The most famous desserts in Europe. European desserts Desserts of European cuisine
When traveling, in addition to sightseeing, excursions, overnight stays in hotels and planning travel routes, you want to take a break with a cup of coffee, enjoying the moment. For me, as someone with a sweet tooth, the pleasure is incomplete without a delicious local dessert. Therefore, in this post I will introduce you to desserts that you should definitely try during a trip to Europe, because European countries have given the world many interesting sweets.
Black Forest or Black Forest Cake (Germany)
In Germany, they know a lot about more than just beer and icebein knuckle. Delicious desserts and pastries are prepared here. It’s not for nothing that there are bakeries (German: Bäckerei) in every corner of Germany, where they bake fresh buns every day.
The delicious chocolate cake (Schwarzwälder Kirschtort) originally from the German region of Baden-Württemberg is known throughout the world. Rumor has it that the Black Forest cake, or translated into Russian as “Black Forest,” got its name in honor of the German mountain range of the same name in this region.
Each layer of the cake is filled with cherries, and the top of the cake is decorated with whipped cream and chocolate chips. The secret of the special taste of the Black Forest cake lies in the impregnation of each cake with the alcoholic drink Kirschwasser. According to German law, only a cake that was prepared using this alcoholic cherry drink can be called “Black Forest”. The cake is incredibly delicious and rich.
The largest original Black Forest cake was prepared in 2006 at the German amusement park Europa Park. Just imagine, the weight of the cake was 3000 kg, the diameter was 10 m. 700 liters of whipped cream, 5600 eggs, 800 kg of cherries, 40 kg of chocolate chips and 120 liters of Kirschwasser were used in the production of the cake.
Black Forest cake can be found on the menu of many restaurants in Baden-Württemberg, but according to reviews from tourists, the most delicious cake is served in the city of Triberg im Black Forest (Cafe Schaefer). The head pastry chef of this cafe, Klaus Schäfer, inherited the recipe for the original Black Forest cake from his father, who in turn worked with the creator of the cake, Joseph Keller. The cost of a serving of cake in this cafe is 3-4 Euro.
Cantuccini (Italy)
Italy is the birthplace of my favorite sweets - Tiramisu cake, fluffy Panna Cotta and Italian dry Cantuccini cookies from Florence. Italian cantuccini macaroons (Cantuccini or Biscotti) can be found in almost any pastry shop (Pasticceria) in northern Italy, where they are often called Cantucci for short.
These cookies are quite dry, and it is best to dip them in hot tea, mulled wine or Amaretto liqueur (this is not for everyone, but in general this liqueur makes an excellent combination with almonds). In addition to nuts, Cantuccini contains spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. Some recipes also add raisins or chocolate pieces to Cantuccini. In any case, this dish is simply delicious.
The cost of a serving of Cantuccini in an Italian pastry shop is about 24 Euros per 1 kilogram. I recommend trying these delicious cookies at Il Cantuccio di San Lorenzo in Florence. Cantuccini is sold here in beautiful gift boxes that you can buy as a gift to your loved ones.
Tiramisu (Italy)
Tiramisu, a favorite delicacy of sweet tooths from all over the world, was first prepared in Italy. This is the most delicate dessert made from Italian Mascarpone cheese, Savoyardi cookies, cocoa, eggs and sugar. Tiramisu can be soaked in coffee or Amaretto liqueur.
I was surprised that such an exquisite dessert was invented in the families of poor farmers. The housewife beat eggs with sugar and soaked cookies with this mixture to feed her children - this way the children stayed full longer. Later, Mascarpone cheese and cocoa were added to this recipe.
There are many varieties of Tiramisu, and, perhaps, each Italian region prepares it in its own way. In Florence, we once had the opportunity to try Tiramisu with Mascarpone cheese, green in color, not white! I think the color of the cheese in this case depends on the impregnation of the dessert. In Italian cafes, Tiramisu is sold in portions - most often in individual glasses. Tiramisu can be prepared at home, but you should make sure that you eat it on the same day or at most the next day - a dessert made from fresh eggs spoils very quickly!
Try delicious Tiramisu in Italy local residents recommended at the Le Beccherie restaurant in Treviso, where, according to legend, this dessert was invented. A portion of airy Tiramisu will cost you 6-7 Euros.
Kyurtoskalacs/Trdlo (Hungary)
Those of you who have been to Prague have definitely seen the local delicacy - . However, few people know that this favorite delicacy of tourists comes not from the Czech Republic, but from Hungary and Romania, where it is known as Kürtőskalács.
Trdelnik is made from yeast dough. First, the dough is rolled out into a long sausage, sprinkled with sugar, then this sausage is wrapped around a wooden or metal rod, fried over an open fire, constantly rotating the rod, sprinkled with nuts, vanilla, and caramel. An excellent addition to trdelnik is freshly brewed mulled wine with aromatic spices or punch.
The most delicious trdlo in Budapest is served in Molnár’s kürtőskalács cafe, located in the very center of the city - on Váci utca street. Here you can taste trdlo coated with chocolate, almonds, hazelnuts, sugar, cinnamon and more. The cost of one trdelnik is 990 forints (about 3 Euros).
Macaron (France)
In Russia, pasta is now no less popular than in its homeland - in France. Macaron is a sophisticated dessert originally from France. Macaron is a kind of soft meringue with ground almonds and a filling of jam, ganache or cream. Macaroni comes in all colors of the rainbow and comes in a variety of flavors, from fruit to chocolate. Thanks to the compact size of pasta, even those with a sweet tooth on a diet can afford them. Macaroni literally melts in your mouth.
The most famous coffee shop selling macarons with branches all over the world is called Ladurée. A box of 6 macarons will cost you about 17 Euros. Here you can try pasta with pistachios, lemon or exotic passion fruit. Rumor has it that macaroni was invented by a pastry chef from this coffee shop. In general, in France they sell macarons everywhere, even in McDonald's McCafe!
Sachertorte (Austria)
Sachertorte is a must-try, the creation of the Austrian Franz Sacher. Just imagine, in Austria they even celebrate Sacher Day, which falls on December 5th. What is Sachertorte? This is a rich chocolate flavored cake with a thin layer of apricot jam on top and chocolate icing. The cake is traditionally served with unsweetened whipped cream.
Sachertorte is sold in many coffee shops in Vienna, including my favorite coffee shop Zanoni and Zanoni, where a portion of the cake will cost you only 3-4 Euros. However, the original Sacher, produced according to its own secret recipe, can only be tasted in the five-star hotel and restaurant of the same name - Hotel Sacher. This hotel with a cafe attached to it was opened in 1876 by the son of that same Franz Sacher.
It is said that the secret of the original Sachertorte lies in the chocolate glaze, which contains three different types of chocolate, which are made by different manufacturers specifically for the Sachertorte. The original Sachertorte is made by hand. Just think, every year the hotel of the same name produces about 300,000 Sachertortes, baked from 1.2 million eggs, 80 tons of sugar, 70 tons of chocolate, 37 tons of apricot jam, 25 tons of butter and 30 tons of flour.
At Cafe Sacher in Vienna, in addition to cake, you can taste coffee with the liqueur of the same name. A great addition to Sacher is traditional Viennese coffee. However, be prepared for queues and a fairly high cost of dessert at Cafe Sacher: 7 Euros per serving of the legendary Sacher.
Gelato (Italy)
It is no exaggeration to say that gelato is the most delicious ice cream in the world. There are many varieties of gelato, from traditional chocolate and strawberry to lavender and chestnut ice cream. Gelato in Italy is a favorite delicacy of children and adults. The shops selling gelato – gelaterias – are full of people at any time of the day. Gelato is served in plastic jars or in crispy cones with whipped cream or white/dark chocolate topping.
Gelato is famous all over the world for its intense taste, natural ingredients, and reduced fat content. If you are in Rome, I recommend that you try gelato in one of the oldest gelaterias with many years of tradition in producing delicious gelato. In the article "" I described the places where you can taste the most delicious ice cream in Rome.
My favorites are the Stracciatela chocolate chip ice cream and the pistachio ice cream. My favorite gelateria in Rome is Gelateria La Romana. The cost of one scoop of ice cream in it is 1.5-2 Euro.
Catalan cream (Spain)
Spanish Catalan cream (Crema Catalana) is a dessert similar to French creme brulee. The main ingredients of the dessert are milk, egg, sugar, spices. During the cooking process, the sugar in the dessert caramelizes, forming a thin crispy crust. This dessert is usually served in individual portioned plates. Catalan cream is an integral part of the Catalonia region.
Spain produces liqueur, candies, cocktails, nougat, chocolate and other products with the taste of Catalan cream. The cream is used to make some Earl Gray teas. You can taste the most delicious Crema Catalana in Barcelona at the Granja M. Viader coffee shop. For my taste, this dessert is quite specific, and personally I don’t really like it, just like French creme brulee. However, its popularity in Spain speaks for itself, so you might like it.
Lukum (Türkiye)
Turks know a lot about sweets, and Turkish delight is proof of this. Many have seen in person in Turkey or in photographs mountains of Turkish delight sausages stuffed with nuts. A variety of nuts are added to Turkish delight - pistachios, almonds, coconut. The delicacy was invented in the 18th century in Istanbul by the court pastry chef of the Turkish Sultan. Today, Turkish delight is produced in dozens of countries around the world, but it has gained particular popularity in the countries of Central Asia and some European countries (Bulgaria, Greece).
In Turkey, Turkish delight is sold already cut in gift boxes. Alternatively, you can buy it at the market and ask to cut off as much Turkish delight from the sausage as you need. There is Turkish delight with fruit juice, with nuts, with rose petals. Turkish delight is prepared from starch, molasses and sugar with the addition of fruit juices.
If you're in Istanbul, go for delicious Turkish delight at (Grand Bazaar, Kapalıçarşı). There they will not only give you a taste of the Turkish delight you like, but they will also pour you free aromatic tea. The cost of 1 kilogram of Turkish delight is from 20 Turkish lira. When we are in Turkey, we always buy a couple of kilos of Turkish delight to treat our friends and relatives.
Belgian waffles (Belgium)
Belgium gave the world another dessert worthy of mention. Belgian waffles (Gaufres de Bruxelles) are sold at every turn in Brussels, but the most interesting thing is to try them at central square Brussels surrounded by fabulous European houses.
Belgian waffles are rectangular in shape and served with jam, hot chocolate, whipped cream, strawberries and caramel. Waffles can be eaten instead of breakfast or as a dessert after a hearty lunch. In addition to classic waffles, Liege round waffles are popular in Belgium.
According to tourists, the best Belgian waffles can be tasted at the Le Funambule coffee shop in Brussels. This place is located a couple of minutes walk from the central square of the city, Grand Place, next to the Manneken Pis. Don't miss this iconic place on your trip to Belgium! The waffles here are very filling and tasty, and simply must be included in your gastronomic tour of Brussels. The cost of one serving is from 3 Euro.
Pastel de nata (Portugal)
Pastel de nata is the most popular pastry in Portugal. In appearance it resembles puff pastry cups with custard. You can taste paste not only in Portugal, but also in the former colonies of this country - in Brazil, Macau, Angola, etc. It is recommended to eat the pastry fresh - after even a few hours in the refrigerator, it gets soggy and becomes not so tasty.
In Portugal, pastel de nata is widely sold in local pastelarias and shops for about 1 Euro per piece. We recommend generously sprinkling the cake with ground cinnamon and drinking a cup of invigorating Americano coffee - you are guaranteed gastronomic ecstasy. We tried the most delicious pasta during our trip to Portugal at Fábrica da Nata in Porto, address: Rua de Santa Catarina 331/335, 4000-451 Porto.
Stollen (Germany)
In Germany, they bake a Christmas cake called Stollen, somewhat reminiscent of the raisin cupcakes that are sold in many Russian delis. Only, unlike cupcakes, Stollen is softer and richer, not dry. Freshly baked stollen can be found at Christmas markets in German cities. It is also sold all year round in stores in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria.
The composition of the sweet pie includes candied fruits, yeast dough, and butter. The finished adit is sprinkled with powdered sugar. There are a variety of stollen: almond, marzipan, poppy, nut, champagne, curd. And Dresden even has its own adit, which is a registered geographical mark.
Contrary to popular belief, desserts are an integral part of a nutritious diet. The main principle that must be adhered to, according to nutritionists, is that they should not be included in the daily diet. But for special events, various holidays, they can become a kind of “reward”. New Year Christmas is the perfect time to treat yourself to some goodies. Since the holidays are still ongoing, here is a review of the most popular desserts in the world that you can still prepare.
Christmas pudding (UK)
No Christmas holiday in Britain is complete without a special pudding. Despite its popularity in the country and abroad, it is not as tasty as it seems. However, everyone still has a chance to try it. What if you like it?
Dulce de leche (Argentina)
Condensed milk is the pride of Argentina. It is a mixture of milk and sugar that is boiled until caramelized and turns into a thick, tender mass. Of course, you can buy it in the store, but it will be much tastier when prepared at home.
Bolu Rei (Portugal)
Bolu rei, also called king cake, is a traditional Portuguese sweet bread with nuts and candied fruits, served at Christmas or on January 6th for King's Day.
Mazariner (Sweden)
Delicious almond baskets are considered a variant of the Italian crostata di mandodorle, an almond pie. And the name itself suggests the origin of the dish. They are named after the Italian-French cardinal Giulio Mazarin (1602–1661), also known as Jules Mazarin. Thus, the dessert is already more than four hundred years old, and such longevity only proves its amazing taste.
Cherry pie (Holland)
Cherry and chocolate lovers will appreciate this light version of the German Black Forest cake.
Gulabjamun (India)
Gulab jamun is one of the most popular Indian desserts, which are donuts made from condensed or skim milk, filled with pink sugar syrup.
Vinarterta (Iceland)
In Iceland, this layer cake with prunes is also called “Striped Lady”. It is usually prepared during the winter holidays, especially Christmas. There’s just no single recipe, but there is an opportunity to try several of them.
Banoffee Pie (England)
This may be one of the most amazing desserts in England. It is made from bananas, cream and toffee made from condensed milk. All this is laid out on a crust of crumbled cookies and butter.
Knafeh (Middle East)
Many Middle Eastern countries, such as Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Syria, claim to be the birthplace of this delicious dessert. But no one can say this for sure. The same Greeks prepare a very similar dish called kataifi, but they don’t put soft cheese in it.
Tiramisu (Italy)
Tiramisu is one of the most popular Italian desserts, made from savoiardi cookies soaked in coffee and creamed with beaten eggs, sugar and mascarpone. Due to its popularity, it has spread throughout the world and acquired many variations.
Cranahan (Scotland)
A traditional Scottish dessert made from oatmeal, cream, whiskey and raspberries. This is an amazing opportunity to impress guests not only in the heart, but also in the stomach.
Rocky Road Cakes (Australia)
Rocky Road is an Australian dessert made from milk chocolate, marshmallows and served in the form of cakes or cupcakes. In the US it is usually served with ice cream.
Chocolate cake "Guinness" (Ireland)
The Irish have their own idea of celebrating Christmas or St. Patrick's Day. And alcohol plays an important role there, even in desserts. And the combination of chocolate and beer in a cake will be simply unsurpassed.
Cake “Three Milks” (Mexico)
The cake got its name due to the fact that it is soaked in three types of milk. Although Mexican cuisine is known for its delicious, but very filling dishes, this dessert can be called the lightest and most harmless in terms of calories.
Devil's Food Cake (USA)
The cake is made from dark chocolate, and it got its name for its rich and rich taste, which simply cannot but be sinful.
"Dobos" (Hungary)
“Dobosh” is a magnificent sponge cake made from seven cake layers, coated with chocolate-butter cream and decorated with caramel. It was named after its creator, Hungarian chef Joseph Dobos.
Brazo de Gitano (Spain)
Although the name translates to “gypsy hand,” it is just a sponge roll. It is worth noting that it did not appear in Spain at all, but somewhere in central Europe, but it was here that it turned into a traditional Christmas dessert.
Christmas log (Belgium/France)
This is an incredibly delicious roll made from chocolate sponge cake and chocolate cream. Usually it is sprinkled with powdered sugar, which is supposed to symbolize snow.
Melomakarona (Greece)
It’s simply impossible to tear yourself away from these small honey cookies. This is one of the most popular treats in Greece during the Christmas holidays. And to make the taste even better, melomacarona is covered with milk chocolate.
Profiteroles (France)
Profiteroles are one of the best desserts in the world, consisting of choux pastry balls filled with cream and coated with milk chocolate glaze.
Sacher cake (Austria)
This is one of the most famous chocolate cakes in the world since its introduction in 1832 thanks to the Austrian Franz Sacher. It is a stunning sponge cake covered with a thin layer of apricot jam, and the chocolate icing on top only emphasizes the greatness of its taste.
Pavlova cake (New Zealand)
Don't let the name fool anyone, the dessert was invented in New Zealand. But it is really named after the great Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. It is a delicate meringue, decorated with whipped cream and pieces of fresh fruit.
Panettone (Italy)
It has arguably been the most popular Christmas sweet bread in Europe for the past few decades. It appeared in Milan and soon became a symbol of the city. Nowadays panettone can be found in many European and American cities.
Cheesecake (Greece/USA)
An incredibly tasty dessert, the origin of which is usually attributed to Americans, will make your holiday table unique. And the history of cheesecake is longer than it seems. The first memories of him date back to the fifth century BC. The ancient Greek doctor Aegimus wrote a whole book about the art of making cheesecakes.
Black Forest Cake (Germany)
"Black Forest" is an amazingly delicious chocolate cake consisting of four sponge cakes, pickled cherries and whipped cream, sprinkled with chocolate chips and decorated with berries. And you can serve a cup with dessert
Desserts don't always achieve such popularity. However, each country has its own national sweets. Let's meet the best of the best. Especially for those with a sweet tooth!
France
They are rightfully considered one of the best French desserts. eclairs . These fluffy custard tarts have been popular since the 19th century and are one of the creations of chef Marie-Antoine Carême. Today you can enjoy eclairs with glaze and a variety of fillings. The imagination of French confectioners is limitless!
Another “sweet” pride of France - macaron
– meringue cookies with a crispy crust and soft filling. A true masterpiece that simultaneously combines simplicity and sophistication. The variety of flavors and fillings will not leave anyone indifferent. By the way, the confectionery famous for this dessert Laduree located on the Champs Elysees in Paris.
Spain
Catalan cream
traditionally served in clay pots and called the pride of Spain. Prepared by nuns back in the 18th century, today this dessert based on milk, sugar and eggs is endlessly loved by all Spaniards.
Breakfast in Spain often starts with churros
. This is a delicacy made from deep-fried choux pastry. It is sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with hot chocolate.
Austria
The very first recipe strudel
was invented in Vienna and dates back to 1696. An incredibly tasty dessert is made from thin dough with berry and fruit fillings (cherry, apple, pear). In a restaurant, a piece of strudel is sure to be decorated with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.
Among Austrian cakes, it holds the palm "Sacher"
. It's impossible to resist a chocolate sponge cake with a delicate apricot filling, topped with a layer of chocolate. Sacher, prepared according to the original recipe, can only be tasted in the hotel cafe Sacher in Vienna, because it owns the exclusive right to use the trademark Original Sacher-Torte.
Germany
In the early 1930s, the famous "Black forest"
, also known as Black Forest cherry cake
. An incredibly delicious combination of chocolate sponge cakes, cherries and whipped cream.
Estonia
National delicacy of Estonia - marzipan
– a mixture of ground almonds and sugar syrup. There is even a museum in honor of this dessert. Estonians decorate their favorite marzipan candies with chocolate icing, candied berries and nuts.
Italy
Home of the most delicious Italian dessert
is considered a Piedmont city in the north-west of the country. The literal translation of the name is “boiled cream”. Panna cotta has a creamy texture and is usually garnished with berry sauces.
... Probably everyone has heard about him. However, it is in Italy that you can enjoy the true taste of this dessert: fresh Mascarpone cheese, fluffy Savoyardi cookies and Marsala wine, which has an extraordinary aroma.
Hungary
Extremely popular in Hungary pancakes a la Gundel
, named after the famous chef. The traditional filling is sour cream and dried fruits; the dessert is topped with chocolate sauce.
Hungary gave the world a recipe for another dessert. Cake Esterhazy
, first baked in the 18th century, was named after Foreign Minister Pál Antal Esterházy. Europeans immediately fell in love with the delicacy: almond cakes soaked in butter cream, white icing and the famous spider web design.
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, special culinary delights are not favored, so National cuisine is characterized by simplicity and democracy. Favorite national dessert - open Apple pie
, often topped with whipped cream. The aroma of cinnamon and crispy crust delight even the most sophisticated gourmets.
It should also be noted Dutch waffles
– two thin wafer plates glued together with caramel syrup. What could be simpler and tastier?..
Recipes for those who have long wanted to learn how to make something unusual and easy in the field of desserts. After all, almost all of our traditional cakes and pastries are too heavy, sweet and straightforward in an oriental manner. Obviously, you can do something more sophisticated and non-trivial.
Especially for our readers, pastry chef Timur Abdulkadyrov held a master class on preparing some European desserts.
Timur has been working as a pastry chef for 10 years. After graduation, he interned in Italy and worked in French restaurants. He admits that he has a sweet tooth by nature and really likes tasting desserts. Now such an opportunity has presented itself to us.
Italian mille-feuille with fruit and cheese
For it we will need the following products:
Strawberries - 30 gr,
Raspberries - 10 g,
Blueberries - 10 g,
Blackberries - 10 g,
Red currant - 20 g,
Millefeuille - 20 g,
Crushed pistachios - 20 g,
Mascarpone cream - 60 g,
Mint - 1 sprig.
Some clarification is required here: mille-feuille (or mille foglie (Italian: mille foglie) - translated as “thousand petals”) are the thinnest crispy puff pastry cakes. To make them, you can simply roll out store-bought puff pastry thinly, cut it into equal squares of about 8 by 8 cm and bake in the oven. Pistachios should be crushed, not ground. That is, they must be crushed to pieces 1-2 mm thick. You will have to make the mascarpone cream yourself.
It will require:
Mascarpone (this is Italian cream cheese) - 0.5 jars,
Egg yolk - 1 piece,
Powdered sugar - 100 gr.
Let's prepare it like this:
First the cream: for it, combine the cheese, egg yolk and powdered sugar and beat with a whisk until you get a homogeneous fluffy mass.
Now take three millefeuille squares, spread the cream evenly on two of them (not too much). Then we cut the berries: strawberries into quarters (if very large, then smaller), blackberries and raspberries in half. Leave the remaining berries whole.
Place the chopped berries on top of the cream and add a blueberry to each cake layer. Then we put the cake together and cover it with the third crispy millefeuille square.
Now you need to carefully spread the sides of the cake with cream so that all the filling is hidden under its layer, and both outer layers remain untouched. Finally, the final trick: holding the cakes by the top and bottom cakes free from cream, alternately dip all four sides in crushed pistachios so that they cover the cream with an even thick layer.
The cake is almost ready! Timur begins decorating it. First, he draws a graphic around it on the plate with berry sauce. If you have the patience, you can make this sauce yourself. For it you need to take 200 grams of blackberries, passion fruit and raspberries, grind in a blender, add 50 grams of powdered sugar and boil until a thick sauce is formed, and then cool.
Timur sprinkles the finished cake with powdered sugar and decorates the top with a sprig of red currant and a mint leaf. Now it’s not only very tasty, but also spectacular.
Try it and you will see that this is something completely extraordinary! Mascarpone cheese is much softer than any usual creams and not as sweet as them, and there is something incredibly attractive in the combination of its enveloping texture with crispy mille-feuille and nuts. And it's relatively easy to prepare. However, you need to know that this dessert cannot be prepared in advance, it must be eaten immediately.
French ice cream dessert with basil and mint
The second dessert is wonderful because it doesn’t resemble anything familiar at all. It contains an unusual flavor combination of basil and mint. It also has a completely different texture of its three constituent layers, which give a fireworks of tactile sensations when you feast on it.
For this dessert, you need to prepare three components in advance and store them in the refrigerator. These are mint-lime granita, airy espuma and basil sorbet.
We will need the following products:
For the mint-lime granita:
Sugar syrup - 100 g,
Fresh mint - 40 g,
Limes - 2 pcs.
For air espuma:
Sour cream 42% fat - 300 g,
Sugar syrup - 100 g,
Non-alcoholic mint syrup (ready) - 40 g,
For the basil sorbet:
Basil leaves - 100 gr,
Sugar syrup - 150 g,
Sparkling water - 350 g,
Stabilizer-emulsifier for ice cream - 10 g,
Egg white - 40 g,
Glucose syrup - 50 g,
Let's prepare it like this:
Granita is the smallest ice crystals that are obtained if you freeze a liquid gradually, stirring it all the time. To prepare mint-lime granita, you need to scald the mint with hot sugar syrup and let it stand for 2 minutes so that the mint gives off its color and taste.
Then take it out, cool the syrup slightly, add the chopped lime zest and squeezed lime juice, pour the mixture into a plate and put it in the freezer. As soon as the liquid sets on top with a thin crust of ice, you need to remove it from the freezer, mix thoroughly and freeze again, repeating stirring every 15-20 minutes. Then we will get not exactly ice, but tiny ice crystals: a delicate delicacy with a pronounced sweet-sour, mint taste.
Espuma is a culinary technique that allows you to turn anything into a delicate mousse. To prepare foamy mousse you will need a siphon for sauces. Of course, not every kitchen has a siphon, but this is exactly what is worth purchasing.
After all, with its help you can create a variety of culinary miracles, surprising guests not only with sweets, but also with the most delicate foamed sauces made from mushrooms, vegetables, fish or dairy products. Using a siphon, you can turn anything into a light, tasty, foamy mass that resembles whipped mousse.
In our case, you need to mix very fatty sour cream, sugar syrup and any non-alcoholic mint syrup. Place the resulting mass in a siphon and store it in the refrigerator (but not in the freezer). It is necessary to prepare espuma (foam the mass using a siphon) right before serving, since the mousse has a very delicate texture and settles quickly.
And finally, sorbet. We prepare it like this: scald the basil with hot sugar syrup, let it stand for 2-3 minutes, remove the leaves. Then let it cool, add the beaten egg white and the rest of the ingredients, beat everything and send it to the sorbet maker to make ice cream.
While Timur was cooking, we asked him what desserts he liked best. It turned out that they combine seemingly incompatible tastes. For example, basil and ice cream. He also really loves chocolate ice cream, which he makes with Guinness beer (half a liter of beer for one and a half liters of the composition for chocolate ice cream, whisk it into a sorbernitz).
When all three ingredients for our dessert are ready, we begin to “assemble” the dessert. Timur does this very effectively. He places mint leaves in a glass vase, then places a glass cone on top, into which he places a few spoons of bright green aromatic granita.
On top, with the help of a magician, using a siphon, he lays out a layer of light green delicate mousse and, finally, a ball of white ice cream is sent to the center of this splendor.
This magnificent dessert is truly a complex creation. It is beautiful visually, texturally and tastefully. The eye is pleased with the range of colors from a white scoop of ice cream to bright mint green. And there is also a gustatory and tactile play of sensations: from the rather sweet and dense creamy taste of a scoop of ice cream, through the delicate texture of whipped mousse to the sour mint crystals of granita. Plus, basil and mint in the dessert create a completely original combination. Royal dessert!
At first glance, it seems that it is quite difficult to do, but it is still worth learning. Moreover, along the way you can master several culinary techniques at once, which will give scope for your personal creativity.