

Protein

As mentioned above, two turmeric bliss balls contain 12 grams of plant protein which is an excellent way to meet your plant protein requirements for the cholesterol-lowering portfolio diet.

Ingredients

Rolled oats – Old-fashioned or rolled oats are used here. 

Natural cashew butter – Be sure to purchase an all-natural version as it does not contain any added salt, sugar, or fats.  Healthy fats are important in making curcumin bioavailable, and usable in the body.

Raw honey – Raw honey is my sweetener of choice for this recipe as it provides a great flavor.

Pea protein powder – In order for these balls to be a good source of protein, I’ve added pea protein powder here.

Hemp seed – Added for more protein and healthy plant-based omega 3 fatty acids.

Turmeric Powder (Curcumin) – The star of the show. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, is an antioxidant with many health benefits such as fighting inflammation and unclogging arteries (1, 2, 3, 4).

Black Pepper – Piperine, a compound in black pepper, helps with the absorption of the curcumin found in turmeric powder.  Don’t worry, the taste of black pepper is not overpowering in this recipe.  

Cinnamon and ginger – added for flavor!

This recipe does not use coconut oil to bind the balls, like most of the other turmeric ball recipes.   Coconut oil is high in saturated fat, and too much-saturated fat can increase cholesterol levels.

Instead, nut butter was used to provide the stickiness needed to hold everything together, as well as support curcumin bioavailability.

Turmeric

Turmeric can help reduce inflammation. Its anti-inflammatory properties can improve your health in so many ways (1). Curcumin, the main active ingredient in turmeric is a powerful antioxidant that has the ability to reduce inflammation and oxidation. Not only is heart disease affected by inflammation but so are cancer, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, dementia, and arthritis to name a few.

Inflammation is common in heart disease patients, and therefore turmeric may help manage this condition. Promising research reveals curcumin can also reduce cholesterol levels (3).

Additionally, turmeric can improve the function of the lining of your blood vessels which helps regulate blood pressure (5), along with these foods that lower blood pressure.

As mentioned, curcumin is fat-soluble, which means including heart-healthy fat like nuts will help with its absorption, and don’t skip adding the black pepper for the same reason (6).   

If you love turmeric, also try this turmeric oatmeal or silken tofu scramble.

Turmeric Can Stain

This is a warning that working with turmeric can be messy.  In order to prevent staining use gloves, and cutting boards or parchment paper (especially if your counters are white!)

Pea Protein

Pea protein is a plant-based protein powder that tastes very good.  The taste is the key difference when comparing hemp protein powder and pea protein powder, the two most popular plant-based protein powders.

I enjoy pea protein powder much more than hemp protein powder because of its neutral taste, color, and non-grainy texture.

There is even some preliminary evidence that it can lower blood pressure, as the amino acid arginine is involved in improving blood flow by increasing nitric oxide in the body which can help widen blood vessels (7).

Naked nutrition pea protein only has ONE ingredient – pea protein powder – it is free of additives and artificial sweeteners.  It is even independently third-party tested for heavy metals.

It is hard to find a protein powder with minimal clean ingredients that also tastes great.  

If your purchase this, you can also use it for smoothies, oatmeal, and pancakes too!

Oats

I don’t think I have to reiterate the benefits of using oats. Not only does it help lower cholesterol but also manages blood sugar and keeps you full longer.

How To Make Turmeric Energy Balls

Not only is this recipe super easy to execute, but it also needs very few tools (and no oven either!) All you need is a food processor or blender to make this happen.

1. Blitz the rolled oats in the blender into a flour-like consistency. 

2. Add hemp seeds, protein powder, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, and blitz again.

3. In a separate bowl mix the wet ingredients which include the honey and cashew butter.  

4. When combined, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir well.   If the mixture seems too wet, add a bit more oats. If it’s too dry, add a bit more nut butter. It should resemble a somewhat sticky dough that holds together when lightly squeezed.

5. Chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes, until the mixture is chilled. This helps the mixture stick together more evenly and easier to form the balls.

6. Roll the mixture into 1 inch balls.

7. This recipe should make 12 balls if they are as big as a tablespoon. Feel free to make them bigger or smaller to your liking.

Can You Freeze Energy Balls?

Absolutely! You can store these turmeric balls in your fridge for up to 5 days or in an air-tight plastic bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.  Although, I bet they won’t last that long.

I recommend removing the turmeric protein ball from the freezer and letting it thaw at room temperature for a few minutes before eating. 

Can You Store Them At Room Temperature?

These ginger energy balls can be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for a few days, but they may become softer and less firm over time. Try to avoid storing the turmeric balls in direct sunlight or in a warm environment.

Watch The Video Tutorial

Variations of Turmeric Balls Recipe

• Don’t like cashew butter? Try almond butter
• Vegan and don’t want to use honey? Try maple syrup
• Like vanilla protein powder instead of unflavored? Go for it!
• Add dried fruit – raisins, dates and apricots would taste great
• Use fresh turmeric or ginger instead of dried
• Try lemon or coconut flavors
• Add other heart healthy omega 3 rich seeds like chia seeds or hemp seeds
• Or chocolate chips for a sweeter treat

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Turmeric Balls Good For?

Turmeric balls are good for reducing inflammation because they are rich in an antioxidant called curcumin.  Turmeric balls include healthy fats and piperine from black pepper, to increase the bioavailability of curcumin which protects the heart by reducing cholesterol and improving blood pressure.

Are Energy Balls Good For You?

Turmeric energy balls are good for you because they are a perfect balance of fat, carbohydrate, and protein, with a little bit of spice.  They are good for busy days as it is just as easy to grab an energy ball as prepackaged granola bars but without the added sugar and salt.

When Should I Take Turmeric Balls?

Turmeric balls can be eaten for breakfast, or as a heart-healthy snack that will keep you satiated until your next meal. 

Other High Protein Recipes

Final Thoughts

Why not try this heart-healthy turmeric ginger ball recipe that adds beneficial nutrients to your intake without the additives?