Chocolate Avocado Pudding: A Super Tasty Superfood

Despite their high fat content, avocados are one of the healhiest foods you can eat, and are included on many "superfood" lists.  Much of the fat found in avocados consists of heart healthy monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, as well as oleic acid, a type of fat that triggers your brain to send signals of fullness.  

Just one half of an avocado contains 3.5 grams of fibre, which helps maintain your digestive system and keeps you feeling full longer, and over. Avocados are also a great source of many essential vitamins and nutrients.  They contain antioxidants such as lutein, which helps protect against eye disease,  and tocopherol (vitamin E),  which is believed to play a role in preventing a variety of conditions, including cancer and Alzheimer's Disease.  Avocados are a great source of folate, which helps prevent spinal cord birth defects, and also contain potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C.  

Cocoa shows up on many superfood lists as well.  Like avocado, it is an excellent source of antioxidants, and can help to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease and heart attacks.  Cocoa also contains a variety of essential minerals, including magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese, and can increase serotonin in the brain, which may ease symptoms of depression. 

Last night I combined these two superfoods to make one allergy friendly (it's dairy, egg and gluten free), taste bud pleasing batch of chocolate avocado pudding.  It's super easy to make, and a perfect recipe for  little ones to help prepare.  Serve it at your house, and you will be telling your kids to eat their pudding too!

Chocolate Avocado Pudding

yield: 2 large, or 4 small servings

Ingredients:

1 ripe avocado

1 to 2 tablespoons (15-30 mL) cocoa powder 

1 teaspoon (5mL) vanilla

1.5 tablespoons (22 mL) agave nectar or honey

2 tablespoons non-dairy milk (feel free to use dairy milk if you can tolerate it)

Method:

1. Peel and dice avocado, or scoop it out and mash it in it bowl (a great job for kids).

2. Add avocado, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, vanilla, agave, and non dairy milk in a blender or food processor.  Process until smooth and creamy. Taste, and add additional cocoa and sweetener, if desired.

3. Transfer avocado mixture to bowl.  Cover and refrigerate for a few hours, until chilled and firm.

4. Enjoy!

Note - I left this in the fridge overnight, and it firmed up even more.  It could easily be used as a non-dairy icing on cupcakes too, or as a filling for a chocolate tarte or pie.  It's so good you will forget that it is good for you.