Thursday, March 25, 2010

Chikoo (sapodilla) and Date Frozen Yogurt

Now I am the kind of person who likes to have something sweet post dinner. Rather, I need to eat something sweet every night. Since eating dessert is more a need rather than an occasional indulgence, I do end up counting calories, especially the calories from refined sugar.


However, this chikoo and date frozen yogurt is something I eat without counting any calories. For one, it uses low fat yogurt, but more importantly, since chikoos and the dates are naturally very sweet, this frozen yogurt doesn't need ANY refined sugar.


So, if you, like me, need to have something sweet after dinner, this frozen yogurt is something you must try - good to taste and nothing on the waist!







Ingredients:


Chikoos: 3-4 nos
Dates: 20- 25 nos


Yogurt: 500 ml
Low Fat sour cream: 1/4 cup


Honey: 3 tbps, optional
Lemon juice: 1 tbsp
Vanilla essence: 1 tsp

Salt: a pinch



Method:

Soak the dates in water for about 4-5 hrs. Once soft, drain the water, remove the seeds and the flaky outer skin as well. Grind to a smooth pulp, using a little milk, if needed. You need about 1/2 a cup of the date puree.


Peel the chikoos, discard the seeds and grind to a smooth pulp. You need 3/4 cup of the chikoo puree.


Hang the yogurt in a clean muslin cloth for about 4-5 hrs, so that the water (whey) drains off. Transfer it to a bowl, add the sour cream and using a hand blender/wooden spoon, beat till smooth and fluffy.


Add the date and the chikoo puree, honey, lemon juice and essence and beat a couple of minutes more. Chill the mixture for a couple of hours and then freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.



If you don't have an ice cream maker, then there is some work involved: freeze the mixture in a closed box and every time it starts to set along the edges, blend it in the mixie - do this at least 3 times.



This frozen yogurt is high in the total fruit pulp content and is low fat and therefore is best eaten as soon as it sets. Else, let it sit on the counter for about 5 minutes before scooping it out.



24 comments:

  1. Excellent to have in summers........tasty

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  2. Great recipe..looks simply delicious..

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  3. Yummy recipe and love the new look!!

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  4. Awesome dish for summer..looks great!!

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  5. wow! chikoo flavour is one of my fav1

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  6. I love having desserts too, but these days if i indulgge every evening on them, it seems to stick to my hipps :-)
    How i wish i could do the same like you.
    It is ages ago i had a chikko.
    Love the combo with the dates.

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  7. Its has been ages i had chikoo, frozen yogurt sounds delicious, healthy as well as refreshing..

    Btw ur new template looks beautiful dear..

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  8. I am ready to try this dessert. looks delicious and i'm big fan of chickoo.
    Nice clicks

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  9. I have to try this..big chickoo fan..always get it frozen from indian stores.

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  10. A very interesting combo! Love the click, its so inviting! Love your new blog layout as well, its very elegant!

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  11. Simply superb and mouthwatering..

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  12. hey AD,
    this is def. an interesting one!! would love to make it at home though I dont like chikoo ....this seems an interesting way to consume it ...and the combo sounds healthy too!!
    TC
    BTW...ur blog looks cool!! just like the frozen yogurt ;)

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  13. Quite interesting recipe, love this combo and looks delicious...

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  14. After so many years I saw fresh Chikoo last week- we went crazy to buy 5 chikoos for 6 bucks! Still waiting patiently to be ripen, oh we miss this fruit so much no word!
    U tease me with ice cream :(

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  15. Thank god for my brand-new ice cream maker! Otherwise I wouldn't be able to make this (at least not with ease). It sounds like the perfect low cal treat when an ice cream craving hits (which for me seems to be constantly).

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  16. Hi Aqua, a perfect summer dessert, it looks so good.

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  17. date is not very used in French cusine and it is too bad so thanks you for the recipe ! pIerre

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  18. I love chiku desserts... and this ice-cream sounds perfect and whats better than dates to pair with it

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  19. What a lovely n healthy recipe . My lil one loves cheeko n she'l surely enjoy it !!

    Smita
    @ Little Food Junction

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  20. This is an excellent idea Aqua. What can I add instead of chickoo ?

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  21. Thank you ladies, and I am glad you liked the template!

    Sandeepa, think you can use persimmon instead of chikoos as they are very sweet as well, probably a pinch of cinnamon/ginger will give it a nice contrast.

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