CHIA PUDDING WITH CHOCOLATE PANNA COTTA

Ingredients

Chia Pudding

2 tbsp. chia seeds

1/2 cup coconut milk, and extra to drizzle on top if you desire

1 tsp. vanilla essence or vanilla powder

2 tbsp. collagen (optional, though added for extra protein so you are more satisfied)

your choice of fruit to add, I use thawed raspberries

1/4 cup toasted macadamia nuts

1/2 to 1 tsp. of optional tonic herbs — I added Sun Potion Lion's Mane, as the taste is mild and it is traditionally used to support mood and focus

Chocolate Panna Cotta

2 tbsp. cacao powder

2 tsp. gelatin*

1/4 cup filtered water

1 270 ml can of coconut cream

1 tbsp. coconut oil

10-15 drops of liquid stevia

1-2 tbsp. monk fruit sweetener or sweetener of your choice such as honey (every sweetener and all taste buds are different, so ensure you do this to taste)

1 tsp. vanilla essence or 1 vanilla bean

pinch of salt

*if you are vegetarian, the gelatin can be replaced with an alternative like agar

Method

for Chia Pudding

Combine all of the ingredients leaving out the raspberries, macadamia nuts and extra coconut milk

Stir until well combined and allow the chia seeds to absorb all of the liquid

Top with the Chocolate Panna Cotta, thawed raspberries, macadamia nuts and an extra drizzle of coconut milk

for Panna Cotta

Combine the gelatin and water and set aside for the gelatin to 'bloom'

Add to a saucepan or Thermomix all the other ingredients

Once the gelatin has bloomed (which means expanded and absorbed the water), add it to the saucepan or Thermomix

Heat on a low to medium heat, 175 degrees F (roughly 80 degrees Celsius) until the gelatin has dissolved and melted through, continually stirring taste the mix and ensure it is sweet, chocolatey or salty enough for you

Adjust anything to suit your taste buds

Give the mixture a two second whizz in a heat proof blender, or just use a fork or whisk to give it a good stir to ensure everything is well combined

Pour the mix into silicon muffin moulds or your choice of ramekins, glass jar, mugs or a lined cake tin with baking paper keep it plain, or drop in any preferred additions such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries or figs

If you would like to sit the fruit on top, you will need to allow it to set in the fridge for roughly 10 minutes first to set just slightly place in the fridge until firm enough to enjoy

Enjoy every decadent mouthful...

...More on Lion's Mane from Sun Potion

Lion's Mane, known scientifically as Hericium erinaceus, is a functional mushroom with a long history of traditional use. It is one of the more distinctive-looking mushrooms in the tonic herb world — a cascade of soft white spines rather than a cap and stem.

In traditional practice it has been valued as a nourishing tonic, and today it is most often reached for to support mental clarity and focus.

Its mild, faintly savoury flavour is part of why it works so well folded into food — it disappears into a chia pudding, a coffee or a broth without competing with anything else.