Easy Fruits and Custard Parfait

Easy Fruits and Custard Parfait

As the year comes to an end, many things need get done and time is always a constraint when it comes to eating at home in a nice setting. This is a pretty easy dessert that can be prepared 2 days ahead of time and assembled in a jiffy. It is both refreshing and light, a perfect late supper finale.

Ingredients:-

Custard Filling (A)

1-3/4 cups + 1/4 cup skim milk

1/3 cup + 1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup all purpose flour

6 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons pure vanilla essence

1/8 cup unsalted butter (cubed) at room temperature

8 oz or 1 cup or 227gm mascarpone cheese at room temperature

Toppings (B)

2 cups fresh strawberries (washed, hulled and halved)

2 pints fresh blue berries (rinsed and dried)

Method:-

To make custard filling (A):-

Place 1-3/4 cups milk and 1/3 cup sugar into a medium sized saucepan and heat over medium heat until milk comes to just about to boil, stirring occasionally.

In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks with 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup flour until there is no lump. (To make it faster, just pass the mixture through a fine sieve).

Once milk is about to boil, remove saucepan from heat and whisk in egg mixture.

Return saucepan to heat and cook over medium heat until mixture thickens and comes to boil, whisking continuously. Continue to stir for another one to two minutes until mixture thickens.

Remove from heat. 

Add vanilla and butter. Whisk to combine and until custard is smooth. 

Cover with a plastic wrap immediately (to prevent skin from forming on top of custard) and let it cool. When it is cold enough, place custard in the fridge to cool until custard is thick.

 Meanwhile, whisk mascarpone cheese until it is smooth in a separate bowl by just using a wire whisk.

 Add mascarpone cheese to cold custard and whisk until smooth. 

Set aside to chill in the fridge again until ready to use (can be refrigerated for 2 days).

Assembling:-

Chill 6 tall glasses or parfait glass. Divide the chilled custard and spoon into the glasses. Top them with (B) pre-washed fresh strawberries and blue berries. Serve them chilled. Don't forget to lick the spoon and enjoy!

**Note: You may line the inside bottom of the glass with some lady finger biscuits dipped in your favourite espresso before you spoon the custard into the glass!