For most of us, the holiday season is a time of indulgence.
And celebrity chef Bridget Foliaki-Davis has you covered with her simple, last-minute dishes that are bursting with flavor – including her four-ingredient no-bake chocolate fondant recipe.
The mom of three, who cooked for Oprah and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, offered her guide to plan an unforgettable party menu.
To help take some of the stress out of the kitchen, the 47-year-old shared her five dishes that everyone will love.
Scroll down for Bridget’s No-Bake Chocolate Fudge Recipe
With no baking involved, Bridget says she always makes her favorite dessert for Christmas – the chocolate fondant.
“It’s so good, it’s dangerous,” she said 7Lifestyles.
“It should be approached with caution because it is difficult to stop at one piece. With such a great taste, how could it be so healthy? This is the great trick of fudge.
His recipe contains only four ingredients: almond butter, coconut oil, sugar-free and dairy-free dark chocolate chips, and a natural sugar alternative like erythritol or inulin powder. .
“It’s a very simple creation that involves melting a good quality sugar-free and dairy-free dark chocolate before whipping it in almond butter and adding erythritol which is a sugar-free alternative to table sugar, ”she says.
“The end result is a melt-in-the-mouth fudge that is deliciously flavored with almond butter.
“The chocolate fondant being healthy is just a bonus.”
No Bake Chocolate Fondant Recipe
Ingredients
100 g of almond butter or a nut or seed butter of your choice
50g coconut oil or MCT oil
70g dark chocolate chips without sugar and dairy products
2 tablespoons of erythritol or inulin
Method
Place all the ingredients in a small metal or glass bowl and place the bowl on a small saucepan filled with 2 inches of simmering water. Stir the ingredients with a spatula until the ingredients are melted and smooth liquid.
Line a small container or dish with parchment paper (I used a small rectangular plastic take-out container) and pour the hot ingredients into the container.
Chill the fudge in the freezer for 30 minutes or in the refrigerator for 60 to 90 minutes until hard. Portion by slicing into 12-14 pieces and store covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Bridget says one dish her kids ask for every year is duck fat potatoes.
“Just make sure you choose a floury potato that roasts well, which will help get the glorious crunch on the outside while still remaining chewy on the inside,” she says.
“Potato varieties such as King Edward and Sebago are good roasting potatoes.”
If you’ve left your Christmas planning until the last minute, Bridget has shared some of her easy-to-make side dishes.
Bridget says the octopus salad has been a “recent addition” to her family’s Christmas feast.
“Growing up near the ocean, I experimented with a rich version of a creamy octopus stew that I lightened up for our table using fresh limes, a little chili and lots of mint and cilantro.” , she says.
Heirloom Tomato Salad often makes an appearance on his family’s dinner table.
“Tomatoes are ripe and in abundance in our part of the world around Christmas time,” she says.
“Making the most of these seasonal gems means the flavor is wonderful and the colors spectacular.
“This simple dish consists of sliced tomatoes which are then topped with fresh basil, goat cheese, mineral salt and pepper, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.”
Another must-have dish that always appeals to everyone is “lightly blanched asparagus with hollandaise sauce thanks to their simplicity and flavor”.
“I make a dairy-free hollandaise that holds well without splitting and I always choose the finest asparagus to ensure a tender and sweet accompaniment,” she says.
If you’re watching your waistline on Christmas Day, Bridget says you can still enjoy a festive treat without sacrificing flavor.
“Having a healthy Christmas doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself of what you love,” the cookbook author said. 7Lifestyle.
“Healthy food, even at Christmas, doesn’t have to taste like cardboard and by making small changes to our habits we can make all the difference in our waistlines. “
Bridget says there are some simple and easy adjustments you can make to create a “healthy” party menu.
“Simple tweaks will help give your Christmas treat so much flavor, freshness and health,” she explains.
“Make the most of seasonal produce like cherries, avocados, asparagus and tomatoes and let the produce speak for itself without the need to decorate it with heavy sauces and dressings.
“Make the most of our coastal bounty with bowls of fresh shrimp simply seasoned with sea salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon.
“Use the garden with fresh, bright herbs like basil, mint and cilantro to add excitement and flavor to whatever they touch. “
