Dark Chocolate Chia Pudding As A Healthy Breakfast

Classic pudding can be a real headache to make! You know the kind—no pre-made mixes, just the old-school stuff that your grandmother would whip up during the holidays. It’s packed with refined sugar and a host of other unhealthy ingredients that can send your sugar levels skyrocketing. Not to mention, the time you have to spend hovering over the stovetop, cooking down a custard that’s rich but incredibly unhealthy! Sure, it might give you that nostalgic sugar high, but it also comes with a side of guilt that can drive your mom absolutely nuts. So, why bother with all that fuss when you can simply stir together some chia seeds and let them do their thing?

On the other hand, chia seeds may be tiny, but they’re bursting with nutritional goodness! They’re rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids that help keep your heart strong. Packed with fiber, these little seeds work wonders for digestion while also keeping you fuller for longer. They’re also full of antioxidants that fight off free radicals. This reduces inflammation in your body. Plus, they’re the primary source of calcium for vegans.

Ingredients

• 240 ml milk

• 40 gm chia seeds

• 15 gm honey

• 50 gm Cadbury Bournville dark chocolate, melted

• 150 gm fresh/frozen strawberries

• 120 ml water

• 2 gm cornflour (optional)

• 30 gm crushed almonds

• Fresh mint, to garnish

Instructions

1. In a glass jar, combine milk, melted dark chocolate, honey, and chia seeds. Whisk well.

2. Let the jar rest in the fridge overnight.

3. To make the strawberry filling, combine strawberries and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Add cornflour and mix vigorously.

4. While mashing the strawberries, let the filling cook until it becomes thick and coats the back of a spoon.

5. Pour the filling into the bottom of a serving glass. Let it rest in the fridge.

6. In the morning, spoon the chocolate chia seed pudding over the strawberry filling.

7. Cover with crushed almonds and garnish with fresh mint leaves.

How to Melt Dark Chocolate

1. Chop the dark chocolate into small pieces.

2. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl.

3. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Or the syrup will form lumps.

4. Stir the chocolate constantly until fully melted and smooth. If you don’t, one side might start to get burnt while the other side does not even melt.

5. Remove the bowl from heat and let the chocolate cool slightly before using in your recipe.

How to Melt Dark Chocolate in the Microwave

1. Place the dark chocolate pieces in a microwave-safe bowl.

2. Heat in the microwave on medium power for 30 seconds.

3. Stir the chocolate, then continue heating in 15-second intervals.

4. Stir after each interval until the chocolate is smooth and fully melted.

5. Be careful not to overheat, as chocolate can burn quickly.

6. Once melted, let it cool slightly before using in your recipe.

Chia seeds have a very interesting property of soaking in any moisture and swelling up. So what people do is take out five minutes of their time before going to bed, preparing the recipe in a glass mug. And when you wake up, you have your pudding ready, all swelled up, nice and thick! It is nourishing and keeps you full. To make it healthier, you could have it with a dollop of peanut butter or even add fresh food.