Chocolate and Chili Pudding

17/11/2023

The chocolate and chili pudding is a perfect example of how sweet and spicy flavors can combine marvelously. Here is the recipe for an intriguing dessert with an Italian spicy twist.

Ingredients

500 ml of whole milk
100 g of sugar
200 g of dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa)
1 fresh red chili (or a pinch of chili powder, depending on spicy tolerance)
3 egg yolks
40 g of cornstarch (cornflour)
30 g of butter
1 pinch of salt

Preparation

Start by breaking the chocolate into small pieces and finely slicing the red chili after removing the seeds.
Pour the milk into a saucepan, add the sliced chili, and bring almost to a boil. Then let the milk infuse with the chili for about 10-15 minutes so that the milk can take on the spicy aroma.
In another saucepan, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar and a pinch of salt until they turn light and frothy.
Add the cornstarch to the yolks and continue stirring until you get a smooth mixture.
Take the milk off the heat, remove the chili, and pour it slowly onto the mixture of yolks, sugar, and cornstarch, stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
Next, transfer everything back into the saucepan and cook over medium heat, continuing to stir until the cream starts to thicken.
Once the mixture has reached the desired thickness, remove from the heat and add the chocolate pieces and butter, stirring until they have melted completely and the mixture is smooth.
Pour the pudding into individual molds or a large mold, then let it cool at room temperature before placing it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to solidify.
Before serving, you can garnish with chopped fresh chili for an extra touch of color and flavor, if you wish.

Curiosity

Chili is often used in Italian cuisine to add a bit of zest to dishes. Historically, the combination of chocolate and chili has roots in the ancient pre-Columbian civilizations, such as the Aztecs, who already combined chocolate and hot spices in their ritual drinks.

Enjoy this delicious encounter between the warmth of the chili and the intense sweetness of chocolate, a dessert that will surely not go unnoticed among your guests!