Looking for a warm, sweet, rich comforting beverage to enjoy that won't ruin your healthy diet? This hot carob-almond drink is a recipe that I created when my children were young. I was looking for an alternative to hot chocolate, that would be free of caffeine, and saturated fat, and not have too many added sugars. Because this recipe uses carob, which is naturally sweet instead of bitter like cocoa, only 1 TBS of maple syrup and 20 drops of stevia extract are sufficient to sweeten two generous mugs. The combination of chia seeds and guar gum, makes this rich and thick without loading up on calories, fat nor processed starches. An added bonus -- carob is less expensive to buy than cocoa -- ESPECIALLY cocoa that is free of the tarnish of child slave labor.
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup raw almonds (not chemically pasteurized)
1 TBS raw chia seeds
1/4 tsp guar gum
20 drops of liquid stevia extract*
3 TBS carob powder
1 TBS maple syrup
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup raw almonds (not chemically pasteurized)
1 TBS raw chia seeds
1/4 tsp guar gum
20 drops of liquid stevia extract*
3 TBS carob powder
1 TBS maple syrup
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
1) Blend the almonds with 1 cup of water on high in a powerful blender until you see nothing but white liquid. Then add the remaining 1 1/2 cups of water and blend again.
2) With the blender turning on the lowest speed possible, add the chia seeds and allow to mix slowly for 1 minute. This will allow the seeds to swell up a bit. THEN you can process on high for at least another minute, until seeds are well incorporated.
3) Add the stevia extract, carob powder, maple syrup and vanilla, and blend one last time really well. Then transfer mixture to a saucepan and warm it on low until it gets hot -- but do not allow it to boil. Pour immediately into mugs and serve.
Makes two generous servings.
1) Blend the almonds with 1 cup of water on high in a powerful blender until you see nothing but white liquid. Then add the remaining 1 1/2 cups of water and blend again.
2) With the blender turning on the lowest speed possible, add the chia seeds and allow to mix slowly for 1 minute. This will allow the seeds to swell up a bit. THEN you can process on high for at least another minute, until seeds are well incorporated.
3) Add the stevia extract, carob powder, maple syrup and vanilla, and blend one last time really well. Then transfer mixture to a saucepan and warm it on low until it gets hot -- but do not allow it to boil. Pour immediately into mugs and serve.
Makes two generous servings.
| |  *I have found a great deal of difference in the taste of different brands of stevia extract. I much prefer Wisdom Brand (Sweet Leaf) Stevia Clear -- but be careful as they make a number of flavored extracts -- none of which provide as much sweetening power as the plain unflavored stevia clear. |
