Often a key ingredient in sweet treats, cocoa powder (or its products like chocolates) is also used in savory recipes. The combination might seem unusual initially, but cocoa powder offers richness and complexity when combined in small quantities with meat, pasta, sauces, and veggies. Also, the rawness of cocoa powder is hardly detectable when mixed with other ingredients.
Slow Cooker Chicken Mole
The dark, rich, complex-flavored Mole recipe uses a healthy amount of cocoa powder along with a few other ingredients like peanut butter, chipotle chili, tomatoes, chili powder, chicken, onion, raisins, sesame seeds, and so on. The result is a rich sauce that can also be used as a dip with corn chips. Alternatively, serve it with warmed tortillas and some veggies on the side for a lavish meal. This will be perfect for Taco Tuesdays or Mexican nights.
Cacao Nib Pesto
If you want to add a smoky flavor to your traditional basil pesto, add some cacao nibs (used for making cocoa powder) to the mix for a delicious pesto. Keep it refrigerated for up to four days, and serve it with bread, pasta, or chips for a unique, healthy appetizer. Moreover, these cacao nibs are highly nutritious, providing an impressive amount of protein, fiber, healthy fats, and minerals.
It is a win-win for everyone as your kids get the nutrients they need, and you can serve the cacao nib pesto to them across several meals for a few days with a day’s prep work. If you are a working mama and like to prep over the weekend, this would also be a good fit for you.
Chocolate Barbecue Sauce
This smooth, spicy-sweet barbecue sauce is excellent for basting onto chicken or pouring atop a classic meatloaf. You can add some body and texture to your recipe with just two tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder (along with other ingredients). With brewed coffee, honey, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, etc., the cocoa powder blends so well that its taste goes undetected in the dish.
Asado de Bodas
Pair your Mexican rice, pinto beans, and tortillas with this sumptuous stew or Pork in Red Chile Sauce, which has Mexican chocolate as one of the ingredients. It’s a perfect addition to the sauce, giving it a rich texture. If your family is a spice lover, they will love this recipe. However, make sure to keep the spice level in check if you have little ones in your family.
Eggplant Caponata
If you are looking for new eggplant recipes, try this one! It is made with many ingredients, including finely grated unsweetened chocolate. This silky, tangy eggplant dish is an iconic Sicilian specialty. It is either served as an appetizer or a side dish.
Pepper-Crusted Beef Tenderloin With Chocolate-Port Sauce
This delicious sauce gets its rich flavor from chopped bittersweet chocolate. It is whisked in beef stock and rosemary and poured over the steak before serving. Pair it with rice and veggies for a hearty meal.
Chocolate Hummus
If you and your kids love hummus, then you need to try this chocolate hummus. And no, it’s not made entirely of chocolate. Chickpeas, cocoa powder, milk chocolate chips, maple syrup, milk, salt, and vanilla extract go into making this dish. It’s a rich and creamy dip that goes well with fruits, bread, and chips. You can easily refrigerate the hummus for up to a week or freeze it for six months to use it as required. It will definitely become your kid’s new favorite dip.
So, which savory recipes with cocoa powder will you try this weekend? Do let us know in the comment section below! Also, don’t forget to mention which recipe won your family’s taste test.
