My little son is a big fan of chocolate in any size, shape or form – so this heavenly Spiced Indian Hot Chocolate recipe was really his brainchild & doing! As a mother, it’s really wonderful to watch him grow & take a serious interest in food/cooking. He actually enjoys creating new flavor combinations & playing with different ingredients in the kitchen. It’s a mother dream’s come true – her very own personal sous chef ☺.

In moderation, unsweetened chocolate (especially dark chocolate) is considered healthy & beneficial in many ways. In fact, the higher the actual pure cocoa content – the better it is for you health-wise. For starters, chocolate is just packed with antioxidants! A diet high in antioxidants will reduce one’s risk for various cancers, strokes or even a heart attack. Dark chocolate is even thought to aid in the natural lowering of cholesterol. Chocolate also contains trace amounts of various minerals such as copper, magnesium iron & calcium. In addition, chocolate is a very good source of Vitamins A, B, C and E. In regards to one’s overall well-being, chocolate is a well known natural mood enhancer & will raise your spirits if you’re feeling down.

When the weather outside gets chilly, a steaming hot cup of Spiced Indian Hot Chocolate will surely warm you up from head to toe ☺.


SPICED INDIAN HOT CHOCOLATE (makes 4 delicious cups)

Ingredients:

4 cups of whole milk
(you can use soy or almond milk as well)
1 cinnamon stick
8 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
3 ounces dark chocolate (or bittersweet chocolate), finely chopped
¼ tsp ground cardamom powder
¼ tsp ground allspice
pinch of ground ginger
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
pinch of red chili powder, to taste (optional)
small pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup sugar, to taste

METHOD:

In a medium saucepan on medium heat, combine the milk with the cinnamon stick. Gently heat the milk but do not allow it to come to a boil. When the milk is hot, add in the chocolate (both the cocoa powder & finely chopped dark chocolate). Whisk well to dissolve the chocolate completely & then add in the rest of the spices (ground cardamom powder, ground allspice, ground ginger, freshly grated nutmeg, red chili powder & salt). Mix well to combine & add in the vanilla extract & sugar. Bring the hot chocolate to a gentle simmer & then carefully pour into cups. Serve hot & enjoy!


VARIATIONS:

Feel free to top your hot chocolate with some whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles, mini marshmallows….


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