Tuesday 8 January 2013

Instant, dairy-free, raw cacao mousse with chia!

I just had to share this quick one! An instant and nutritious, rich chocolate dessert fix . .  . if you're thinking of reaching for some chocolate you must make this instead! So easy and soooo great!! I get to enjoy this dessert all to myself tonight . . .I promise I won't eat the whole lot :) . . but I'm sure it will be a hit with my girls too. The ground chia goes to work to provide instant thickening power for this recipe, owing to the gelation properties of the soluble fibre contained within the seeds which is released immediately on grinding. 


ingredients
4 tbsp (50g) chia seeds
1 can organic coconut milk (choose one which is additive free & avoid low-fat)
5-6 fresh dates, pitted
3 tbsp raw cacao powder
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
2 drops liquid stevia (or to taste)
4 ice cubes 

method
1. Add chia seeds to the TM bowl and grind on speed 9 for 20 seconds into a fine powder.

2. Add remaining ingredients and blend on speed 9 for 30 seconds or until smooth, with the MC lid in place. Serve immediately or refrigerate for later. . . and there you have it! Guilt-free, rich, chocolate-y deliciousness! 


Serves 2-4 depending on your appetite :)

This chocolate dessert will even keep for 2-3 days in an airtight container in the fridge. It retains it's mousse-like texture very nicely :) 




variation ideas
  • add a few drops of orange or peppermint essential oil for a choc-orange or choc-mint flavour
  • grind some hazelnuts with the chia for a 'Baci' inspired flavour
  • add 1 tbsp of a superfood powder blend for an antioxidant boost
  • if you have a sweet tooth add a couple more dates or another drop of liquid stevia :)
  • don't try flaxseeds in place of chia for this recipe, they have a stronger taste

nutrition tid bits
There's nothing better than the feeling you get from satisfying that chocolate craving, whilst fueling your body with a nutrient dense treat! This dessert is packed full of nutrition from chia and raw cacao in particular, which combined provide you with a high-quality dose of omega-3 fats, iron, zinc, calcium, potassium, magnesium, protein and a range of beneficial phytochemicals and antioxidants. 

You'll also notice how just one small bowl of this dessert fills you up very nicely :) This is the fibre in chia working to absorb liquid and gel up, not only in your bowl of chocolate goodness, but also in your stomach. Of course, the fibre in chia also helps with your digestion and even slows the conversion of carbohydrates to glucose, reducing blood sugar spikes. All in all, there are many reasons to treat yourself with this dessert every night :) Why not? I say. 

no thermomix?
If you don't own a Thermomix, you'll need a coffee grinder to grind up the chia seeds and a good blender to do the rest :)

source: unfortunately I can't take full credit for this amazing recipe . . . Erin from Earth Energy Yoga is the miracle worker. I have simply made a couple of tweaks and adapted it for the Thermomix. Thank you Erin! Thank you also to the lovely Thermo Bel for sharing this recipe with us on her Facebook page. 

10 comments:

  1. I am looking forward to trying this! Is it essential that the dates are fresh? Thank you!

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    1. Hi I would recommend fresh dates but if you can't get them you could try soaking some dried dates in water first. Goodluck :)

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  2. This is the best choc mousse ever!! I also love that my teenage daughter makes it for us on a regular basis in the thermomix. It just hits the spot for that choc fix & its good for us which makes it even better!!
    thanks for a great recipe :))

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    Replies
    1. This is fantastic Lisa! My girls love it too! I even send it to school with them in little pots :)

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  3. Thank you for this recipe. It was quick easy to prepare and gratifying to know that not only is this a tasty treat but hugely nutritional too. I have insulin intolerance and have added this to my treat list and have it at least once a week
    :)

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    1. You are very welcome and yes this is a wonderful low glycemic dessert thanks to the dietary fibre and healthy fats component. Thank you for your comments :)

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  4. What size can do you use? I assume 400g?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Michelle. Yes 400g, and I will make a note of this in recipe thank you. I have noticed the smaller half-size cans about. I hope that you enjoy the mousse! :)

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  5. Gorgeous! I mixed through frozen raspberries and it was devine - thanks for the great recipe.

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