Chocolate & Banana Chia Pudding
I've written about this dilemma before and I'm sure I'll write about it again: striking a balance between a healthy start to the day and wanting to eat dessert and all other manner of unhealthy things for breakfast. Though I certainly know I feel better - both in the moment and throughout the day - when I eat something wholesome for breakfast, sometimes those leftover baked goods are just asking to be dipped in my morning coffee (I like coffee on/with everythingggg). Alas, the baked goods win more often than I care to admit, so I created this pudding to pack a punch while also satisfying my sweet tooth. It's filled with nutritional powerhouses: nut butter and chia seeds for protein (and texture!), banana and dates for potassium and Vitamin C, and maple syrup for the antioxidants (not all sugars are created equal). The result is lovely - a silky smooth treat that won't leave you with a sugar high, only to crash and burn later.
Though I intended this pudding as a breakfast item, it would work well as a midday pick-me-up, or as dessert for a casual dinner party if you or your guests are gluten-free or vegan. And, since this is dairy-free, it would also work well for you lactose intolerant folks, or if you keep kosher and served meat as a main course. For those of you who are allergic to peanuts, almond or cashew butter would work nicely here. And you can of course use coconut milk - or even dairy milk - instead of the nut milk. Improvise! Use whatever you have on hand. But, note that this recipe does require a good blender - preferably a Vitamix - or a decent food processor at a minimum. This makes three or four dense, smallish portions - double the recipe if you're feeding a crowd.
As always, look for fair trade ingredients if you can. Happy blending!
Chocolate & Banana Chia Pudding Recipe
Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Total time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
1 banana, peeled
1/4 cup good cocoa powder
5-6 pitted medjool dates
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup chia seeds
Pinch of sea salt
2 tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 cup unsweetened, smooth peanut butter
1 cup unsweetened nut milk
Extra banana slices, peanuts and cocoa nibs for garnishing (optional)
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a blender, and process till smooth. Add more milk - one tablespoon at a time - if consistency is too thick.
Spoon into dishes and garnish. Will keep well covered in the fridge for several days.
