What!?!? An avocado in Pudding? Yes! It's a great way to get your healthy fats into your diet, and make a healthy pudding that you and your entire family will love.
Why Avocados?
Healthy Fats
Yes, fat can be good, and is part of a balanced diet. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, found in avocados, are great for your health. Eating healthy fats, especially from avocados has been linked to lower levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol.
Fiber
Avocados are also high in fiber, which can help to lower blood sugar, cut your cholestorol and reduce inflammation in your body. An avocado has about 1 gram of fiber per tablespoon, and over 10 grams for the entire fruit. It's a fiber powerhouse. Another benefit of the fiber in avocados is it helps you feel full for longer periods of time, so it is a great thing to add to a healthy diet and may even help you lose some weight.
Packed with Vitamins and Vital Nutrients
In addition to healthy fats and dietary fiber, avocados are also packed with all sorts of essential vitamins and nutrients your body needs.
Avocados are a "superfood," and contain the following:
Vitamin K
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Folate
Potassium
Magnesium
Niacin (B3)
Pantothenic Acid (B5)
Riboflavin (B2)
Pyridoxine (B6)
I love avocados! So, any excuse to add them to my diet...I am all for it! But, I never thought that I could have Avocados in my dessert. That's why this is one of my favorite recipes to share with you. I know that you will be shocked at how good this tastes, and it's a great little trick to sneak some extra healthy nutrients into a scrumptious dessert.
Some tips about this chocolate avocado pudding:
You do need to make sure that the avocado is ripe. If it is under ripe, and watery or stringy it wont work because it just won't blend right. It won't get that creamy texture we are going for. An overripe avocado (brown and mushy) won't work either, it has an "off" taste that will make the pudding unpleasant. So, try and find an avocado that is ripe. Any variety will work, but Hass avocados seem to work the best.
Get creative, and add as much honey as you think you need and you can always vary the amount of cacao powder to your liking.
Store in the refrigerator after making.
Recipe for Avocado Pudding
2 ripe avocados
1/4 cup raw cacao powder
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 tablespoon vanilla
dash sea salt
Put all ingredients in the Vita-Mix (or Blender) and blend.
Stop to scrape down sides (Make sure to lick the spoon) : )
Blend again until warm if you would like. This can happen in a Vita-Mix if you let it blend for a minute or two. If you are using a blender it will not heat up, that's the benefit of a Vita-Mix.
You can Enjoy warm or cold. Make sure to Refrigerate any leftovers right away.
Enjoy! Healthy Fats + Fiber for dessert! You are welcome. : )
Dr. Lundquist
(Thanks to Melissa Moreno for the great recipe)