SUPERFOOD CHOCOLATE PISTACHIO BARK
It’s almost that time of year again…merry, merry, joy, joy! I love the holidays- starting with the big family Thanksgiving celebration right on into Christmas parties, tree decorating, and Santa Claus coming. With all of the merriment and temptation, it can be tough to stick to a clean eating plan, especially when it comes to sweets. Even though I am one of the few people out there that doesn’t have a sweet tooth, I know many people do and may struggle with the abundance of holiday treats.
Over the next 7 weeks, I am going to give you all some delicious, CLEAN, holiday-inspired recipes to help you survive the madness. As I always say to my clients, when you cook your own food, you are control!
Below is the recipe for one of my favorite dark chocolate treats that has holiday flair-green from the pistachios and red from the goji berries (sometimes I just use pistachios if I run out of goji berries, like seen in the picture). As far as nutrition goes, here are some of the awesome health-promoting benefits from the ingredients:
Cacao: a superfood rich in polyphenols, protective antioxidant compounds found in plants that have many health benefits, especially cardiovascular. In addition, cacao helps to enhance the production of feel-good chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine.
Coconut oil: a wonderful source of of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), which have been shown to benefit the brain health. MCFAs can help increase metabolism as they are go directly to the liver and provide the body with an immediate source of energy.
Pistachios: these lower calorie nuts (vs. other nuts) are high in potassium, K2 and vitamin B6. Like cacao, beneficial polyphenols in pistachios are released during digestion, making them readily available to the body.
Goji berries: Considered both a fruit and an herb, Goji berries are an excellent source of antioxidants and can help boost the immune system They are high in vitamin C and can lessen cold symptoms.
Superfood Chocolate Pistachio Bark
- 20 oz dark chocolate (85% cacao or higher)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1 cup pistachios, shelled and roasted
- 1/2 cup goji berries, optional
- 1/4- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, adjust according to your taste
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In a double boiler, slowly melt the chocolate over low heat. When chocolate completely melted, add coconut oil and melt. Remove from heat and add vanilla and sea salt. Fold in pistachios and goji berries and mix until well coated.
Spread the chocolate pistachio mixture over the prepared pan and smooth out until an even thickness. Freeze for at least 2 hours. Remove from freezer and break into pieces. Enjoy!
xo, jenni
