Grain-Free Chocolate Tahini Brownies

OK, I concede. 'Fat Free Chocolate Brownies' isn't an entirely accurate desciptor for this week's winning recipe, but 'No Added Fat Chocolate Brownies' didn't have the right ring to it.

And that's exactly what these are.

These better-for-you brownies contain NO butter, oil, or much maligned margarine. They are gluten free, have limited sugar and, if you substitute the eggs, they're suitable for vegans too.

What's more, they're mixed up in just minutes in a single bowl and only take 22 minutes to bake.

Dump the fat and gluten, and keep the fabulous flavor with these deliciously fudgy chocolate and tahini kissed squares.

Instant gratification never tasted this good...now was it this good for you.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup tahini paste

• 1/2 cup light brown sugar

• 1/4 cup maple or golden syrup

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 2 eggs

• 1/3 cup cocoa

• 3 tbsp ground almonds (see notes)

• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/3 cup chocolate chips

• Chocolate (extra), to melt and drizzle over finished brownies

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 180C

2. Mix together tahini, sugar, syrup, eggs and by hand with a wooden spoon or whisk until smooth.

3. Fold in the ground almonds, cocoa, bicarbonate soda and salt. Gently stir in chocolate chips.

4. Scraped into a lined (or well greased) 20cm square baking tin, and smooth as best you can. The batter is sticky, so this is easiest to do by spraying the back of a spoon with oil and using that.

5. Bake for 22-28 minutes and remove from oven when a skewer comes out clean. (I never bake mine for more than 22 minutes, as I like my brownies nice and fudgy).

6. Drizzle melted chocolate over the top before slicing and serving.

Make 16 squares.

Cook's Notes:

Please be sure to use tahini paste (techina golmi) as found in a jar on the supermarket shelf, and not prepared techina from the fridge - this contains garlic, lemon juice and other things nobody wants in their brownies.

If you don't have ground almonds to hand, almost any gluten free flour or ground nut/seed will work in it's place. Most neighborhood spice shops are happy to grind nuts, seeds and even grains down to flour for you.

Serve topped with fresh berries, berry coulis, vanilla ice cream, toasted sesame seeds or halva threads.