Chickpeas and dates chocolate cake

Version française disponible ici !

Well! I will try to remain polite by just saying that I have been pleasantly surprised!

If I propose you a cake without butter (without any kind of dairy product actually!) without fat added whatever it is, without flour and sugar, are you interested? Mmmmh, not really right? And if I show you this beautiful chocolate cake, are you at least intrigued?

Yes it’s true, this delicious cake contains chickpeas and dates!

It was while I was taking a look at the blog “Avocat & chocolat” (in French) (you must look at it if you don’t know it!) that I stumbled upon this recipe that made me curious: “Chickpeas and dates chocolate cake”. As everything I find intriguing about cooking, I need to try… and here is the result! A beautiful fondant cake that for sure will impress your guests (and your taste buds;)!

Without waiting a minute more, here is the recipe:

• 370g rinsed and drained chickpeas
• 2 eggs
• 200g well dark chocolate
• 100g dates (weight without stones)
• 180ml water
• 1 packet of baking powder (or 11g)
• 1 tbs vanilla aroma

For the finishing touch

• Bitter cacao powder or icing sugar (optional)

We start with our “sugar”:

So first remove stones from dates to get 100g of fruits. Boil the water and dig in the dates for 5 minutes (heat off).

In the meantime, melt the chocolate on a low heat.

Then, blend everything little by little:

1. Pour the dates and their water into the bowl of the blender and add the melted chocolate – blend;
2. Add the first half of chickpeas – blend;
3. Add an egg – blend;
4. Add vanilla and baking powder – blend;
5. Add the 2^nd half of chickpeas – blend;
6. Add the last egg – blend;

COOKING

Pour the mixture into a plain round baking tin covered with some parchment paper and bake for 30 minutes at 180°C.

At the end, a beautiful cake with nice cracks on it (I’m fond of cracks – a cake with cracks is inevitably good to me :p).

Let it cool down in its own time on a wire rack before removing the cake from the tin.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Just before serving, sprinkle some icing sugar or some bitter cacao powder on it. I tried both, I validate both :p

I though I could serve the cake with some vanilla ice cream… but it was before tasting it! Nothing to add to this cake, you just have to taste it now :)

The dietary info of the day!

For those who have anaemia as I do, I just have to say: get a move on! With the same quantity, cooked chickpeas contain as much iron as grilled entrecote of beef, a perfect way for a good nutrient boost :D

Rose.