Coconog

Punch, punch, mulled wine, and similar beverages. Somehow in Poland, drinks like these, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, are not really a part of the Christmas tradition. It's completely different from Anglo-Saxon countries, from Canada, through the USA, England, to Germany, where all kinds of punches, mulled wines, and eggnogs are a mandatory part of the Christmas menu. Christmas markets are full of all sorts of mulled drinks, and it seems to be a favorite pastime of German retirees to sip on them.

This is a Christmas mulled drink, a vegan version of eggnog made with chickpeas, coconut milk, and black salt.

INGREDIENTS:
Coconut milk - 200ml
Cashew milk (or any other high-quality, thick plant-based milk) - 100g
Canned or cooked chickpeas - 60g
Peanut butter - 20g
Sugar - 20g
Ginger juice - 15g
Vanilla extract - 10g
Nutmeg - 1/2 teaspoon
Black salt - 1/2 teaspoon
Cinnamon - 1/2 teaspoon

PREPARATION:
Blend all the ingredients together thoroughly and heat them until almost boiling. Pour into glasses.

VARIATIONS:
Of course, you can enrich it with a shot of rum or brandy. Instead of extract, you can add a vanilla bean to the cooked mixture, use cardamom, or ground ginger instead of ginger juice.

NUTRITIONAL VALUES:
From the given ingredients, you get two servings, each with 380 calories and 7g of protein.

NOTES:
The black salt in this recipe provides an eggy flavor, further enhanced by the addition of chickpeas, which also provide a similar protein content to eggs. For sugar, it's best to use dark muscovado, but you can also use practically any other sweetener. Personally, I prefer options like dark muscovado or maple syrup, which not only add sweetness but also have their own unique flavor.

SERVING:
Serve it cold or hot.

All kinds of mulled drinks bring great joy during winter, but you have to be careful with them. And it's not just about the alcohol. Regardless of the alcohol content (which is also high in calories), they contain sugar, various syrups, juices, and additions such as cashews or chickpeas. And calories. A glass of good mulled drink, even without alcohol, can easily be a few hundred calories.