Heart Healthy Chocolate Hummus

Yep, you read it right, Chocolate Hummus. This was a great discovery for me because I love a little chocolate but it usually comes with too much sugar and fat.

Now we can enjoy all of the heart-healthy goodness of chocolate without the extra calories. Although this recipe does have some maple syrup, you could also use Medjool dates which will add sweetness as well as fiber.

This is a beautiful dessert served with organic strawberries (leave the little green tops on), pineapple or even melon. You could also serve it with pretzels.

One thing to keep in mind is that it doesn't get quite as smooth as you might hope, but I actually like a little bit of texture. Let me know what you think.

If your craving something sweet, try another plant-based dessert:

• Vegan Avocado Brownies
• Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies
• Avocado Tofu Chocolate Mousse
• Carrot Chia Pudding
• Spicy Molasses Bars

When preparing to make this chocolate hummus, be sure to rinse the chickpeas first. You'll want them to stay at room temperature, so use warm water when rinsing.

After draining, add them to the food processor along with the cacao powder, maple syrup, sea salt (optional), vanilla and non-dairy milk. Process the ingredients for a few seconds, scraping down the sides and adding the milk a few tablespoons at a time until you reach a thick, but dippable consistency.

For the non-dairy milk, I prefer to use some from my homemade almond milk recipe or even a nut or grain milk, which you can learn in my article on How to Make Delicious Homemade Nut, Seed and Grain-Based Milk.

How is this dessert Heart Healthy?

For starters, dark chocolate is high in flavonoids and according to studies, people who eat more chocolate have lower rates of heart attacks, heart failure, and even death from heart disease.

In addition, people who ate chocolate one to three times per month were about 10 percent less likely to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation than those who ate the sweet treat less than once a month, researchers found.

And, let's not forget about how good chickpeas are! They help lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and inflammation as well as provide several heart-healthy nutrients. Also, because they're protein-rich, you will feel full and energized.

Even the little bit of tahini is beneficial for your heart because it also lowers harmful cholesterol levels The calcium and magnesium in tahini may also work to decrease blood pressure naturally.

Now, don't be shy about trying this unusual combination of flavors. If it helps, add even a little more sweetener or even Stevia if you like your desserts sweeter. I tested it recently and all of my guests seemed to like it.

This Chocolate Hummus is a quick treat that is guilt-free (in moderation), and can be enjoyed as a dip, a spread, dessert or even used to top your pancakes!

I hope you'll give it a try and let me know what you think. Sometimes getting used to a new flavor can take a little time so give it a chance and I think you find like I did, that it's a delicious addition to a plant-based diet.

I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below for this Heart Healthy Chocolate Hummus recipe! If you have a photo, post it on my Instagram page, tag me using the hashtag #plantbasedcooking in your caption, and I won’t miss it!