Eggless Chocolate Pudding

The word "chocolate" brings a smile on any childs' face or for that matter any human being. It is difficult to resist the offer of any chocolate. Now-a -days more so, as  it has also been proven that dark chocolates are good for health. Moreover, its the season to cheer so even if you are health concious, once in a way I feel there is no harm in indulging !!

I have made this chocolate pudding using "China Grass" or "Agar Agar" as it is also known as. It  is used as a gelatine substitute mostly by vegetarians as gelatine contains animal matter. China Grass is derived from seaweed which helps to coagulate or 'set' liquids.

This is a very tasty and easy to make pudding.

 Ingredients:
 

Milk	½ litre or 500ml
Cocoa powder	2 tbsps
Drinking chocolate	1 tbsp
Sugar	100 gms or ½ cup
Corn flour	5-6 tbsps
Cream	100 gms or ½ cup
China grass (agar agar)	About 5 gms
Water	1/4th cup
For Decoration (optional)
Whipped cream and glazed cherry

 Method:

1. Put "china grass" (agar agar) in 1/4th cup of water and heat it till its completely dissolved.
2. Combine sugar, corn flour, cocoa powder,drinking chocolate in a bowl. Add litle milk and make a paste.
3. Boil remaining milk. Lower the flame and add to it the corn flour sugar etc mixture stirring constantly and until a thick and smooth mixture is formed. Switch off the gas.
4. Now add cream and the melted hot china grass into this smooth mixture. Mix well.
5. Rinse a jelly mould with cold water.
6. Pour the mixture in the mould and set in the freezer for 1 hour or refrigerate it for 2-3 hours.
7. Unmould pudding before serving and decorate it with whipped cream and glazed cherry.

Preparation time : 20 mins
Cooking time      : 10 mins


Note:

• China Grass is readily available in any Super Market.
• Instead of whipped cream, the pudding can also be decorated by mixed nuts or grated chocolate.