Nutty,Fruity Banana Split and Chia Seed Pudding

This post is for those who love desserts but want to keep it low on calories and high in taste!A Banana Split is an ice cream based dessert where half sliced whole Bananas are topped with individual scoops of Vanilla,Strawberry and Chocolate.These days they are customised as per order but to the layman an Ice Cream is calorific and if you ask the petite dames who swear by their minute waistlines about having ice creams they would give you “if looks could kill” reactions as if the Ice Cream was a horribly growing epidemic and should be banned at all costs!Wow!

I practice moderation to have a monthly allowance of a Sundae!I may have got horrendous looks of “You are kidding” from most of my readers but my mind functions with good food in moderation inside me which is how I survive!However I found that a small adjustment here and there does you all the good in the world and it is essential to have superfoods to replenish the various deficiencies we may lack in our human system!

Chia Seeds are the most sought after superfoods these days with a host of benefits in them!I thought of a dessert using over ripe Bananas which will have ample sugar in them and act as a natural sweetener! Remember the more ripe the Banana the more sweet it will be.This recipe is a sure shot method of using over ripe and spotted Bananas effectively!You need to add 2 tsp sugar to the milk for a great tasting base over which the Bananas work beautifully satisfying all sugar cravings!

I had posted a breakfast option with fruits,nuts and Chia Seeds using Gulkand (Rose Petal Preserve).Check out the post for information on Chia Seeds and their method of use!The link is here for the recipe :

http://thefoodsamaritan.com/gulkandrose-petal-preserve-mango-chia-seeds-breakfast/

That was a breakfast recipe but this is a delicious dessert with only 10% of the calories in a classic Banana Split and lovely,exotic tastes!The Chia Seeds provide great nutrition and are expert tummy fillers!

The recipe was entered for the 139th FoodieMondayBloghop where the theme was Healthy Dessert!

Preparation Time : 10 minutes

Chilling Time : Overnight/8 hours

Makes : 2 servings

INGREDIENTS

For the pudding :

4 tbsp Chia seeds

2 cups toned milk

2 tsp icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Banana Split :

2 over ripe Bananas

2 tbsp chopped Pistachios

2 tbsp chopped Almonds

2 tbsp powdered Pistachio chikki (see ingredients and recipe below)

4 Maraschino Cherries – halved

For the Pistachio chikki :

2 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp toasted Pistachios – coarsely chopped

METHOD

Prepare the pudding :

Add sugar to milk in a bowl and mix well.Mix in the Chia Seeds and Vanilla extract and cover the bowl.Refrigerate overnight or till serving time.

Prepare the Chikki :

Heat sugar in a non stick pan on medium heat till liquid brown and caramelised.Add the toasted nuts and mix well.Cook for a minute and pour on a non stick or silicon tray.Cool to room temperature and powder coarsely.Store in an airtight container till serving time.

Assemble the pudding :

Slice the Bananas into thin slices.Remove the tips from either ends.Reserve 1 tbsp each of nuts and powdered chikki and 2 Maraschino Cherries for each serving.Take an ice cream cup and layer with 3 – 4 Banana slices. Sprinkle 1/2 tbsp of nuts and powdered chikki and spoon over some of the Chia Seed Pudding.Top with 2 – 3 Banana Slices and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 tbsp nuts and powdered chikki on top.Decorate with Cherries and serve immediately.