Chai Spiced Tofu Pudding with Date Caramel
‘Tofu pudding’? ‘Date caramel’? I hear your scepticism and it’s valid, but trust me on this! Aside from the health benefits which I’ll get into further on, this truly does taste delicious and the texture is just **Chefs Kiss**. Especially cold from the fridge on a warm day, or after a sweaty run! It’s super simple to make and really versatile – you can flavour it however you want! Next on my list to try is a chocolate orange version.
So what are the health benefits – first off tofu is a fantastic source of plant-based protein which means unlike other puddings this will keep you feeling fuller for longer and help maintain stable blood sugars. The chia seeds and berries bring fibre which also helps manage blood sugars. Combining protein and fibre is a great tool to prevent high blood sugar after eating, which is key for managing diabetes. Soy is also great for heart health, especially for post-menopausal women who are at an increased risk of heart disease.
This date caramel is also very healthy as it is packed with fibre and uses almond butter, which is a great source of healthy fats. Healthy fats are great for stabilising blood sugars as they slow the digestion of carbohydrates. Nuts are great for lowering bad cholesterol and are packed with beneficial micronutrients including antioxidants.
Whether you are managing lifestyle-related conditions such as T2DM, high blood pressure or high cholesterol or simply want to eat to live your full life, this pudding needs to be on your regular meal plan!
Ingredients
Pudding
1 block of silk tofu approx. 300-360g
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tbsp honey/male syrup/golden syrup
½ - 1 tsp chai spice – optional, you can leave it out or use a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom instead
1 tsp chia seeds – optional but increases the fibre and healthy fats
1 scoop chocolate protein powder (optional, completely fine to leave out)
Date caramel
3 big Medjool dates
3 TBS boiling water
1 Tbs almond butter – peanut butter or tahini would work as well.
Topping
Berries or flaked almonds
Method
1. Take the stones out of the date and put them in a small bowl/ramekin and pour over the 3 Tbsp of just boiled water
2. Drain the tofu and pop in a blender/food processor with the chia seeds and blend. Add all the other pudding ingredients and blend again until smooth. You may need to stop the processer and scrape down the sides once or twice. Spoon the pudding mixture into 3-4 small dishes.
3. Back to the caramel – using a small spoon or fork, mash the dates to break them down and mix to combine with the water. Add the almond butter and mix well. Spoon ¼ of the caramel over each pudding.
Top with berries.
Place in the fridge to set for a few hours – I like it best the next day!
