Call me Ishmael. Some years ago -- never mind how long precisely -- having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on menus, I thought I would wander about a little and see the vegan part of the world. Desserts, that is....
The tale that follows is one of monomaniacal desire, a crazed leader taking her followers on a journey toward a singular end. She will succeed or perish...well, at worst she'll get hungry, but like really hungry.
My crazed pursuit for a delicious vegan chocolate pudding recipe has finally ended, and all that remains is an empty cup and well licked spoon. It started when I enjoyed the chocolate pudding at M Cafe de Chaya, a macrobiotic lunch spot I used to frequent. It's vegan and wonderful. Dark and luscious, but without the rich heft of a pot au creme, it was the perfect way to end a meal. Over my trips there I've sussed out the important ingredients: arrowroot, kuzu, and maple syrup. The first two replace what heated eggs and cream do in a true pudding, providing the thick texture. The maple syrup is the sugar replacement, giving the pudding a deeper yet subtler sweetness. After many failed attempts, and many returns to learn the nuances of the recipe, I've figured it out. The best part is it's completely open to tweaking: espresso flavored, cayenne pepper and cinnamon, raspberry and rose, whatever you want. Enjoy!
note: kuzu starch and arrowroot can be found in most health food stores.
2 cups chocolate almond milk
1 tablespoon Kuzu starch
2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Valrhona; if you use a lower quality cocoa, you may need to use a little more)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons maple syrup
small pinch of salt
Mix the kuzu with two tablespoons of almond milk until dissolved in a small bowl and set aside. Mix the arrowroot powder, cocoa powder, and salt together in a medium size saucepan. Make sure there are not lumps. Add about 1 cup of almond milk and maple syrup, and mix until thoroughly combined with no lumps. Stir in the rest of the almond milk and simmer over medium heat, stirring continuously. Add the kuzu and blend until thickened. This will happen quickly, so keep your eye on it. Take it off of the heat and add in the vanilla. Pour into desired containers, cover with a bit of plastic wrap (touching the top of the pudding) and chill in the fridge for several hours. When it's set, it will probably look separated, meaning a chocolate solid with clear liquid around it. Do not fear! Just stir it vigorously and you will have a luscious, thick, pudding.
note: kuzu starch and arrowroot can be found in most health food stores.
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