Fruit Custard

Fruit custard is one of my favourite summer desserts for the simple reason because it one of the desserts which is served chilled in the scorching summer and also because it is loaded with fresh fruit chunks.

I love vanilla essence, the flavour and fragrance of vanilla makes me go weak in the knees. Vanilla flavoured ice cream is my preference over chocolate ice cream any day. My love for vanilla is not limited to food. Though my kitchen is always stocked with either vanilla powder or essence, our home's living room shelf is always lined with vanilla scented candles. Let me also confess here that I am forever scouting supermarket aisles for Vanilla-scented body scrubs and lotions. Now you know why this girl can never ever say no to custard!

I am sharing here a simple recipe for making fruit custard which is served chilled in many homes in India during summers.

My mother has been making custard ever since I was small and I promised myself every time I ate my mom's fruit custard that this is one recipe I need to perfect.

It is one super simple, fuss-free dessert that will surely please guests and family alike after an afternoon brunch or lunch. Little M loves it even more when I throw in truck loads of chopped summer fruits such as sweet melon, mangoes and grapes.

Most of the times, the custard powder packaging mentions how to prepare custard and it is a good idea to take a look before proceeding. This is a basic custard recipe by my mom and now I too like to put it into use whenever I am making custard.

In this recipe I have used two fruits - mango and pomegranate, albeit I highly recommend as many adding fruits, that you or your children enjoy eating, to it.

The fruits that taste best in a custard apart from mango and pomegranate are - apples, pears (with the peels to lend it that crunch), and sweet melon, grapes. I prefer to not use orange or pineapple.

You may add chopped nuts and dry fruit, just like my mom. She never forgets to garnish her custard with loads of dry fruit and nuts, which I have not used in this recipe. She soaks the almonds overnight and peels them before chopping and adding to the custard. She also puts in chopped cashews and a handful of raisins.

Here is the recipe for making the fruit custard:

Prepping Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 10 min

Serves: 3

Ingredients:

2.5 cups milk
4-5 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp custard powder
1-2 cups chopped mango
1 pomegranate, seeded

Method:

1) In a heavy-bottomed pan. heat milk.
2) While milk becomes heated, take 3 tbsp warm milk and add 2 tbsp custard powder to it. Mix well and ensure there are no lumps. Keep aside.
3) Add sugar to pan of milk and stir until sugar dissolves. Turn off the gas. After 2-3 min when the milk has slightly cooled (but not cold) add in the custard and milk paste that you prepared in parts. Keep on stirring to ensure there are no lumps and turn on the gas and keep on stirring the milk on low flame.
4) After a few minutes of stirring you'll notice the milk has thickened a little. Now turn of the gas and transfer to a glass/steel bowl and let it cool. After it has come to room temperature, put the bowl of custard in the fridge and chill for at least an hour.
5) Meanwhile, chop 3-4 mangoes (not too close too the seed) into cubes and remove the seeds of pomegranate. Cover chopped fruits with a cling film or a lid and put into the fridge.
6) Remember to add the fruits to the custard just before you serve. Serve chilled.

How did you find this recipe?

How do you like to eat or make your custard? Which fruits do you most commonly use?

Tell me all, I'd love to read what you think!

Thanks for reading! :-)