In homage to the famous chocolate spread, Rachel Bajada creates a healthier but equally delicious version.
By Rachel Bajada
The French absolutely love Nutella – and in all fairness, so do most other nationalities. In homage to this famous and delicious chocolate spread, I have created this healthier version, so you can eat it every day, guilt free- thanks to a great sugar substitute called agave syrup and naturally caramelized bananas which to give it texture and sweetness. The Bananatella is smooth, rich, satisfying and delicious- also great when served on toast or for kids lunches. 
Agave syrup can be found in your local health food store next to honey and other sugar alternatives. Agave syrup is made from the agave plant- the cactus grown in Mexico that’s also used to make tequila. Now here’s the catch. It’s not exactly calorie-free, but it’s reported to be so low ‘GI’ that it does not provoke the insulin reaction in your body that sugar does. This is very good news for diabetics, dieters, or anyone like me who loves to cook sweet yummy treats but likes to “have her cake and eat it too.”
Agave syrup has a very high proportion (around 90%) of Fructose, which in isolation has a very low glycemic index. Agave syrup is also approximately 1.5 times sweeter than sugar or honey and is perfectly suitable for baking and cooking at high temperatures. If you can’t find it, you can simply substitute it for a mild honey.
PrintLight and luxurious ‘Bananatella’
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: Makes one small jar 1x
Ingredients
- 2 overripe bananas
- 4 tbsp quality cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp hazelnut oil
- 2 tbsp skim milk powder
- 3 tbps hot water
- 5 tbsp agave syrup
- 1 tbsp thick greek yoghurt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 150 degrees C.
- Pierce a small hole the skins of the bananas with a knife and wrap them in foil.
- Bake slowly till they caramelize in their own juices for approx 1 hour. Once cooled, scoop out the flesh from the skins into a mixing bowl and mash the bananas with a fork.
- In a small, heavy based saucepan on low heat, combine the hazelnut oil, half the agave syrup and slowly sift in the cocoa powder till combined into a thick paste.
- Add the hot water and skim milk powder and whisk. Transfer the chocolate paste and banana to a food processor (or you can use a hand blender in one bowl) and process all the ingredients together on high speed.
- Add the remaining agave syrup and the yoghurt. Pour into clean and dry glass jam jar or conserve pot, seal and refrigerate.
- Keep refrigerated and well sealed after serving. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
