Tofu Chocolate Pudding

By: Nikki Nies

I love experimenting with staple ingredients, challenging myself to use them in nontraditional ways. As a recent college graduate, I still have the budget conscious mindset. What have I learned over the past year? You can use pureed prunes in replacement of butter in desserts, by freezing bananas, you can prolong their use and when blended, it makes a creamy, ice cream like texture. However, one of my favorite foods to experiment with is tofu. Yes, I said tofu! While, I’ve used pureed tofu instead of ricotta cheese in lasagna, as someone who has a sweet tooth, I always gravitate to how I can make desserts healthier.

With February filled with chocolate day celebrations, everything from Dark Chocolate Day on February 1st to Chocolate Mint Day on February 19th, it seemed fitting to experiment with tofu and chocolate. While pureed tofu and chocolate may not be the initial pairing, it works! They say that chocolate makes everything better, well I say chocolate and tofu makes dessert better! This is where tofu chocolate pudding comes in!

This dessert leaves you nutritionally satisfied and with only four ingredients, it can be made in minutes! By using chocolate chips, these tiny morsels can be the great sugar fix you need while also helping to lower blood pressure, improve satiety and improve blood circulation! Since tofu is a chameleon food, adapting to the flavors and ingredients it is paired with, it is perfect to combine chocolate! There is no need to use sugar to make pudding, as the chocolate chips are sweet enough!

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • ¾-1 cup semi sweet morsel chocolate chips*
  • 1-2 T oil
  • 14 oz. silken tofu
  • ½ cup milk 

Instructions

Place oil and chocolate chips on double boiler**, until all chocolate chips are melted. Heat the saucepan over low heat until it just begins to simmer, then turn off the stove and place the chocolate bowl over the water

Stir the chocolate frequently with a rubber spatula, once the outer edges start to melt.  When almost all of the chocolate is melted, life the top bowl from the saucepan and set it on the counter. Stir until it is shiny, smooth, and completely melted. Set aside.

IMG_9036Fold and place halved or fourths paper towels on cutting board to absorb moisture of tofu. Slice tofu to at least ½ inch thick slices. With ½ cup milk, puree tofu and melted chocolate in blender until smooth.

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve pudding with shredded coconut, raspberries, walnuts and/or sprinkles. Enjoy

How did your pudding turn out? What modifications and/or toppings did you add to your pudding? I hope it’s as delicious and sweet as you are! Happy Valentine’s Day!

*Depending on how sweet of a pudding you aim for, use 3/4 to 1 cup of chocolate chips at your discretion.

IMG_9037**A double boiler is a bowl placed on top of a pan of simmering water. The bowl does not touch the water, but creates a seal with the bottom pan to trap the steam produced by the simmering water.. I don’t have a double boiler myself, but by placing a stainless steel bowl over a pot, I was able to make a makeshift double boiler.

Sources:http://bakingbites.com/2009/09/how-to-make-a-double-boiler/

http://www.webmd.com/diet/health-by-chocolate

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/prevention/nutrition/food-choices/benefits-of-chocolate

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270272.php

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Nikki Nies

Nikki Nies

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