Pink Salt & Pepper Truffles, by Natalia KW
I’m excited today to post this wonderful recipe for raw chocolate truffles from raw food chef, Natalia KW. Check out her beautiful website http://www.nataliakw.com with other great raw recipes including wonderful-looking raw Chocolate Cherry Truffles. Yum! These chocolate recipes show that you can eat fabulous desserts that are also body and skin friendly.
This recipe centers around raw cacao. Anything chocolate has its beginning with cacao (cuh-COW). Cacao is the edible part of the cocoa bean. While cacao is filled with hundreds of beneficial nutrient compounds, these nutrients do not get passed into your favorite chocolate bar. Processing, cooking, & refining destroy the nutrients.
Antioxidants (flavonoids especially) are one of the nutrients that are plentiful in cacao. Antioxidants as we have reported are important to skin health and aid in repairing any damage to skin from sun, aging, acne, eczema, etc. A report in Clinics in Dermatology (2009) said, “consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa acutely increased microcirculation of the skin….”(1). Skin microcirculation increases blood flow thereby delivering more nutrients to the skin and expatiating removal of toxins.
However, don’t think you are getting these healthy benefits in milk chocolate and other common chocolate treats. Besides being destroyed in processing, the antioxidants in cacao have also shown to be inhibited in the presence of dairy ingredients. Studies also show that cacao has anti-microbial and reduces inflammation (2). It’s also a great natural mood enhancer. Of course, moderation is advised because cacao also contains caffeine.
So, enjoy these decadent truffles knowing you are also helping your body and skin.
Pink Salt & Pepper Truffles
by
Natalia KW
Exotic chocolate blends are pretty hot right now and I love to come up with exciting combinations. I’ve always loved slightly salty chocolate and was looking for a spice to complement my favorite Himalayan salt–and to offer a bright contrasting color. The pink peppercorn was perfect! It’s actually a berry–a bit sweeter than black pepper, but still spicy with hints of citrus. The raw chocolate truffle base here is ultra simple, so feel free to get creative and mix up your own favorite flavors. 
- 3/4 cup raw cacao powder
- seeds of one vanilla bean
- 1/2 cup pitted medjool dates
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon ground pink peppercorns
- 1/8 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt, course ground
Instructions:
Place the cacao powder and vanilla bean in a food processor. Pulse gently to combine. Add the dates, honey and coconut oil and process until sticky and smooth. To make each truffle, roll about one tablespoon of chocolate into a 1″ ball with your hands until very smooth. In a small bowl, mix the salt & pepper. Place a pinch of salt & pepper on the top of each truffle as a garnish and press to set. Place the garnished truffles in the refrigerator for one hour to firm. Indulge with pleasure!
Natalia is available for coaching to help those who want to heal their body and be healthy through raw foods.
“Raw foods work their magic when integrated properly and sustainably—for your unique lifestyle. When these foods are practical to prepare and at the same time, deeply pleasurable, you discover your sweet spot.”
You can contact her through her website: http://www.nataliakw.com/contact/
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1 Davis, Stephen BS, Perez, Robert PhD, “Cosmeceuticals and Natural Products: Wound Healing.” Clinics in Dermatology (2009) 27, 502–506. Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1600 NW 10th Avenue,
Room 2089, Miami, FL 33136, USA. online: http://www.worldcocoafoundation.org/scientific-research/research-library/Cacao_HumanNutrition.asp#Antimicrobial.
2 “Cacao Research: Human Nutrition,” World Cacao Foundation. Online: http://www.worldcocoafoundation.org/scientific-research/research-library/Cacao_HumanNutrition.asp#Antimicrobial
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