Healthy Sweet Bites
The other day I was at my brother's house; Cody (his roommate-my dear friend) asked:
Do you think this crème fraiche would taste good with some dark chocolate? So I said: Actually that makes me think of caramelized pears, dark chocolate ganache and crème fraiche! What else do we need for that? He asks. The pear you have in the fridge I say, the almonds in the freezer, coconut milk-have any?, cinnamon and that dark chocolate you have in your hand, ohh some ghee or coconut oil and honey for an additional touch of sweetness.
You name it I have it says Cody, even the some coconut milk left over from the other day!
Awesome I say, in just 20 minutes we ended up making this super tasty dessert! Guess what? Cheap, health supportive nutritious and adaptable for vegans, even diabetics if you make sure it is consumed in moderation and that there is no added sugar in the chocolate.
So let's go over the ingredients:
-1 pear (preferably asian and ripe, otherwise any pear will work) cut in wedges.
-1/2 cup coconut milk
-150 grs chopped dark chocolate
-1/2 tsp cinnamon
-1 tbsp ghee or coconut oil
-3 tbsp chopped almonds
- 1 tbsp crème fraiche to garnish.
- 1 tbsp raw honey
The crème fraiche can be omitted if you are trying to avoid dairy or are vegan. Don't add the honey and you practically have a medicine for insulin resistance and related disease.
Healthy fats, protein, and cinnamon are all foods that help regulate blood sugar.
Almonds are high in copper, zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, and have been proven to regulate blood cholesterol and blood sugar if consumed with moderation.
Coconut oil is another wonder of nature; various studies have shown how it benefits insulin resistance and diabetes as it slows down the entrance of sugars in the blood stream and helps the pancreas secrete insulin.
Cinnamon is now-a-day medicated in capsules to lower glucose and triglycerides. (Not only regulates blood sugar, but cinnamon also will add a sweet flavor to our dessert).
Pears are also a good choice among fruits since they are low in carbohydrates and very high in fiber, things you want to find in a snack for a diabetic.
Believe me I could keep on going with the health benefits, but I guess you want to get your hands dirty!
Preparation:
Heat a pan and add the ghee or coconut oil, sauté the pears until brown. If you need add some water to help soften the pears, it will eventually evaporate and you will still get the browning.
In a separate pan toast the almonds and be careful not to let them burn; that way you keep their fats good and healthy. Set aside and let cool down.
In a sauce pan add the coconut milk, heat it up and add the chopped chocolate. Don't let it boil. Chocolate fats are very sensitive and will burn if you go over 50 degrees (Celsius). When you have a smooth ganache (thick chocolate sauce) turn of the heat and set aside.
As you can see in the picture I used a big plate and served for all my friends, we like to share, that's one of the nice things about cooking.
Place the pears on your plate, cover with the chocolate ganache and finish with the toasted almonds and cinnamon. If you are not vegan or can afford a little sweetener garnish with a small scoop of crème fraiche and drizzle with honey. Hope you enjoy it.
SALUD