This rich, creamy chocolate custard is a healthier take on a classic Italian budino, minus the dairy.
Better yet, it’s a treat with some powerful ingredients to boost cardiovascular health. Olive oil reduces heart disease risk and walnuts reduce total and LDL cholesterol while providing anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats that benefit the whole body.
The powerful phytochemicals in chocolate are sure to leave you feeling uplifted as well. For example, cacao contains tryptophan which is a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin that makes us feel happy. Chocolate also contains phenylethylamine, the chemical our brains release when we’re in love.
I know you’ll enjoy this recipe as much as I do!
Wishing you health and happiness,
Mark Hyman, MD
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There are few foods that wouldn’t benefit from a dash of salt and pepper—but Spicewell has added even more benefits. They’ve taken the classic staples of salt and pepper and made them functional and nutrient-dense by adding 21 vitamins and minerals—all sourced from organic vegetables like kale, broccoli, and maitake mushrooms. They’re lower in sodium and blended with ingredients like ashwagandha, which helps the body cope with stress, and turmeric, one of my favorite anti-inflammatories. Spicewell also makes a Sustainable Sea Salt that’s dried on limestone so it’s higher in minerals like magnesium and potassium. I love using it as the finishing touch on my meals and it adds the perfect pop to the Chocolate Olive Oil Mousse I’m sharing with you today. Use this link to try it out, and they’ll also give you a FREE jar of their sustainable, hand-harvested sea salt if you enter the code MARKSKITCHEN.
Ingredients:
- 4 pasture-raised eggs, yolks and whites separated
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons coconut sugar, powderered (run through a food processor or blender to powder)
- 1 cup almond milk, unsweetened
- 1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut cream, unsweetened
- 3 tablespoons arrowroot powder
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, unsweetened
- ¼ teaspoon Spicewell Sea Salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 ounces 100% dark chocolate, chopped
- ½ cup raw walnuts
- ¼ teaspoon Spicewell New Pepper
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Spicewell Sea Salt (optional for topping)
- Cacao nibs (optional for topping)
Method:
1. Begin by making the mousse. Separate egg yolks and place in a large mixing bowl; reserve the whites for the candied walnuts. Whisk the yolks with ½ cup powdered coconut sugar until they turn pale yellow.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm up almond milk and coconut cream, stirring for about 3 minutes, until mixture has reached a boil. Remove from heat.
3. Add some of the warm milk to the arrowroot until all clumps have dissolved and transfer back to the saucepan.
4. Temper the eggs: whisk the cream mixture gradually into the egg yolk mixture, stirring constantly. Pour egg yolk and cream mixture back into the saucepan and add the cocoa powder, sea salt, and vanilla extract.
5. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula, making sure the corners of the saucepan are not burning. This mixture should turn into a custard consistency thick enough to coat a spoon. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and press through a fine mesh strainer into a large mixing bowl. Whisk in the chopped chocolate pieces until melted, then divide among 6 separate serving bowls. Set aside for 10 minutes before covering and transferring to the refrigerator for 40 minutes.
7. Make the candied walnuts by preheating the oven to 250°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a quarter of the egg whites in a small mixing bowl and whisk for 30 seconds. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of coconut sugar, black pepper, and walnuts and mix.
8. Drain walnuts in a mesh sieve and arrange a single layer on lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven, flip walnuts, and bake for another 15 minutes. Remove walnuts from the oven and let cool.
9. Remove bowls from the refrigerator, drizzle with olive oil, and add the walnuts and the optional salt and cacao nibs.
Nutritional analysis per serving: Calories: 283, Total Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 62mg, Fiber: 2g, Protein: 6g, Carbohydrates: 18g, Sodium: 109mg, Sugars: 11g, Net Carbs: 16g