Here we are, another Monday! The last of my Mondays in Kingston for a while! Soon it’s off to the big, bad city ;) It was so nice to spend the last weekend at home, not working! I got to relax, see some friends and get stuff done. I even bought myself my first ever young thai coconut and hacked it open. Oh man the water in those things is ridiculously delicious. I can’t wait to experiment with the meat!
Two more workdays, three at home then that’s it! With an early birthday celebration to boot. When you put it that way it sounds ridiculously close.
Thank you all for your great response to my guest post over at Go Bake Yourself on Saturday! It was so fun to write for a little of a different audience and show people how delicious healthy is. If you haven’t checked it out, please do so here. I shared a recipe for Raw Pineapple Shortbread bars that are a great way to say goodbye to summer. While I’m sad summer is over, I am so excited for the possibilities of fall. Plus you know what fall means? PUMPKIN. So pumped. In fact I may have already created a little something pumpkin-y. I just couldn’t resist!
Anyway, pumpkin is not what this post is about. What this post is about is chocolate. More specifically frozen chocolate delciousness.
When I decided to change up my diet for a while to kick this candida business to the curb, the thing I missed the most was smoothies. There’s something about blending up a frozen banana with other fruits, veggies and other add-ins that is like nothing else. I was missing it so much that I began to search for alternatives. I tried out a cranberry smoothie with an avocado for creaminess and while it was good, it wasn’t what I was looking for.
Then I happened upon something magical. Psyllium seed powder.
This stuff thickens and gels a mixture like crazy! Seriously- put in some almond milk and a few other powders with a little psyllium and you get this thick gel. As soon as I discovered these powers, I delved in a little deeper.
Psyllium seed is an amazing source of fiber. Just to give you an idea, psyllium husks contain 71g of fiber per 100g, whereas oat bran, a commonly recommended source of fiber contains only 5g per100g. Now you would never eat 100g of psyllium seed, but a little goes a long way! It helps us feel full for longer and helps clear out our digestive track. In this sense it is great for loads of different digestive issues including irritable bowl syndrome and ulcerative colitis. It has also been shown to improve many other aspects of health such as:
- reducing cholesterol
- prevents gallstones
- facilitates weight loss
- stabilizes blood sugar
- and even prevents against cancers like colon and breast!
I had so much fun playing with this ingredient! It doesn’t really have a taste so you can throw it in anything without worrying about a funny taste and when you toss in some ice, I swear, the texture is so similar to a smoothie made with a frozen banana. Almost milkshake-like. Throw in a little more ice. Well you’ve got yourself some ice cream. How cool is that?
Psyllium seed husks are available whole or in powdered form. In this recipe I used the powder so I’m not sure how the whole husks would work but definitely give it a shot!
I also included an incredible source of omega 3s in the form of either chia or flax seeds. Both work great and provide an easy way to get your daily dose in. Plus they help to thicken this that much more!
This milkshake or ice cream is incredibly rich tasting and smooth. It is packed with fiber from the psyllium, omega 3s from the chia or flax and antioxidants from the cacao powder. Feel free to include 1/2 or all carob if you prefer to avoid the caffeine and get some extra calcium. Sweetened only with stevia it’s truly the healthiest milkshake or ice cream you will ever have! Well I mean, you could always blend some greens in there if you wanted, for bonus points.
Omega-3 and Fiber Rich Chocolate Milkshake (or Ice Cream) (Vegan, Gluten-free, Sugar-free)
Ingredients (1 drink/bowl)
- 3/4 cup almond milk
- 2 tbsp cacao powder (or 1/2 carob powder or all carob)
- 1 tbsp ground flax seeds or chia seeds (gets a little thicker with chia, and I used whole chia seeds, no need to grind before)
- 1/2 tbsp psyllium seed powder
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 7 drops chocolate stevia (or to taste)
- pinch sea salt
- 1 cup ice for a milkshake, or about 1 1/2 cups for ice cream
- optional: 1 tsp instant coffee or herbal coffe substitute like Dandy Blend (helps give it a super rich flavour)
Instructions
Add everything, except the ice to a blender and blend. It should get really thick. Then add the ice and blend again until the ice is fully crushed and incorporated! Serve with a straw or spoon and enjoy your delicious treat!
I'm sharing this recipe on Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Fat Tuesday, Real Food Wednesdays, Allergy-Free Wednesday, Gluten Free Fridays, Foodie Friends Friday and Wellness Weekends!
Hope you all have wonderful Mondays! Remember, it’s the start of a new week, with no mistakes in it :)
Hey there. Came here from Pinterest.
Psyllium seed powder sounded intriguing, had never heard of it before. With a little search what it is called in my language, I realize I have seen my grandfather take this with milk every night for better digestion!
I am smiling right now, because I thought this psyllium powder was some kind of medicine; did not know it could be used to make desserts. Haha.
This is one of the most interesting recipes I have come across in recent times.
Well there you go, medicine and dessert all in one :) I’m so glad you like the recipe!
Hi Gabby!
Just wanted to say a huge thank you for this recipe, ever since I saw the post I have been so eager to get my hands on some psyllium husks, I finally made the shake last night and I can’t believe how wonderfully thick and creamy it came out *squee!!!!*. It is just so perfect, breakfasts will never be the same again (I don’t deal very well with solid food – but this is like a powerhouse of nutrition I can gulp down before class and feel great about!) …genius!
:) x
Oh yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it :) It’s such a great indulgent-feeling meal/snack, but loaded with nutrition! Glad I could tastify your mornings ;)
yup! it deserves an official stamp of awesomeness plastered all over it! (on a side note… I was out of chia and flax earlier *very sad face* and decided to sub in some avocado…it was sooooo thick I'm suprised it blended at all! but it was all-of-the-deliciousness) Hope you are keeping well and i look forward to trying more of your yummy recipes! ^_^
That’s a great substitution! I’ll have to try that :)
Have a great weekend!
Gabby,
Totally dont know what im doing wrong. Its not coming out as smooth as yours and i taste all the grainy flax seed. Im totally bummed but was hoping you knew what i could do! thanks so much!
Oh Scarlett, I totally forgot to add in the ingredients that I used GROUND flax seeds, not whole seeds! Do try grinding them first and let me know if it helps! I will update the recipe to reflect that. So sorry :(
Wowsers-this looks amazing! I love the dark chocolate color on this milkshake…I’ll take 2 servings please!
haha thank you Laura! I will gladly oblige with 2 servings- maybe even 2 1/2, just because you’re pretty awesome ;)
Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays recipe party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! :) We are building a great set of gluten free recipes so far! Its making my meal planning easy :) How about yours? See you next Friday! Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
Awesome, you are so wonderful :) I find that sometimes with all these great ideas I just get overwhelmed and stick to the same thing every time! I need to just get over it and get creative!
I have successfully made the switch to Almond milk, which was not very easy, but I did it. Now I need to dig a little deeper like you and continually make healthier changes. Great information, and thank you for sharing at Foodie Friends Friday.
That’s so great to hear! Just take it step by step, little changes add up!
Thanks for hosting :)
Thanks for linking up with us today at our link party, Foodie Friends Friday. Remember to come back on Sunday to vote for your 3 favorites.
okay i am not even hungry and yet my mouth is watering looking at those pics. YUM! im such a chocoholic.
Oh me too. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest though ;)
I’ve seen the psyllium powder before but have never used it myself. I have used a guar gum but I hate the taste of it. It changes the flavor of food into something gross (but that’s just my opinion). I’ll try the psyllium. Sounds like it might be much better.
Thanks for the inspiring recipe!
You know, I’ve never actually tried guar gum, only xanthan so I can’t compare, but I don’t notice any kind of taste from the psyllium. Hope you like it :)
Yum, this looks so good! I am going to have to try out that psyllium thing! ;-)
Yes you must! It’s such a fun and healthy ingredient!
yum! this is a chocolate milkshake that i can get into!
Haha your taste buds (and tummy!) will thank you for it ;)
I LOVE p-husks (but I hate spelling them!) I use them as a thickener in smoothies too – I love this recipe, Gabby! How are you feeling? I’m afraid wedding celebrations have curtailed my efforts in the last week, but I will get back on my path (actually I’m feeling pretty good!)
Haha right? Why must the spelling be so complicated? You have no idea how many typos occurred during the writing of this post.
I’m actually doing pretty good! I have not been doing as stellar on the diet in the last week, but I’m taking lots of good anti-candida supplements and still maintaining the diet overall. It’s funny what this has taught me- I feel SOOO much better when I don’t eat a lot of starches- they just make me feel so heavy! I love what kind of awareness this has brought me :). I’m hoping to get a little bit more on track again too, but with moving who knows lol. I am feeling better though!
So glad to hear you are feeling good too Lou! Congrats on your big day. I laughed when I read that bit about you lighting your hair on fire. Only you…
I want this for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between. Absolutely legit, right? :D
Oh totally! If there’s a chocolate milkshake you can enjoy for every meal, I think it’s this one ;)
This looks amazing Gabby! So simple, yet so delicious. My daughter has a banana allergy, so I alternate between psyllium and avocado to thicken her smoothies. Both work great! I’ve not tried chocolate though….maybe I’ll do carob so she’s not bouncing off the walls from the caffeine! :-)
Haha yes the carob is probably a really smart idea! I always forget how sensitive little ones can be :)
Hi Gabby, coming from CCU blog to check yours. Great recipes, and this shake sure is fantastic and very yummy! Thank you for sharing and have a lovely week!
I love how THICK this milkshake is! It looks like it should be served up in a tall glass with two straws like they do in diners. Though, I wouldn’t be sharing it with anyone, just using the two straws to drink it more efficiently. YUM!
Haha you are too cute. I love that image of Chris or the twins trying to steal some from you but you grabbing the second straw and allowing none of it ;). And I don’t blame you, I haven’t been sharing and I don’t plan on it!
I’m so excited to learn of this psyllium! You’ve got a great, informative blog! I’m looking forward to browsing (snooping) around further. In the meantime, this shake is amazing. So crazy looking good, like it has all the naughty stuff in it, but it’s all healthy! Love it!!
Wow thank you! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it and that it’s helpful! Psyllium is amazing stuff, I hope you get a chance to try it out! I love your description of this shake- so perfect!
You have a wonderful blog Gabby! I am not vegetarian but we eat more veggies than meat for sure. I need to check out your recipe index next for some inspiration.
Well thank you Nami! I hope I can help you squeeze more veggie meals in!
This looks absolutely amazing. I have to try it. I don’t think I’ve ever tried Psyllium, but you’ve totally sold me on it. Just discovered your blog and I’m so glad I did as I’m always searching for healthy and delicious recipes.
I’m so glad to hear that! I hope I can give you tons of ideas! Definitely try psyllium powder- it’s a great little addition.
Ahh! I need to suck it up and buy a real coconut! Glad you finally did it. : )
I love psyllium! Nice idea when you’re going banana-free, which I do sometimes too. : )
Get a coconut Raechel- life changing!
Yess, it’s a great alternative. I definitely need to reduce the bananas I eat once I eat fruit again. I feel soooo much better!
This looks great! I know of psyllium seed husks but have never seen powder. What a great idea for thickening things up though!
Something is going wonky with the comment system and Im not able to, so Im leaving a reply to Kari for you Gabby :) I love your milkshake! I’ve been using psyllium for years, but in a minor way. Shall have to start dumping it into my smoothies and such. My favorite raw cake creation uses psyllium! I checked out your pineapple bars – do they ever look delish girl!!!!
Weird, I hope the comments sorted itself out!
Cool, a raw cake with psyllium? I have to try that!! You are so creatvie :) yes definitely try it in smoothies, so creamy!
Thanks hun, I’m glad you like them!
Thanks Kari! I got my powder online if you’re interested, or maybe even grinding the whole husks?
I’ve been on a banana smoothie kick but realize I don’t react to sugary bananas too well. I can’t wait to try this! I used up the last of my raw cacao powder but I should obviously replenish it and buy psyllium at the same time. You are a bad influence on having a smaller pantry… gah! Can’t wait to see how you like Toronto. We should meet up once you are settled. :-)
Haha I am the worst for having a small pantry! I just want it all! ;)
I would love to meet up in TO! You’ll have to show me all the cool places to go, and of course, eat :)
we used to get to eat psyllum husk concoctions, usually bland ones, for when we had constipation as kids. so obviously there not good memories associated with it ;)
i tried using some for gluten free breads, but didnt ever think of using them to creamy-fy something.
that smoothie sounds like a powerhouse of fibre and goodies!
Well now that you see how delicious psyllium can be, I hope this is the start of building positive memories with it!
It’s definitely a little powerhouse- I love that description, it’s perfect!
I’m popping over from Uru’s blog…loved your pineapple bars! And who doesn’t need a healthy chocolate smoothie in their repertoire!
Thanks so much Liz! Healthy chocolate smoothies are definitely a must :)
Looks sooooo awesome, Gabby! Wanted to let you know that I made your chia porridge (with cinnamon, almond milk and coconut) for breakfast today and for the first time I haven’t had any, er, digestion problems. I’ve been eating a mix of rolled grains every day for breakfast for, well, over a year and always wondered if they were causing me problems. Duh. Slow learner. Sorry for the TMI, I just think it’s amazing. Delicious recipe, btw!! Thanks!
Thank you! It’s delicious and yet light and filling- crazy combination I know but it just works!
That’s so great to hear you enjoyed the porridge and that it helped your digestive issues! Don’t worry about the TMI, I have my share of issues in that department to not be too squeamish. It’s funny, the past few days I’ve been having grains for breakfast and I’m starting to feel pretty uncomfortable by the end of the day- time to revert back to chia :)
You are so welcome lady! Makes me happy to hear you are feeling good!
I’m glad you enjoyed guest posting my friend, I loved having you :D
Loving this dessert my friend- healthy and chocolatey!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks Uru :) You are a wonderful host!
I love how chocolate has the ability to make anything delicious!
Oooh yum!!! It looks so super rich and delicious! It kind of looks like chocolate pudding in the photo. I have heard of psyllium husk before and that it is great for weight control and everything else you mentions. I’ll definitely have to give this a try! I bet you could make something nice and pumpkin-y with it too ;)
Wow it’s getting so close for you! I’m glad you had a nice weekend with your friends and family! It’s the home stretch, so exciting! And I’m with you, I can’t wait for the fall :) It’s amusing that my bday is the first day of fall because it is like a 2 for 1 deal! ;) Can’t wait to see your pumpkin recipes!
Enjoy your last week at home!!
I like the way your mind works Sarah! A psyllium pumpkin pie milkshake sounds a little too good for words :) I’m up for the challenge! You can be sure you’ll be seeing a recipe for this soon!
Yes the last weekend was so nice! Now I’m getting more and more anxious by the hour! Part of me wants to fast forward to Saturday and the other part want to slow time down. Telling some of my regular customers I was leaving today was so hard :( It’s funny thinking about how I’ll miss my customers.
So cool about your birthday being the first day of fall! What an amazing gift :)
This is so cool gabby! I am going to have to give this a try, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can find the powdered version at my local healthfood store :)
I hope you can! If not I’m suuuure Amazon or Vitacost would!
So very smooth and creamy!
Oh yes! But with nothing actually “creamy” in it!
Totally checking it out. Awesome tip and recipe :) Thanks!
I feel like this product would be your best friend Kammie. Thich smoothies and shakes without extra calories!
You had me at “frozen chocolate delciousness” :)
Haha the perfect descriptor ;)
Milkshakes are definitely my warm weather comfort food of choice. I’m loving your less-guilt version… It would definitely make the indulgence a bit less damaging to my daily diet!
Hehe yes, one of my cold treats as well! I cringe that back in the day, that used to involve McDonalds milkshakes. I guess soon I’ll be able to try myself a vegan version that’s a little more decadent thanks to you ;)
Hi,
I love this recipe! Just filled with all the good stuff. I have flax seed everyday in my juice but will try this out, something different and delicious!
Thank you and I really hope you like it! Flax seeds are a daily staple for me too, so it’s always nice to get more ideas to use it!
YUM! I can definitely see my kids happily eating this. Another great recipe. Enjoy your last week in Kingston!
Thank you Sarina! Yes it’s totally a kid-friendly recipe :)