Easiest healthy chocolate psyllium pudding (plus decadent mousse variation)
Remember the irresistibility of those enticing, brightly marketed Jello pudding packs that brought so much joy as a kid? This recipe (and it’s variation) isn’t that. ;) But, you won’t care. Maybe you’ll even be thrilled (I was). Not only is it tasty—with the mousse version being sooooo gooood—this silky snack is packed with smooth, chocolatey flavor that brings on all the delightful nostalgia of childhood, plus truly nutritious benefits, too.
Rich, creamy, and comforting, chocolate pudding is right up there with fresh-baked cookies as one of those classic childhood treats. Memory does little to sugarcoat the content, though, that namely being all the sugar and preservatives that came with those store-bought treats. As much as I want to push back against toxic diet culture, I’m choosy about what my food and fuel. Lately, still getting adjusted to braces (not sure I ever really will?), psyllium smoothie-puddings have been a very good friend. Yumminess nutritious enough for breakfast is a double win in itself, and this one couldn’t be simpler to prepare. You need a little wait time to enjoy, but otherwise it’s as easy as adding psyllium to your favorite cacao smoothie.
Psyllium is one of those humble powerhouses whose modesty can result in it being sidelined as a joke. Rarely do I disclose that a dish is rich in psyllium without a little snicker and/or update on everyone’s regularity. When the dish I’m referring to happens to be brown, forget it! But psyllium is not to be overlooked. An excellent source of both soluble and insoluble, natural dietary fiber, psyllium is a stalwart ally for the entire gastrointestinal system and supports heart health, too. It’s also a natural thickener, transforming a basic smoothie blend into a silky–and healthy– pudding in a few hours with next to no effort. And, if you’re feeling a little more indulgence is in order, all it takes is a few simple swaps and a couple of addends to create a decadent, heavenly mousse.
A natural prebiotic, psyllium supports a healthy microbiome, promoting growth of beneficial microorganisms. I like Orgnic India’sPsyllium Pre & Probiotic Fiber products, which take this gentle but mighty supplement even further by blending in a classic, soothing Ayurvedic herb formula and powerful probiotics. Note, if you go this route, you need only 1/2 Tablespoon versus a full Tablespoon of Psyllium fiber—it’s potent stuff!
I’ve included cherries in my go-to chocolate psyllium pudding, but I left that out in the name since it’s the chocolate flavor that really comes through. Feel free to play with these easy pudding variations: swap in strawberries for cherries, go with banana as the only fruit, sprinkle in some Ceylon Cinnamon—go wild. You can even add in an extra handful of your favorite greens! All our ORGANIC INDIA Psyllium products are 100% certified organic and GMO Project Verified, free from synthetic chemicals and fillers and supporting regenerative agriculture, making your creations with them all the more heart healthy and happy.
Smoothie pudding--who knew?
No-Cook, Healthy Chocolate Cherry Psyllium Pudding
1 - 2 servings
1 small banana, ripe
3-4 cherries, fresh or frozen, pitted
1 Cup unsweetened almond or other plant milk of choice
2 Tablespoons cacao powder
½ Tablespoon ORGANIC INDIA Psyllium Pre Probiotic Fiber OR 1 ½ Tablespoons Whole Husk Psyllium
*Optional, a handful of baby spinach or other greens
Place all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth. Chill at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
No-Cook, Rich Chocolate Cherry Psyllium Mousse (seriously rich!)
2 servings
1 small banana, ripe
3-4 cherries, fresh or frozen, pitted
1 Cup coconut milk, preferably full fat
2 Tablespoons cacao powder
½ Tablespoon ORGANIC INDIA Psyllium Pre Probiotic Fiber OR 1 ½ Tablespoons Whole Husk Psyllium
½ Teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
¼ Cup dark chocolate, melted
1 - 2 plump Medjool dates, pitted, optional
Place all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth. Chill at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.