It’s Valentine’s Day this week, and you know what that means. It’s the time for getting super irritated with all the chocolate wrapped in tons of plastic and made with gobs of sugar and palm oil. Well, at least you know what NOT to get me for special holidays…
Valentine’s Day is actually a pretty special holiday for me. It was the first holiday I navigated after creating ZooFit, and the first time I was able to put my principles of Eating Green to the test. And it worked like a charm.
But it’s hard for us humans to resist temptation that is right in front of us. Especially if we have a special place in our hearts for chocolate. There are plenty of options for you if chocolate is your valentine’s favorite treat.
First, if you are short on time and need a last minute idea, my go-to for chocolate is Endangered Species brand chocolates. A special treat which gives back to conservation? Talk about a win-win.
However, there isn’t anything particularly romantic about buying chocolate from the store. To me, the most romantic gesture is making something from scratch. And making it heart-healthy, and planet-friendly to boot makes it even more special.
For this week’s recipe, I’m going to share with you the magic of my Pomegranate Torte. It’s Paleo-friendly, Keto-friendly, vegan, and seasonal. And for all you eco-fighters AND lovers out there, this recipe is virtually waste-free.
The ingredients make this dessert the absolute best choice for creating a romantic setting. First and foremost, you have chocolate. Dark chocolate, when consumed in moderation, like wine, is very good for our hearts. But more than being good for you, dark chocolate has been shown to release dopamine, the happy hormone which makes us feel good.
To make this no-bake torte paleo and keto-friendly, we need to replace the flour. Luckily, almonds are a great heart-healthy alternative. For ages, almonds were believed to improve sexual stamina. Unfortunately, almonds are not exactly the most eco-friendly ingredient on the planet currently, but by getting it in the bulk food section, you can at least reduce some of your impact. Plus, this is just about the only “bad boy” in the recipe, and who doesn’t like to be just a little naughty on Valentine’s Day?
And finally, we have our main attraction for this dessert- pomegranate. A deep, sensual red in color, pomegranates are good for blood flow, which means it’s a great treat for Valentine’s Day. Pomegranate has also been called “Aphrodite’s fruit”. What more do we need to say? Besides, this is the perfect season for pomegranate, usually available from October to February in the northern hemisphere.
So bring all these ingredients together and you have the makings for the perfect romantic treat. Make a day or two ahead of time, and enjoy the seductive fruits of your easy-breezy skills in the kitchen.
Pomegranate Torte
INGREDIENTS
Crust
- 2 cups (192g) blanched almond flour
- ¼ cup (21g) cacao powder
- ⅓ cup (67g) coconut oil, melted
- Pinch of sea salt
Filling
- ½ cup (114g) canned full-fat coconut milk
- ¼ cup pure pomegranate juice
- 8 oz. (170g) dark chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
INSTRUCTIONS
- Lightly grease an 8 or 9-inch pan with a removable bottom with coconut oil.
- In a bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the crust and stir together until fully combined. Press evenly along the bottom and up the sides of the prepared tart pan. Place in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
- Combine coconut milk and pomegranate juice in a small saucepan, and bring just to a boil. Place the chocolate pieces in a large bowl and pour hot coconut milk mixture over chocolate. Let sit for a minute, then whisk until smooth and creamy. Pour the filling over the prepared crust.
- Garnish the top with pomegranate seeds.
- Place tart in the refrigerator to set, about 1 to 2 hours. Slice and serve to your valentine or good friend, and enjoy.
This is super tasty!