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Tsokolate
Thick hot chocolate
Tsokolate: thick tablea hot chocolate frothed with a wooden batidor
Discs of pure roasted cacao called tablea, pressed by hand in Batangas and Cebu, melt into the thick, slightly gritty tsokolate that Filipinos drink on Christmas mornings with puto bumbong or bibingka. It is whisked in a tall pot with a wooden batidor rolled between the palms until it foams, and it tastes deep, bitter-sweet and earthy rather than milky. A little milk softens it; many families drink it with water only. Chef's tip: keep the heat low once the tablea melts; boiling cacao hard makes it scorch and taste burnt.
- Total time
- 17 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz tablea (pure cacao tablets)or 100% cocoa mass, chopped
- 2 cups water
- 1 ¼ cups whole milk
- 2 ⅛ oz muscovado or brown sugar
- 1 pinch salt
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Heat 2 cups water in a pan over a medium heat until simmering, then drop in 5 ½ oz tablea (pure cacao tablets).
4 minStep 2: Turn the heat to low and stir until the tablets have melted completely, 5–6 minutes. The cacao will look grainy at first and then turn smooth and dark.
6 minStep 3: Add 1 ¼ cups whole milk, 2 ⅛ oz muscovado or brown sugar and 1 pinch salt and heat gently until steaming, stirring; do not let it boil.
4 minStep 4: Whisk vigorously with a batidor or a small whisk (or blitz with a stick blender) until a thick foam forms on top. Pour into small cups and serve at once.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 24 g
- Fat
- 21 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tsokolate take?
- About 17 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
- What can I use instead of muscovado or brown sugar?
- White sugar + 1 tbsp molasses or treacle per 200g.
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