Cardamom-scented, Creamy Hot Chocolate


We are normally not big fans of white chocolate as it is too sweet, buttery and almost burfi-esque, and hey, it's actually not even chocolate ! While I am far from an evolved chocolate aficionado, I have invariably treated the fair-skinned, distant cousin of the rich , brown mood elevator with contempt!

But when last week, some friends brought home big slabs of the stuff, I could not bear to let it go waste, and began my hunt for ways to use it meaningfully. Luckily, I managed to find a fairy godmother of a recipe that transforms this plain lump of sugar and cocoa butter into a soothing, creamy drink. The very characteristics that make it fall short as a chocolate are what make it excel as a sweet, buttery beverage. However, it still needs a comrade to conquer its blandness, and the super-aromatic cardamom comes to it's rescue and elevates it to a star. Although the original recipe recommends flavouring it with coffee powder, I personally felt that the strong espresso flavour will prove more a competitor than an ally to the demure white chocolate.

Do try this delicious drink, even if, you cannot stand white chocolate. Just one warm, cardamom perfumed cuppa will change your relationship with this fair maiden forever.

We need:
1 cup of milk (2%, skim is fine, but I used whole)
30 gms of white chocolate, chopped
(Do take this site's suggestion about the quality of white chocolate seriously!)
1 green cardamom
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Makes one mug of comfort

Add the chocolate and vanilla extract to a heat proof container. Microwave/ warm milk together with the cardamom just till it is about to boil. Add 1/4 cup of this milk to the chocolate and stir till the chocolate melts. Add the remaining milk, and using a hand blender, or milk frother, mix nicely till desired foaminess is reached. Sprinkle a little dark cocoa powder before serving, if you do not want the chocolate conoisseur brigade to come after you !


Many of my wet, Singapore afternoons, when it rains endlessly have been cheered up by this almost beatific looking beverage and a not so beatific paperback!

I would also like to send this to Sunita's Think Spice-Cardamom hosted by EC of Simple Indian Food. I hope she accepts it as I am nearly two days late. If not, you can be sure I will be drowning my sorrows in another cup of- HWC !

Update: I am also sending this to Meeta's Monthly Mingle on appetizers and Hors'D oeuvres hosted by our flamboyant hostess Mansi:)


29 comments:

  1. This looks so comforting...nice recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Delicious, i have nefver made hot chocolate with white chocolate. Really good especially with the cardamoms

    ReplyDelete
  3. this looks yummy...when i amsulky..willsure try this out to cheer myself,.btw..we plannin to oranise singapore bloggers meet..r u intersted to join...?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi first time to ur blog. U have a nice set of recipes. Looks YUM! Hot white chocolate looks YUM!...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Adding a pinch of cardamom sounds wonderful. While white chocolate is not chocolate, it is cocoa butter! Who could argue with pure fat. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. What is the deal with this white chocolate obsession going around?! I love this recipe, but I'm sticking with dark chocolate here :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. cardamam in hot chocolate???sounds wonderful..must have tasted sooooooooo good..

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love hot white chocolate mocha! that's the only way i can drink white chocolate, but i loved your adding cardamom suggestion:)

    btw, you could send this in to my Monthly Mingle blog event if you like:)

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a cute little mug that is! I am not too crazy 'bout white chocolate either, but this looks good.:)

    ReplyDelete
  10. lovely creamy hot chocolate! beautiful cup too.

    ReplyDelete
  11. hetal,NYH:
    Thank you:)

    ReplyDelete
  12. happy cook,ranji:
    thanks..white chocolate & cardamom are a match made in heaven:)

    ReplyDelete
  13. what kind of weird technology makes you anonymous on your own blog !!Hetal, NYH: That was me!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sukanya, evolving tastes, kaykat:

    A very warm welcome to all of you. So happy to see you guys here.

    sukanya:thank you so much!

    evolving tastes: can't keep a dilliwallah away from makhan from long..even if it is cocoa butter !

    kaykat:this one is closer burfi, than chocolate. Dark pairs better with espresso, I find:)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Mansi,

    Would love to send it over for your event. Thanks for the suggestion:)

    ReplyDelete
  16. tbc, uma:

    thank you. I bought these mugs years back in India with my ma, so am senti about them:)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Rashmi, elaichi paired wt white chocolate..wow ..sounds delicious..me too cant bite into sweet chocolates, though i like desserts!

    ReplyDelete
  18. As I am yet to post the roundup, I will surely include your post also for the event...thanks for participating with this delicious chocolate drink

    ReplyDelete
  19. wowy... first of all i love that mg of urs... and would love to try white chocolate...sahi ho yaar...

    ReplyDelete
  20. purnima, EC, swati:

    Thank you all :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. YUM! I can imagine the aroma of Cardamom!:)

    ReplyDelete
  22. plannin tokeep on 21st of june timin 4 to 6
    u can emailmeat pranks25@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. plannin tokeep on 21st of june timin 4 to 6
    u can emailmeat pranks25@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Rashmi, I am bookmarking this recipe for sure. I love any sort of hot drink, especially hot chocolate! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I will be visiting back here more often!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Jamie, thanks for coming over. Do try it and let me know how it turned out:)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Finally banaaya!
    http://veggiefoodist.blogspot.com/2008/07/cucumber-cooler-and-cardamom-scented.html

    ReplyDelete
  27. I personally love drinking chocolate, but there is a big difference between hot chocolate and drinking chocolate. I found a lot of info and good recipes at http://www.drinkingchocolates.com. They even have flavorings you can add like raspberry and irish crème. Yum! The Italian Style Drinking Chocolate at drinkingchocolates.com is so delicious - better than any cocoa mix I've ever had at least.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hello,

    My Name is Sharon. Your blog is good online source for food lovers. As I am also into food research. Its a good blog with lots of information. Keep the good work on.

    I will definitely bookmark your blog for my research work. You may also kindly visit my web site blog related to food and drinks industry that is http://foodmarketnews.blogspot.com and I would appreciate if you could kindly have a look at my blog too. It's updated on a daily basis.

    Thanks & Regards,
    Sharon

    ReplyDelete