Include Dark Chocolate In Your Diet With These Easy Recipes

As compared to your regular chocolate, dark chocolate is way healthier. You may find it a little bitter but it is full of antioxidants that help you stay healthy and beautiful. Consuming dark chocolate everyday helps you deal with a number of health problems. It is loaded with nutrients that promote your overall health. Read along to know some health benefits of dark chocolate:

1. Dark chocolate has antioxidants such as flavonoids which are great for your heart. Eating dark chocolate regularly helps you prevent heart diseases.

2. The glycemic index of the dark chocolate is low and this is why the sugar present in it doesn’t affect the sugar level of the body.

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3. Dark chocolate reduces the bad cholesterol levels in the heart and arteries.

4. Dark chocolate leads to the production of endorphins in the body which helps in improving your mood.

5. A lot of studies suggest that dark chocolate has flavonoids which help in improving the blood flow to the brain and this helps in improving the eyesight.

6. Rich in minerals, dark chocolate is really helpful in maintaining the blood pressure level of the body.

Keep a dark chocolatebarhandy in your bag or prepare some delicious desserts using it. Chef Gaurav Wadhwa from Theos has shared two interesting dark chocolate recipes with us.

Dark Chocolate Mousse

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Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/8 teaspoon ground dried chipotle pepper
• 1 tiny pinch salt
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
• 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream, chilled

Directions:

Bring a saucepan of water to a simmer over low heat. Place dark chocolate, butter, 2 tablespoons water, ground chipotle pepper, and salt in a heatproof bowl; set bowl over the simmering water. When the butter melts, whisk the chocolate mixture gently until smooth and shiny. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.

Whisk egg yolks, 2 tablespoons water, and sugar in another heatproof bowl over the same pan of simmering water until egg yolk mixture is foamy and hot to the touch, about 3 minutes. Pour hot egg mixture into warm chocolate mixture, whisk until smooth, and set over a bowl of ice to chill. Whisk constantly until mixture has cooled to room temperature or slightly cooler. Don't Miss Prepare This Delicious Eggless Chocolate Cake At Home With This Easy Recipe

Pour 1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon cold cream into a chilled metal bowl; whisk until cream holds soft peaks. Place about half the whipped cream into the cooled chocolate mixture; gently fold the cream into the chocolate. Repeat with remaining half of whipped cream, folding gently until nearly all the streaks have disappeared. Divide mousse into 4 6-ounce ramekins. Cover each ramekin with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours (up to overnight) before serving.

Dark Chocolate Mud Cake

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Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour/Maida- 1 cup
• Granulated sugar (Brown/White) – ¾ cup
• Unsalted butter- ½ cup
• Unsweetened cocoa powder- ¼ cup
• Baking soda- ¾ tsp
• Baking powder- ½ tsp
• Eggs- 1 large egg and ½ of another egg
• Dark Chocolate ½ cup
• Instant coffee powder- ½ tbsp
• Hot water- ½ cup+2 tbsp
• Vanilla extract- ½ tbsp
• Salt- ¼ tsp
• For Dark Chocolate Ganache Frosting
• Fresh cream- 200ml
• Dark chocolate- 1½ cups/ 250g

Directions:

Prepare an 8”round cake tin by greasing with oil and place a piece of baking paper at the bottom of the pan.For the cake chop dark chocolate coarsely. In a microwave safe bowl add chopped chocolate and unsalted butter together, microwave on 60% power for one minute. Stop and whisk in between, that is after every 30 seconds. Keep aside when the chocolate melts completely. Add all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Whisk well and keep aside. Mix coffee powder with hot water and keep aside. In another bowl add sugar and cocoa powder, mix well. Add coffee mixture into this in 3 batches. Whisk well. Add vanilla extract and eggs. Add one egg at a time. Beat well. Preheat the oven to 175 C.

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