Desserts
Carobella: A Delicious Vegan Alternative to Dulce de Leche
By Dada Shivananda
There are many health benefits to including carob in your diet. Carob is excellent for individuals with high blood pressure due to its high fiber content and absence of caffeine. It also serves as a delightful dietary addition or chocolate substitute for those looking to lose weight, thanks to its low-fat content. Historically, carob syrup was used in ancient Egypt as a sweetener, and today it is widely utilized in the Middle Eastern region.
Carobella has a similar consistency and taste to “Dulce de leche,” a Brazilian favorite made with sweet condensed milk. This dessert even convinced my friend to turn vegetarian for a month. In 2018, I embarked on a trekking trip to Patagonia with a few friends. They chose to become vegetarian for the duration of our journey, as I promised to prepare all our meals. On the fourth day of trekking, after completing an extended 20 km walk, we washed up, engaged in collective meditation, and started preparing dinner.
I proposed making a vegan version of “Dulce de leche.” One of the students, Lucas, challenged me, stating that if I could create a vegan version that tasted just as good as the traditional Brazilian ones, he would turn vegetarian for 30 days. At the end of the meal, I presented this dessert as the grand finale. Everyone gave the dessert a resounding “horah” and agreed that it was a convincing substitute for dulce de leche. As a gentleman, Lucas honored his promise and went vegetarian for 30 days.
Carob is often used as an alternative to chocolate in many spiritual communities, as the caffeine in chocolate is considered a stimulant. Carob offers numerous health benefits, being naturally high in fiber without the effects of caffeine. Its high polyphenol content can help reduce high blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and decrease the risk of heart disease. Additionally, its low sugar and fat content make it an excellent dietary choice for weight loss. The high levels of vitamins, such as vitamins A and B-2, are beneficial for skin and eye health. In southern Portugal, raw carob fruits are even fed to horses for their health. It also serves as a powerful protein supplement for athletes.
Try this at home for your kids, and you will surely enjoy it, just as my friends have, who have been thoroughly impressed with Carobella. Once they taste its goodness, it won’t last long, as your kids and sweet-toothed partner will find it and finish it!
Carobella boasts a unique and tempting flavor. Hazelnuts, also known as cobnuts or filberts, are rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, and phytonutrients that relieve oxidative stress on cells, helping to prevent heart diseases, cancer, and neutralizing harmful free radicals. You can enjoy hazelnuts either raw or roasted; when roasted, they develop a mellow, sweeter character. However, like other nuts, they are high in fat, which means they can go rancid quickly; therefore, it is best to refrigerate them after purchase.
Prep Time30 min
Cook Time60 min
Total Time90 min
Servings8
Ingredients
- 1 cup hazelnuts with skin
- 1 cup carob powder
- 1 cup coconut milk or coconut cream (or 1 cup coconut milk powder)
- 1 cup rice syrup (coconut sugar, dark brown cane sugar, or molasses)
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin coconut oil (plus 1/4 cup for blending)
Dadaji Fusion RecipesTechnicalTime IntensiveBoilBlendBrain FoodAntioxidantGluten-FreeHigh ProteinSoy-FreeSugar-FreeYeast-FreeLow-CalLow-CarbVegan-NicedVegan
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