Dubai Chocolate Chia Pudding

Chia pudding gets some Dubai chocolate bling in this delicious Dubai Chocolate Chia Pudding! In this recipe, pistachio kataifi chia seed pudding is topped with pistachio kataifi bites and chocolate, for a decadent, nutrient-heavy treat that can be enjoyed for breakfast, dessert, or snack.

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Dubai Chocolate seems to be in it’s prime. My Instagram feed is full of people either trying out various Dubai chocolate bars, or making cakes and shortbread bars inspired by the viral Dubai Chocolate.

So, as I LOVE chia pudding, I figured I would jump on the Dubai chocolate bandwagon with a chia pudding. This chia pudding is inspired by the flavors and ingredients that are the main components of Dubai Chocolate, which are: pistachio, kataifi, and chocolate!

This Dubai Chocolate Chia Pudding is easy and so fun ~ to make AND eat.

This 6 ingredient chia pudding is so decadently delicious and yet carries a hefty nutrient punch. To me, this healthy-ish, creamy pudding is perfect for when that chocolate craving hits.

This chia pudding skirts the borders of breakfast, snack, and dessert. It is lovely to wake up to a bowl of this for breakfast. It is the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. And, goodness gracious, it is an absolutely delectable way to end a meal with.

I love this Dubai Chocolate Chai Pudding as it:

• Tastes delicious,
• Is nutrient-dense,
• Is dairy-free, and
• Is made with only 6 ingredients!

This is a versatile chia pudding that can be made with store-bought main ingredients or homemade ones. I elaborate on this in the “substitutions and variations” section.

What are the ingredients needed to make this Dubai Chocolate Chia Pudding?

You will need the following 6 ingredients, though, if you love chia pudding, you probably already have some of these natural ingredients in your kitchen.

1. Chia seeds
2. Pistachio milk
3. Sweetener/Maple syrup
4. Cardamom
5. Kataifi (toasted)
6. Chocolate

I also used a very small pinch of sea salt. While it is totally optional, it can unite the flavors beautifully.

Substitutions and Variations

• Chia seeds
  Even though this is a chia seed pudding, if for some reason chia seeds need to be replaced, they can be replaced with flax seeds or hemp seeds.

• Pistachio milk
  As this is a Dubai chocolate recipe, I used the pistachio butter I made recently to make some pistachio milk. By the way, if you want to make your own pistachio milk (or any other nut butter milk) with either homemade or store-bought pistachio butter, check out this quick and easy pistachio milk recipe with only 2-ingrdients! If you prefer to, you can also use store-bought pistachio milk.
  With other chia pudding recipes, I would suggest other dairy-free milk substitutions as almond milk, cashew milk, or coconut milk. But, for this recipe, I would strongly suggest that the pistachio milk not be substituted.

• Sweetener/Maple syrup
  If you prefer a sweeter chia pudding, then I would suggest a more mild sweetener, like sugar or a granulated zero-calorie sweetener. Yes, you can use maple syrup. But, too much maple syrup would make this a Canada Dubai Chocolate Chia Pudding! I kid, I kid. Too much maple syrup could overpower the flavors of pistachio, cardamom, and chocolate, so I would use an alternative then. You could also use honey or agave.

• Cardamom
  I used cardamom in this as I feel it complements the flavor of pistachio. However, if you do not have any, this can be left out. Or, replaced with a combination of a quarter teaspoon of almond extract and a half tsp vanilla extract.

• Kataifi
  I found kataifi on Amazon. But, I have heard that it can also be found in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean stores. Kaitaifi or kadayif is a form of shredded phyllo dough that is used to make sweet dishes such as baklava and kunafa. If you want to make gluten-free kataifi at home, here’s a recipe that might help. Like the pistachio milk, I would strongly urge you to refrain from substituting the kataifi. By the way, the kataifi is toasted for this recipe. I did that by adding half a tbsp of butter to a pan. Then, when it melted, I added in the kataifi and lightly toasted it until it was golden.

• Chocolate
  Here is where I feel you have the most leeway to tailor this to fit your taste. I love milk chocolate so used some milk chocolate chips melted together with coconut oil. However, if you prefer dark chocolate, use that instead. If you are trying to cut down on refined sugar completely, use some unsweetened cocoa powder mixed with a zero-calorie sweetener and coconut oil.

Instructions

There are 2 methods to make this Dubai chocolate chia pudding. I have used both of them. And, I will suggest that the method you chose would probably depend on your level of urgency to enjoy this delicious treat.

Method 1 (at least 4 hrs.)

Stir together the chia seeds, pistachio milk, cardamom, maple syrup, and kataifi in a glass bowl. Put a lid on the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours so the chia seeds can absorb some of the liquid and morph into a creamy textured pudding. Or, this can be left refrigerated overnight as well.

After that, make the pistachio kataifi bites by mixing together 1 tbsp of kataifi with 2 tbsp of pistachio butter. Adjust the quantities of each so you can form the mixture into small bites/balls. These can be stored in a airtight container until the chia pudding is ready.

When the time is up, divide the chia pudding between two serving dishes. Melt the chocolate and coconut oil together and spoon or pour some of that over the pistachio kataifi chia pudding. If there’s leftover chocolate, drop some of the pistachio kataifi bites into it and toss them around so they are coated in it. Then place the chocolate-covered pistachio kataifi bites as well as the uncovered ones on top of the chocolate layer.

I like to dive right in. Or, you can wait for the chocolate layer to harden a bit before digging in.

Method 2 (30 minutes or less)

Add the chia seeds, pistachio milk, cardamom, and maple syrup to a blender and blend for about 10 to 20 seconds. This blended chia pudding is perfect for those times when you want a quick tasty chia pudding ready in minutes not hours. Then, using a spatula, stir (not blend) in the kataifi. Divide the chia pudding between two serving dishes or jars.

Make the pistachio kataifi bites as specified above in method 1.

Melt the chocolate and coconut oil together and spoon or pour some of that over the Dubai chocolate chia pudding. coat some of the pistachio kataifi bites with chocolate, if desired and place the chocolate-covered pistachio kataifi bites as well as the uncovered ones on top of the chocolate layer.

If you would like to, you can add more of your favourite toppings like berries and nuts to this Dubai Chocolate chia pudding as well so it’s loaded up with even more nutrition and fiber.

How long can this Dubai Chocolate Chia Pudding Be Stored?

This Dubai Chocolate chia pudding recipe makes a tasty breakfast, snack, or dessert option to be considered for your meal prep routine. It can be made in advance and stored in airtight containers in your fridge for up to 5 days.

Thanks so much for stopping by. If you make this recipe, please let me know in the comments below what you think of it, or tag your creation on social media with @savoryspin or #savoryspin. For more fusion, spice-filled, recipe ideas, please subscribe and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Pinterest!