Creamy dark chocolate pudding or shake....you decide!

I am dreaming of chocolate...probably...as I'm trekking up mountains as you read this!

I know being the week after Easter you are probably now screaming at the screen... 'no more chocolate, i'm all chocolated out'  Maybe? Maybe not?

Either way, you'll enjoy this chocolate treat, super chocolatey, BUT super light and healthy (i'm still enjoying my sugar free explorations!) and best of all you can make it two ways. A thick after dinner chocolate pudding or a dreamy creamy chocolate shake. Just a slight tweak or ingredients gives you both options...can't decide? half and half the mixture after the first stage before adding the rest. Its not too sickly sweet, more of a dark chocolate twang, and it has a great lower fat and higher protein content. The banana taste is very subtle in the background and so barely noticeable (in my opinion).

Ok, so if you've got a little impatient and have already scrolled down to the recipe you'll have noticed the first item in the list... black beans! Have any of you guessed where this concoction was inspired from?

Yes...these babies!  When making a batch of truffles I always add a little soy milk to the remains in the processor and then blitz to loosen the mixture from the blades and sides before washing the Thermomix bowl out... It makes a fab chocolate milk, so then I tweaked it a little added a few extra bits to turn it in to a super creamy shake.  Simple! just make sure you blend and blend... I recommend straining the mixture through a sieve into the glass before drinking it so make sure it is super smooth, this is less important for the pudding as you wont notice the odd tiny piece of bean or date fibre.

The topping you see is my own so light but decadent newly created coconut flour frosting...it is what inspired this creation, so you can probably figure it out for yourself if you want to give it a try, but I will write up the post in full for you next week. Dust with cacoa nibs and you are good to go!

Recipe: Chocolate pudding or shake...you decide! 

Serves 2-3

Ingredients: chocolate shake

½ cup black beans

1 small mashed banana (1/4 cup approx)

3 tbs date paste (or 4 softened dates)

A pinch of stevia to taste

¼ cup cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla

Approx 2 cups milk of choice (I’ve tried with both almond and soy)

1 tbs melted coconut oil

Note for a chocolate pudding reduce the milk to 1 ½ cups and increase coconut oil to 2 tbs)

Method

Process the beans, banana and dates until you have a thick smooth paste. Add remaining ingredients and blend until very smooth. Pour into serving glasses or bowls and chill for approx 30 minutes until thickened.  If serving as a shake strain through a sieve.

Serve in tall glasses or short bowls...perfect with a coconut cream topping... recipe to come next week! sorry to make you wait :-)

For further guidance on making gluten free choices please see this post.

For tips and info on recipe measurement conversions, ingredients, substitutions and the methods behind how I do things.... check out my 'baking tips' tab at the top of the page.