Eggless Chocolate Custard | Eggless Chocolate Pudding..A Sweet start to 2012

First of all I wish you all 'WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR'. I hope all are enjoying the new year and I would like to welcome the new year with a sweet beginning.

I like to eat chocolate based desserts more than eating just a plain chocolate.This chocolate pudding is no exemption as it is one of the most easiest and tasty pudding recipes. I used to make a simple chocolate pudding recipe before which was a bit low fat version with no cream but I always was in search of a perfect recipe.When I came through this recipe I liked the richness of dessert and I also tweaked in the recipe with some more improvisations and settled with this recipe.This pudding has silky smooth and melting kind of texture which makes you crave for more.It is definitely a crowd pleaser,try out for your next party and I am sure you would be happy with your decision.
Eggless Chocolate Pudding Recipe:
(Serves 5-6 medium size cups)
Slightly adapted from: Divine Taste

Ingredients:
500 ml(2 cups) Milk(full cream or normal)
200 ml(3/4 cup) fresh Cream(I used Amul 25% fat cream)
5 gms(2 tsp) Agar agar(china grass)
1/2 cup Water
1/2 cup Sugar
1/4 cup(heaped) Cocoa powder
1/4 cup Custard powder/Corn flour
1-2 tbsp Chocolate chips(optional)
1 tsp Vanilla extract
Cocoa powder for dusting

Method:

• Cut agar agar strip(if using Indian variety) into small pieces and soak agar agar in water for 1/2 hr.If you are using agar agar powder just soak it in water.
  
• Take 1/2 cup of milk and mix in the cocoa powder and custard powder/corn flour well until it is mixed well and no lumps are formed.
• Heat milk in a thick sauce pan over medium flame and add cream and sugar to it and mix well.
• Once it comes to a boil add the cocoa-custard powder mixture and mix well and boil for 5-6 mins until the mixture coats the back of the spoon.If you draw a line on the backside ladle of spoon the line should stay which means the custard is ready.
  
• Add Chocolate chips and mix well.This step is entirely optional but gives a nice chocolatey flavor to the pudding.
• Meanwhile boil agar agar in the same water it is soaked until the strands are melted and the water is clear and starts forming a jelly like texture in the sides.
• Add the agar agar mixture to the boiling chocolate custard mixture and mix well and boil for a minute.Add vanilla essence and mix well and switch off the flame.
• Pour the mixture into the individual pudding molds/cups and let them come to the room temperature.
• Cover it with cling wrap and refrigerate it for 3-4 hrs or overnight.
• Sprinkle cocoa powder or decorate with chocolate shavings or sliced strawberry.

Serve chilled.
Notes:

1. The original recipe did not use agar agar,it is entirely optional as it does not effect the taste of it.As I wanted to set the custard I added it to the mixture and it is beautifully set.
2. The addition of chocolate chips are optional but gives a nice chocolaty flavor to the custard.
3. Rinse the cups/molds with water before pouring the mixture which helps in easy unmolding later.
4. I used custard powder but you can make it with cornflour as the original recipe suggested.