Picture this: You finished a nice dinner and it is time for dessert. You choose to eat a couple cookies and take 3 or 4 from the sleeve. Fast forward a few minutes and half the sleeve is gone. Desserts, being primarily made of carbohydrates, are not designed to fill you up. However, they are designed to make your brain feel good, which then compels you to continue eating despite being full! What to do? Desserts are supposed to be a small sweet treat you get to indulge in after a long day of activity and healthy eating. Do not fret! Desserts can still be a delicious reward by adding pulses!
Something new to try next time you are baking would be to substitute egg whites for aquafaba, the water found in a chickpea can! Aquafaba is a great source of protein similar to eggs but it avoids the unhealthy saturated fats and cholesterol that eggs can contain. They don’t have a strong taste so you won’t even notice the difference. In order to replace one egg in a recipe, all you need is 3 tablespoons of aquafaba and now you have a cholesterol free vegan alternative for your baking dishes.
Aquafaba is great for recipes that need eggs but what about a common ingredient like flour? If you have a proper blender, pestle/mortar or other milling device, milling a whole chickpea or lentil into a flour creates a protein rich, gluten free flour to be used in place of regular wheat flour! Lentil four is said to impart an earthy flavor so it can be perfect for muffins, pancakes, and waffles! Pea flour is known for a more mild flavor so using it in cookies, cakes, and other baked goods will allow them to not only be gluten free, but also much healthier as a result. Chickpea flour, a popular choice with Middle Eastern desserts, imparts a nutty flavor into your dishes though it is much more sturdy compared to regular flour.
That all being said, it is not all about the flavor and texture! Why not just use regular flour when it is readily available? The answer lies in the nutrients! Pulse crops are high in protein, fiber, and other essential vitamins and nutrients. This will both fill you up faster and give you more of a balanced nutrient profile to keep you happy and healthy even when indulging in something sweet. Say goodbye to eating the whole cookie sleeve and say hello to making desserts healthier!
