This dragonfruit cheesecake is a great vegan-friendly option for when you and the family get those post dinner cravings. A unique dairy-free recipe, its a cheesecake that even the lactose intolerant among us can enjoy free from worry. Its devoid of all the most common allergens except for nuts.
Ingredients
COCOA BASE
110g walnuts
280g Medjool dates
30g cocoa powder
pinch of salt
DRAGONFRUIT SWIRL
175g chopped dragonfruit
125g raspberries
1 tbsp maple syrup
CHEESECAKE FILLING
300g raw cashews, soaked overnight, then drained & rinsed
230g coconut cream
6 tbsp coconut oil
350g brown rice syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
juice of 1 lemon
Description
1. Line an 8×8 inch
tray with baking paper and set aside.
2. Add the walnuts,
cocoa powder, dates, and salt in a food processor. Pulse until it forms a
dough.
3. Use your fingers
or the back of a large spoon to press the dough evenly into the bottom of the
baking tray.
4. Place the tray
in the fridge while you prepare the cheesecake filling.
5. Add the
dragonfruit, raspberries, and maple syrup to a small saucepan. Cook on medium
heat, stirring for 2-3 minutes. Then, reduce the heat to low and allow to
simmer for 5 minutes until the fruit breaks down into a syrup. Set the pan
aside for later.
6. Blend the
cashews, coconut oil, coconut cream, brown rice syrup, vanilla extract, lemon
zest, and lemon juice together in the food processor until smooth.
7. Pour your
cheesecake mixture into the baking tray, spreading evenly.
8. Next, add
dollops of the dragonfruit sauce on top of the cheesecake mixture. Using a
knife, start making swirls through the cheesecake layer until you achieve the
desired marble look.
9. Store in the
freezer for 2-4 hours to firm up the cheesecake.
10. Can be served
frozen, or thawed for 10-15 minutes for a softer texture.
If you’re someone who knows that dairy is something that your body has trouble dealing with, but can’t quite put your finger on exactly how, you’re probably asking yourself “Do I have a Dairy Intolerance or a Dairy Allergy?” If you don’t know the answer, you won’t know whether to have an allergy test or an intolerance test to properly diagnose the problem.
It’s a simple enough question, but the answer can completely change how the problem is managed, meaning you could well be avoiding some of your favourite foods unnecessarily. An intolerance test could uncover the source of the problem if that’s indeed what it is but won’t help if it’s an allergy.
The good news is that the symptoms of allergies and intolerances are quite different, so with a little education on the subject, it should be quite straightforward to distinguish between them. With that in mind, we thought we’d explain the facts that will help you to determine whether you need an allergy test or an intolerance test.
The Symptoms
Dairy Allergy
By their very nature, allergies are reactions to specific triggers and as a result, can be quite severe. A dairy allergy attack can manifest in the following ways:
❏ Wheezing
❏ Shortness of breath
❏ Hives
❏ Tingling or itching in or around the mouth or lips
❏ Swelling in the throat, lips or tongue
❏ Persistent coughing
❏ Vomiting
Because of the severity, dairy allergies can be life-threatening and sometimes require the use of an EpiPen. Another indicator that the side effects which you may be experiencing relate to an allergy is the rapid way that the symptoms manifest. The chances are that if you have a dairy allergy, you’ll probably already be aware of how sudden and dangerous they can be.
Dairy Intolerance
Intolerances are much slower in the way that they show up and the specific symptoms tend to be much milder than an allergic reaction. Several hours can pass before any ill effects are felt after ingesting dairy that your body doesn’t agree with.
Common dairy intolerance symptoms include:
❏ Diarrhoea
❏ Nausea and/or vomiting
❏ Flatulence
❏ Abdominal discomfort e.g. pains and/or cramps
Since these symptoms can be slow to develop, a dairy intolerance can be much more difficult to diagnose. The waters are muddied further, as some people are intolerant to all dairy, whereas others may only be intolerant to specific dairy products like milk or cheese.
To get to the bottom of dairy intolerance, an elimination diet will be required, with cheese, then milk, then butter etc.. being removed from a person’s diet. It can take a while, but eventually, you’ll find the culprit and be able to stay away from it.
The Benefits of An Allergy/Intolerance Test
The fastest, most efficient way to determine exactly where your problems lie is to get yourself tested. At Lifelab Testing, we offer affordable intolerance and food allergy testing, which involves blood screening to determine the exact nature of your physiology and how it reacts to specific food groups.
If you’re still not sure which type of dairy intake problem you have, you can find out more by reading through our website or by chatting with one of our friendly experts via our LiveChat facility. They have the knowledge and expertise needed to help you pinpoint your areas for concern.
From as little as £68.99 for a comprehensive food allergy test and £74.99 for a thorough intolerance test, you can get all the answers you need to take back control and free yourself from the misery of food issues. Anyone who suffers with intolerance or allergic food problems will know just what good value that represents.
Thanks for reading our blog and we’ll see you next time with lots more advice and guidance on a range of intolerance and allergy matters.
