Skip to main content

Chocolate Avocado Pudding

Now I've heard that there is a similar recipe within the Paleo Diet books, but this recipe I have adapted from the kitchens of The Blum Center for Health in Rye Brook, New York.

Normally I would've never thought that these ingredients could come together to make such a wonderfully delicious dessert. So, when I began to experiment with this recipe I was prepared for less than stellar results. However, I was not prepared to absolutely fall in love with this recipe! The avocado in this recipe provides a smooth and fluffy texture that reminded me of my childhood days when I first tasted homemade chocolate pudding. Those were the days when homemakers would consider the use of processed “instant” puddings a sacrilege. Back then, puddings were actually cooked.

Aside from the texture, the avocado also provides an abundance of healthy fats and the amino acid tyrosine, which I understand to be rather important for proper hormone regulation, body metabolism and your brain’s memory.

Since this recipe is so rich, I enjoy serving it over sliced, organic strawberries. You may eat it as is; perhaps garnished with a sprig of mint, or you can even experiment with it, like I have, by adding freshly ground cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper (for the sake of personal preference, this is the basic recipe).

If you are a true chocolate lover, there is absolutely no way to go wrong with this basic recipe. I hope you enjoy it.

Serves 4

Ingredients:
One well ripened avocado
6 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
5 tablespoons of honey or agave syrup. (for texture, I prefer the honey)
5 to 6 tablespoons of coconut milk or almond milk (more or less depending on the consistency you are after)
Pinch of salt
Fresh mint sprigs, fruit or berries of choice.

While you can choose to mash the ingredients together by hand, use a blender, or a hand held mixer, I believe a food processor works best in delivering the smoothest, creamiest texture.

That said, place the flesh of your ripe avocado and all the ingredients (except for the berries, mint or fruit) into a food processor and process until smooth and creamy. You may need to pause to scrape the sides from time to time. Using a rubber spatula, scoop the pudding into a sealable container and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour prior to serving.

If you're planning to serve this desert to guests, you may consider the following idea:

Arrange a variety of fresh berries and fruits (try fresh bananas, apricots or orange wedges) on a tray along with fresh mint, ground cinnamon and serve the pudding in individual cups. Then allow your guests to experiment with adding their own choice of fruits, herbs or seasonings, or eating it "as is."

Don’t forget, chocolate always pairs nicely with wine, too.

As always – enjoy your life.

John Aaron Villarreal


Bio: I am a Houston based, male massage therapist and wellness coach specializing in pain management and health programs for individuals over the age of forty. I laugh - a lot. I'm quirky but sincere. And, while I'm not a counselor, I do listen and I do care: Except for the times that I don't. That’s a joke - Did I mention that I like to laugh? Anyway, visit my website, call or email me and let's get together to talk about you, and the many ways to live life better!

 The Legal Stuff: I write to inform, inspire and encourage my readers to enjoy all that life has to offer.
The content and information on this site is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease.
Please consult your physician prior to starting any exercise, diet or wellness program. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Coffee Has Health Benefits

Anyone who knows me knows I love my Joe…. err, “cup of joe” that is. In fact, I’m enjoying a cup as I write this post. However, as a wellness professional that little admission of guilt has gotten me a few sneers and looks of condescension. Caffeine is BAD for you, they say! Well, perhaps abusing caffeine may be “bad” for you, but ‘caffeine’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘coffee.’ Despite this fact, coffee has gotten a bad rep over the years after a few health experts linked it (or rather, linked caffeine abuse) to several diseases. But is coffee actually that bad? Probably not; new research shows that drinking coffee in moderation provides numerous health benefits. Antidepressant It might seem a little odd to find that coffee could help with depression, but new research has shown that it does just that. Now, don’t go throwing out your prescriptions or quit counseling just yet though, coffee is not a cure for depression. Rather, the caffeine in coffee helps regulate your mood trans...
2 comments
Read more

When Should I Get a Massage and How Often?

This is a question I get often… Let’s face it, if it were up to massage therapists we’d say that you should get a massage every day, but in reality – very few people ever have the means or time to make this scenario play out in their lives. So technically speaking, your frequency should depend on how much you like massage, how often you experience chronic pain, and your budget. If you’re able to afford it, getting a monthly or weekly massage works best at helping prevent injuries by catching tight areas before they become problematic. With my more athletic clients (runners, weightlifters, gymnasts), I usually recommend timing their massage to coincide with the times they are training their hardest. For example, runners can develop tight hamstrings and hips, gymnasts and weight-lifters can get tight shoulders. These tight muscle groups can elicit injuries over time if they aren't treated by massage. If you are physically active, I recommend getting a massage within 24 hours ...
Post a Comment
Read more

What to Do If You’ve Got High Cholesterol

As I've gotten older I've realized that takes more than an apple a day to keep the doctor off your back. If you've got high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, the good doc is going to pester you about it—apple or not (and he should!). But don’t blame him - he’s trying to save your life. According to the American Heart Association, 105.2 million adults have borderline to high risk blood cholesterol levels. In addition, nearly one in three adults suffers from high blood pressure and these numbers grow every year. Even more frightening; 82% of those at high risk are unaware of their condition. Could you be one of them? Whether you've had your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked lately or not, these conditions are deadly and sneaky—many people are unaware of the danger lurking in their own arteries. In fact, many firmly believe that what you don’t know can’t hurt you… They’re dead wrong. What’s so bad about high blood pressure and cholesterol levels...
Post a Comment
Read more