Raw Cacao and Creamy Hemp Ice-Cream

The essence of summer food for me is light, fresh, and cooling.  And I’ve been looking for a nutritious dairy free ice-cream, and now I have one…for all you readers of course!

You may have already turned your nose up at the ingredients and be thinking where’s the toffee, clotted cream or raspberry ripple? But after all we are a health food e-tailer, so you should expect no less. I was really amazed at how tasty and creamy this is so I hope you like it.

And here’s a reminder why hemp seeds and raw cacao are good for you:

Hemp seeds

Hemp “seeds” are really not seeds at all, they are actually a fruit. Tiny and round they have a mild and slightly nutty flavour. They aren’t crunchy like nuts and slightly softer in texture, tasting a bit like pine nuts but with a milder flavour.  They are a perfect and natural blend of easily digestible vegan protein, containing lots of essential fats, vitamins and enzymes. And, all amino acids essential for optimum health are found in hemp seeds! .

Raw Cacao

Raw cacao beans contain possibly the world’s most concentrated source of antioxidants found in any food. Be sure to attain certified organic raw cacao in a powder, nib or whole bean form as the temperature will have never been allowed to exceed 40°C thus allowing all the heat-sensitive vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to remain intact.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups hemp seeds
• 2 1/2 cups filtered water
• 1/2 cup raw cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 vanilla bean pod, seeds scraped
• 2 pinch Himalayan salt
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Method

1. Blend ingredients in a blender or food processor until creamy
2. If you have an ice-cream maker follow the instructions. If you don’t, place the mixture in a shallow container and freeze for a couple of hours, stirring really well every 30mins until it resembles ice-cream!