Raw Chocolate Superfood Pudding

Do you ever have those days when, no matter what you do, you just can't stop thinking about something sweet?  I do.  Usually I can get away with munching on some raw carrot sticks or eating a piece of fruit to fill the urge.  But today?  Today is all about the chocolate.

And let me be clear: this is no ordinary chocolate dessert.  There is no flour, oil, or refined sugar in this one. Instead, this dessert is loaded up with four incredible raw superfoods to create a delectable, rich, and creamy chocolate pudding that will leave your taste buds and your body feeling satisfied.



This pudding starts off by mixing raw chia seeds with homemade almond milk.  Chia seeds are small greyish seeds that form a thick gel when soaked in liquid.  They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids as well as full of fiber and antioxidants.  They make a perfect binder in smoothies, baked goods, or even with oatmeal for breakfast.  

Chia seeds give the pudding some texture, almost like tapioca.  The key is to mix the seeds with the almond milk well and give them enough time to soak so that they fully absorb the liquid.  (If you skimp on this step you might end up with clumps of hard seeds in the pudding... and nobody likes that.)

The chia seed and almond milk mixture is then mixed with raw cacao powder   Raw cacao powder has no added sugar and because the cacao beans are processed at low temperatures, this powder is full of antioxidants and minerals (like magnesium and iron) that you would find in the cacao bean.

Our next superfood is maca powder   Maca powder comes from the maca root, which has been used by Peruvian populations for centuries.  Maca powder contains a variety of phytonutrients which are said to support the body's endocrine system.  Maca is not only used to give your body an energy boost, but it can help with chronic fatigue and low libido. Maca powder also adds a nice malty taste to recipes.

Our final superfood is lucuma powder made from the sweet fruit of the lucuma tree. I like using lucuma in recipes for sweetness because it adds a nice flavor (almost like maple syrup) and is incredibly low in sugar.  One tablespoon of lucuma powder contains only 2 grams of sugar. Lucuma powder is a great alternative sweetener in desserts and smoothies for those who enjoy a little sweetness without the sugar crash.

This pudding will keep well in the refrigerator for several days and the recipe can be easily adapted to exclude the maca or lucuma powder if you don't have it. For those that enjoy something very sweet, you can also add in other sweeteners like agave nectar or stevia to taste.  For a fun presentation, add a small sprig of mint to the pudding just before serving.

Raw Chocolate Superfood Pudding
Serves 2

Ingredients:
1 cup (raw) almond milk
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 tablespoon (raw) cacao powder
1 teaspoon (raw) maca powder
1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons (raw) lucuma powder
Note: if you desire extra sweetness, you can add other sweeteners like agave nectar or stevia to taste.

Instructions:
Whisk almond milk and chia seeds together (make sure that there are no clumps of seeds).  
Whisk in cacao powder, maca powder, lucuma powder, and additional sweeteners (if using).  Store in the refrigerator overnight.  Serve cold.