I know that avocados are full of nutritional value. It's true they are a high-fat food, but it's the "good" kind of fat, you know the cholesterol-reducing kind of fat. Avocados are higher in protein than other kinds of fruit, containing about 4g on average. They are loaded with potassium (more than bananas), vitamins K, B, C, and E and about half of our recommended daily intake of fiber.
As if that wasn't enough, avocados have been shown to help reduce cholesterol, can reduce the risk of diabetes, stroke, coronary artery disease, and can help prevent cancer! That's enough to get me on the bandwagon. They also seem pretty versatile. Most people associate them with the traditional guacamole dip. However, they are an excellent substitute for butter or cream in thick, creamy desserts. They can be added to salads, wraps, sandwiches and sushi.
In fact, I've discovered that you can use avocados in almost ANY traditional dessert you can think of.
So I just had to try something. I'm a lover of chocolate. (That is going to become very evident throughout this blog, I'm sure). And I was craving a creamy, chocolatey dessert. I have a bag of mini Cadbury creme eggs sitting in my cupboard, which would no doubt satisfy that craving. But there is virtually NO nutritional value in them. Not to mention the fact that after an initial sugar rush, I usually end up crashing, and am zapped of energy. My teeth hurt after eating too much of those sugary treats, and I feel quite guilty about it as well.
Enter this gorgeous dessert!!
It's very simple to make, and all of the ingredients have some nutritional health benefits. It's super tasty, and very rich. So rich, in fact, that I only needed a small amount of it before I felt like my chocolate craving had been completely satisfied and I was full!
I found the original recipe HERE. But I made some of my own modifications because to me, it was a bit bitter from the cocoa powder. I added in a bit of honey and fat-free Greek vanilla yogurt to sweeten it up and make it a little more creamy. To top it off, I used a few raspberries and chopped walnuts as garnish. Also, because I used the Greek yogurt, there was no need for protein powder. (I'd rather get my protein from the avocado and the yogurt rather than a powder.)
I'm pretty sure this will be my go-to dessert from now on! Try it for yourself and you'll see why.
Take care,
S~
Avocado-Banana Mousse:
Makes 2 servings
Directions:
- Scoop out the contents of the avocado into a blender, food processor, or bullet. (I used a bullet)
- Add the banana.
- Mash the avocado and banana until smooth.
- Add the cacao, vanilla, cinnamon, honey and Greek yogurt. Mash again until everything is evenly mixed.
- Pour into a small dish and garnish with fresh raspberries and chopped walnuts.
other nuts
fat-free Cool Whip
baby spinach leaf