Chocolate Tofu Smoothie: So Good You Won’t Believe it’s Healthy!

It’s a constant dilemma – that love for all things chocolate and the desire to eat healthy. On the one hand we want to trim that fat, lose that weight, get all lean and muscly. And then on the other… chocolate. I mean, why can’t we have both? Well, we’re letting you in on a secret, and that secret is chocolate tofu smoothie!

Wait, what?

We hear the gasps. Half of you are curious, ready to accept any excuse to combine the words ‘chocolate’ and ‘healthy’ together. The other half are thinking, ewww… tofu? Yes, that’s right. This soft silken ingredient usually used in soups, or stir fried and eaten with other savoury dishes is what gives this chocolate tofu smoothie that rich, creamy feeling without the guilt. And if you regularly drink soya bean milk or eat tau fu fah, then the flavour profile of this smoothie is not going to be oddly alien to you. Still trying to wrap your head around this? Think of a yummy cold chocolate drink. It’s dark and rich, a little sweet and delicious. Then bring to it just the tiniest hint of soy, subtle and kind of pleasant. Can you picture it?

Yes? Great! No? Well, there’s no need to take our word for it. All you need is five ingredients to make this decadent-tasting yet healthy and protein-boosting drink. And if you’re the kind who works out, our chocolate tofu smoothie is kind of like a protein shake with none of that questionable protein powder. Your body is a temple after all, and this temple wants chocolate!

All the good stuff

Because of its fairly mild flavour, silken tofu is a great way to thicken up and add an extra protein boost to your smoothie. It’s an especially great ingredient if you’re lactose intolerant or if you’re vegan (just use soy milk instead of regular milk so it complements the flavour of the tofu). Besides being an excellent source of protein, tofu also contains all the nine essential amino acids. It is also contains iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, zinc and vitamin B1 – all good things for your body. Naturally gluten-free and low in calories, tofu also contains no cholesterol. There are some concerns that a high intake of soy can impact fertility. However, one would need to consume a heck of a lot of soy in order to make this happen. A glass of this chocolate tofu smoothie every once in a while should not make any impact.

Cocoa powder – the other key ingredient in our chocolate tofu smoothie – is also packed with goodness. 100% pure cocoa powder is full of antioxidants, can help lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart attacks, just be sure to get the kind that’s devoid of sugar or any other additives. Polyphenols contained in cocoa are believed to help improve brain function, while flavanols improves one’s mood, helps with symptoms of depression and even type 2 diabetes! Clearly we all need more chocolate in our lives!

Some milk and honey

If you’re using regular cow’s milk, then you’ll know it’s a great source of calcium and vitamin D, both of which are important for preventing osteoporosis. The vitamin D in milk also produces serotonin, which helps lift the mood, can reduce chronic fatigue and reduce the effects of PMS. While potassium, on the other hand, is great for reducing blood pressure. However, milk also contains saturated fat and cholesterol. So, if you’re looking after your cholesterol levels or are lactose intolerant or vegan, we recommend swapping regular milk for soy milk. Other types of milk may clash with the flavours of the silken tofu.

For a little sweetness, this recipe calls for honey. Raw organic 100% honey is the best kind as it has lots of antioxidants as well as antifungal and antibacterial properties. Honey can also soothe a sore throat, and help with digestive issues. The level of nutrients and health properties of honey varies from one type to another, however, diabetics should consume honey with caution, as it still contains a significant amount of sugar. Alternatively, swap honey for some pure maple syrup. It’ll give your chocolate tofu smoothie a deeper, more caramelized flavour.

Just a pinch of magic

Our recipe for chocolate tofu smoothie contains a little pinch of magic – dried chili flakes. The Aztecs used to mix chocolate with chili and other seasonings to make a warm, spicy drink, and there is no denying that this ancient tradition gives this drink a lovely heat and kick without being actually pedas. Plus, did you know that dried chili flakes can also boost your metabolism, as well as reduce feelings of hunger or pain? This is next level stuff for some humble cili kering! Chili flakes also contains antioxidants and contains properties to fight prostate cancer cells, making our chocolate tofu smoothie a pretty darn healthy drink in all aspects.

So are you ready for a rich and creamy, chocolatey drink with a little kick? Let’s go make some right now.

Ingredients

• 170g silken tofu
• 180ml (3/4 cup) milk or soy milk
• 50g (2 tbsp) pure honey or maple syrup
• 32g (4 tbsp) unsweetened cocoa powder
• Pinch chili flakes

Making chocolate tofu smoothie

1. Add silken tofu, milk, honey and unsweetened cocoa powder to a blender.

2. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides occasionally to ensure the cocoa powder is evenly mixed through.
3. Serve while still cold with a pinch of chili flakes for that extra special kick.

Extra tips

1. Opt for non GMO silken tofu if you’re worried about the potential effects of GMO food.
2. Get all your ingredients ready before bringing out your silken tofu and milk from the fridge or they will warm up and your chocolate tofu smoothie won’t be as delicious.
3. Temperature is key to making delicious smoothies – you want it cold! If you can’t get your ingredients cold enough, add a little bit of ice during the blending process. Don’t add too much or it will water down your smoothie. Alternatively, serve your smoothie in a cup or glass filled with ice to keep it cool.
4. Different types of honey vary in sweetness. Adjust the amount as needed.
5. This smoothie has a rich, dark chocolate flavour. If you’re more of a milk chocolate kind of person, feel free to reduce the amount of chocolate powder and adjust it to your liking.
6. A high-powered blender will make the process of blending your smoothies faster, ensuring it remains cold once the blending process is complete. However, not everyone can afford to fork out a pretty penny for one those blenders. We used the Philips ProBlend 5, which crushes ice faster than your usual blender. However, as this recipe doesn’t contain any hard ingredients, a regular blender should suffice.
7. Blender cleaning tip: add a drop of dishwashing liquid into the blender and fill it with about 1/5^th to ¼ of water. Give it a few pulses to clean your blades and the bottom of the blender much more easily. Don’t ‘blend’ the water for too fast or for too long though or you may end up with overflowing foam instead!