What is Cocoa Powder? glossary, uses, recipes, benefits

Cocoa powder, derived from roasted, ground, and pressed cacao beans, holds a special place in the Indian culinary context, particularly in the realm of modern desserts and beverages. While traditionally not a staple like spices or lentils, its popularity has surged with the increasing influence of Western baking and global food trends. In India, you'll primarily find two types: natural cocoa powder, which is unsweetened and slightly acidic, and Dutch-processed cocoa powder, which is treated with an alkali to reduce acidity, resulting in a darker color and milder flavor. Both are readily available in supermarkets and online stores across the country.

The uses of cocoa powder in India are diverse and ever-evolving, going beyond just traditional sweets. It's a fundamental ingredient in baking, widely used to make chocolate cakes, brownies, muffins, and cookies. The rich, deep chocolate flavor it imparts is highly sought after. Many Indian households now regularly bake these Western-inspired treats, making cocoa powder a pantry essential.

Beyond baking, cocoa powder has creatively found its way into Indian sweets and beverages, offering innovative twists to classics. You'll find recipes for Chocolate Modak, a fusion sweet often prepared during Ganesh Chaturthi, and Chocolate Barfi, a rich fudge-like confection. It's also a popular addition to hot chocolate drinks, providing a comforting and indulgent beverage, especially during colder months. Some even experiment with cocoa powder in savory dishes, adding a hint of depth to certain gravies or marinades, though this is less common.

For example, classic recipes where cocoa powder shines include Chocolate Lava Cake, known for its molten center, and Chocolate Chip Cookies, a universal favorite. In the realm of Indian-inspired desserts, you can find Chocolate Sheera, a semolina-based sweet infused with cocoa, or Pista Choco Roll, offering a delightful blend of Indian and Western flavors. These examples highlight cocoa powder's adaptability in both established and fusion culinary creations.

The benefits of incorporating cocoa powder into one's diet are notable. It's rich in antioxidants, particularly flavonoids, which help combat free radicals and reduce oxidative stress in the body. These compounds are linked to various health advantages, including improved heart health by enhancing blood flow and lowering blood pressure. Cocoa powder also contains minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium, contributing to overall well-being and supporting functions like muscle and nerve health.

Furthermore, cocoa powder has been associated with mood enhancement, as it contains compounds like theobromine and serotonin precursors. Its fiber content can aid in digestive health and promote satiety, potentially assisting in weight management. While often associated with indulgent treats, opting for unsweetened, pure cocoa powder and consuming it in moderation can provide these health benefits, making it a valuable addition to a balanced Indian diet.

How to select Cocoa Powder Dutch cocoa is preferred for beverages and frozen desserts, and for dusting baked goods. Recipes for baked goods usually use nonalkalized cocoa powder. You can often substitute one type of cocoa for the other, but if the recipe includes baking soda, it may be counting on the acid in natural cocoa in order to react.

Culinary Uses of Cocoa Powder

· Cocoa powder is essentially used as flavor in biscuits, ice cream, dairy drinks cookies and cakes.

eggless chocolate cookies recipe | Indian style dark chocolate cookies | double chocolate chip cookies |

· Apart its use as flavor it is also used in the manufacture of coatings for confectioners or frozen desserts. Cocoa powder is also consumed by the beverage industry for example for the preparation of chocolate milk.

· Reach for cocoa to dust cakes with delicate designs: Place a doily or a paper cut-out of a heart on top of a cake, and sift the cocoa powder over it.

· Whip up a quick dessert sauce by dissolving equal parts cocoa and sugar in warm milk or cream, then adding a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg.

· In a recipe, cocoa powder can also be substituted for unsweetened chocolate--just mix together three tablespoons of cocoa powder with one tablespoon melted butter or vegetable oil for every ounce of unsweetened chocolate in a recipe.

· Still, the best thing to do with cocoa may just be to ... make cocoa. Simply dissolve two teaspoons cocoa powder and one tablespoon sugar in one tablespoon hot water, and then stir in one cup hot milk. The rich, chocolaty flavor of this easy concoction will win you over for good--and warm you up for the rest of the winter.

How to store Cocoa Powder

Store cocoa powder in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark, dry place. Stored properly, cocoa powder will last indefinitely.

Nutritive Information for Cocoa powder

¼ cup of cocoa powder is about 15 grams

RDA stands for Recommended Daily Allowance.

Energy – 34 calories

Protein – 3.1 g

Carbohydrate – 8.6 g

Fat – 2 g

Fiber –5 g

Vitamins:

0.01 mg of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) = 0.6% of RDA ( (about 1.2 to 1.6 mg for men)

0.33 mg of Vitamin B3 (Niacin) = 2.8 % of RDA (about 12 mg)

4.8 mcg of Folate (Vitamin B9) = 4.8% of RDA (about 100 mcg)

Minerals:

19.2 mg of Calcium = 1.92% of RDA (about 1000 mg)

1.4 mg of Iron = 7% of RDA (about 20 mg)

74.9 mg of Magnesium = 21.4% of RDA (about 350 mg)

110.1 mg of Phosphorus = 18.4% of RDA (about 600 mg)

1.02 mg of Zinc = 8.5% of RDA (about 10 to 12 mg)

228.6 mg of Potassium = 4.9% of RDA (about 4700 g)

7 Super Health benefits of Cocoa Powder, Unsweetened

1. Cocoa Powder is Rich in Polyphenols : Polyphenols are naturally occurring antioxidants mostly found in fruits, vegetables, chocolate, tea and wine. Cocoa is also one of them. It is rich in polyphenols like flavonoids, catechins and epicatechins. These show anti-inflammatory effect as well help the body get rid of harmful free radicals and thus reduce the onset of various chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Want to try a healthy power packed cereal for breakfast using cocoa powder? Try out Chocolate Cinnamon Granola Mix.

2. Cocoa Powder May Lower Blood Pressure : The presence of flavonoids in cocoa is known to increase the production of nitric oxide which in turn helps to relax the blood vessels and maintain normal blood pressure. This helps to reduce the chances of stroke too.

Click here to know more about the 7 Super Health benefits of Cocoa Powder, Unsweetened.