(BBN) - Fruit Custard is a classic dessert. Today it is made in most homes and even restaurants.
After a heavy meal, who doesn't enjoy some cool fruits? When assorted chopped fruits are combined with some cool creamy custard it is surely a heavenly one.
The custard in this case is made with store bought custard powder.
This powder is sold in different flavors like strawberry, vanilla and mango. It is made with corn starch.
PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes
COOKING TIME: 10 minutes
SERVES: 6-8
INGREDIENTS
• Vanilla flavored Custard powder - 2 tbsp
• Cold Milk – ¼ cup
• Milk - 500 ml (about 2.5 cups)
• Sugar - 1/4 cup or as required
• Mixed fruits – 3 cups (chopped)
METHOD
1. Take 2 tbsp of custard powder in a bowl. Add about ¼ cup of cool milk to this and mix until it forms a smooth paste.
2. Take the remaining milk (500 ml) in a sauce pan and heat it.
3. When it begins to boil, add the sugar.
4. Reduce the heat and slowly add the custard mixed milk. Keep stirring continuously so that lumps are not formed.
5. Cook on low heat with constant stirring for about 3-5 minutes. The custard milk will thicken and the raw flavor disappears.
6. Switch off and let it cool in the refrigerator.
7. While it is cooling, chop some assorted fruits. The choice of fruits is up to you. You can apple, pear, banana, pomegranate, musk melon and grapes, etc.
Other seasonal fruits like mango, sapodilla, jackfruit, papaya, pineapple, peach, kiwi, dragon fruit, orange segments, lychee, strawberry, other berries, mixed chopped nuts etc. can be added.
8. When serving, take chopped fruits in individual serving bowls and pour enough custard on top. Enjoy cool and healthy fruit salad.
Detailed Steps for making Fruit Custard
Take about 2 tbsp of custard powder in a bowl. If you prefer your custard thick, take an additional ½ tbsp. of custard powder. You can use vanilla flavored custard powder which blends very well with any fruits added. You can use other flavors too.
Add about ¼ cup of cool milk to this. It is important to mix the custard powder with cool milk otherwise it will form lumps.
Mix it with a spoon until it forms a smooth slurry. It will easily get dissolved with the milk.
Take milk in a sauce pan and heat it. I usually make with 1/2 liter of milk which is the perfect quantity for a family to enjoy for 2 days.
It is also sufficient when you have another family visiting. For making bigger batches, you can easily multiply the ingredients.
When the milk begins to boil, add the sugar and simmer for couple of minutes until it dissolves.
Reduce the heat and slowly add the custard mixed milk. Keep stirring continuously so that lumps are not formed.
Cook on low heat with constant stirring for about 3-5 minutes.
Within 5 minutes, the raw smell of corn starch will disappear and you will get a nice vanilla flavor.
You will also see that the milk thickens to form the custard.
Switch off and let it cool done.
Keep it in the refrigerator to cool it faster.
The custard thickens little more as it cools.
To avoid a thick film from forming on top of the custard, mix the custard once in a while.
In the meantime you can prepare and chop the fruits.
It is a great dessert wherein you can include all your favorite fruits and skip the ones you do not like.
All the fruits that tends to change color like apple, pear or banana, it needs to be kept in some water until you are ready to mix with the custard.
Also it is better to avoid fruits like watermelon that would make the custard watery.
You can mix the fruits with the custard and chill it until ready to serve.
Alternatively, you can refrigerate chopped fruits and custard separately.
When serving, take chopped fruits in individual serving bowls and pour enough custard on top.
Either way, the dessert tastes best when served chilled, according to Simple Indian Recipes.
BBN/MS/ANS