• This quick and easy meal is dark and rich with cocoa, which is full of antioxidants
Image: FRANCO ZAIDI
One of the most popular foods in the world, chocolate is widely enjoyed as a liquid, solid, paste form or as a flavouring agent in other foods.
The main ingredient is cocoa, originally from the Americas but today largely produced in Africa. West African countries, such as Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, are the leading producers of cocoa, accounting for some 60 per cent of the world’s cocoa supply.
Chocolate does have a bad reputation for causing weight gain because of its high fat and sugar content, but it does have a number of health benefits, too, because of cocoa.
Cocoa is full of antioxidants, such as biologically active phenolic compounds. This type of antioxidant helps with lowering cholesterol levels, preventing cognitive decline and reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems.
The variation of other ingredients that are put in a chocolate bar may be of a health concern. Best to check the label if you want to be sure of the nutrients.
The higher the cocoa content, as in dark chocolate, the more benefits there are. Therefore, “white chocolate” isn’t really chocolate. It’s made up of a blend of cocoa butter, sugar, milk products, vanilla and a fatty substance called lecithin.
A small treat once in a while is great. One scrumptious example is a chocolate fudge brownie, which is dark and rich with cocoa.
Ingredients
185g of dark chocolate chopped
¾ cup of honey
125g butter chopped
1 cup (150g) of all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1tps vanilla extract
2/3 cup of coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)
Method
Preheat oven at 180°c.
Grease and line the base of a deep square pan.
Place chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl. Place over a pan of gently simmering water on low heat and stir till chocolate melts and mix smooth.
Remove from heat, stir in eggs, honey, vanilla extract, flour and walnuts.
Spoon-mix it into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 20-30min until sides shrink slightly from the pan.
Cool and cut into squares.
A chocolate satin frosting is optional, as well as a scoop of ice-cream.