Chocolate - Orange Sesame Truffles

One of the few things I like about winter is the availability of different citrus fruit in the markets. Until the cold weather hits, our grocery stores are devoid of some of my favourite ingredients - key limes, Meyer lemons and blood oranges! When I recently spotted the blushing, garnet-centred fruit in the produce aisle, I grabbed up a bag and knew I had to celebrate their decadent, exotic sweetness with a recipe too!

I found my winner in the book Vegan Chocolate by Fran Costigan, and with a few simple alterations I had a rich, ever-so-slightly healthy (!) semi-ganache ready to roll and coat sitting in my fridge. Using tahini gave the chocolate a slight toasted nuttiness that I didn't expect, but fell in love with after I tasted the warm, then chilled, ganache. To make them look as good as they tasted, I crusted the balls with a yin-yang of sesame seeds. In all, they're a stunningly beautiful combination of taste and appearance (just like my blood oranges), and with no refined sugar, no cream and no butter they're more than worth indulging in!

Shared with Waste Not Want Not Wednesday and Gluten Free Fridays

Chocolate - Orange Sesame Truffles
Makes 21
4 oz stevia-sweetened bittersweet chocolate, chopped finely
zest of 1 blood orange*
3 tbsp fresh blood orange juice*
¼ cup agave nectar (I used Amoretti Organolicious Blood Orange Flavoured Agave Nectar)
1 tbsp tahini
3 tbsp sesame seeds, for coating

1. Place chocolate in a small bowl, set aside.
2. Combine zest, juice and agave in a small pot and bring to a brisk simmer.
3. Reduce heat to low, add tahini and beat well.
4. Cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds.
5. Remove from heat and set aside for 1 minute.
6. Pour over the chocolate and cover for 1 minute, then stir until chocolate is completely melted.
7. Pour into a shallow pan and refrigerate at least 2 hours, until firm.
8. Place sesame seeds in a shallow dish.
9. Scoop 1” balls of ganache and roll into balls. Roll in the seeds to coat, then transfer to a plate.
10. Chill at least 1 hour before serving.

*Blood oranges give these an exotic, rich sweetness, but navel oranges work just as well.

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 47.7
Total Fat: 3.5 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 1.0 mg
Total Carbs: 5.7 g
Dietary Fiber: 1.6 g
Protein: 0.8 g