Chocolate has a lot of great health benefits, including flavonoids and many other micronutrients. But the fat and sugar content in chocolate makes it a "no go" for those of us on low-carb diets. However, the good news is that you don't have to give up chocolate entirely!
Unsweetened cocoa powder is a valuable addition to many recipes. It may seem strange to use cocoa powder in savory recipes, but remember, cocoa powder is the key ingredient in mole sauce. (And mole sauce is delicious!)
Here are a few ways you can have your cake and eat it too, so to speak.
Cocoa Rub
Over the weekend I visited a friend's house for dinner, and she served a pork tenderloin with a cocoa rub. It was delicious! She used this recipe, but left out the sugar. Just mix the cocoa powder with salt, cumin, garlic powder, and chipotle powder. Rub it into your meats before roasting for a dark, savory crust.
Cocoa Spiced Beef Stir Fry
Cocoa powder gives this otherwise typical stir fry recipe an interesting new taste dimension. Stir fry beef and vegetables along with a mix of cocoa powder, soy sauce, and ground ginger. To finish this low-carb meal, serve it over quinoa - or make extra, skip the carb-y base, and just eat a plate of the yummy stuff!
Spicy Cocoa Sloppy Joes
I am really intrigued by this recipe. Obviously I would not serve it over a bun, but either over quinoa, or just on its own. (Yum!) This interesting sloppy joe recipe is made with ketchup, dry mustard, black pepper, chopped onion, chili powder, salt, and a generous amount of cocoa powder. Sounds delicious!
Slow Cooker Black Bean Chili
The slow cooker is near and dear to my heart, and this chili recipe is not only low carb (relatively speaking - beans are a somewhat contentious issue; use your own judgment). It also includes a tablespoon of chili powder and a teaspoon each of cocoa powder and cumin, for a spicy kick.
Image courtesy Flickr/gurke
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