Chinese Style Dessert Recipe: Almond Float with Fruit
Sweet dishes are not often served in the course of a Chinese meal. Banquets are the exception, and this elegant fruit salad is certainly special enough. TIME: Preparation takes about 25 minutes. The almond float will need about 2 hours to set. PREPARATION: To prepare kiwi fruit, peel with a swivel vegetable peeler and cut into thin rounds. To prepare litchis, peel and cut into thin slices around the large stone. To prepare starfruit, wash and cut crosswise into thin slices. BUYING GUIDE: Use whatever fruits are in season at the moment, or use good quality canned fruit. Exotic fruits are avilable in most large supermarkets. Allow about 2 lbs of fruit for 6-8 people.
Ingredients
- 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
- 1⁄3 cup cold water
- 1⁄3 cup sugar
- 1 1⁄4 cups milk
- 1 tsp almond extract
- Few drops red or yellow food coloring (optional)
- #Almond Sugar Syrup#
- 1⁄3 cup sugar
- 2½ cups water
- ½ tsp almond extract
- Fresh fruit such as kiwi, mango, pineapple, bananas, litchis, oranges or satsumas, peaches, berries, cherries, grapes or starfruit
- Fresh mint for garnish
Instructions
- Allow the gelatin to soften in the cold water for about 10 minutes or until spongy. Put in a large mixing bowl.
- Bring 3/4 cup water to the boil and stir in the sugar. Pour into the gelatin and water mixture and stir until gelatin and sugar dissolves.
- Add milk, 1 tsp almond essence and food coloring if using. Mix well and pour into a 8-inch square pan. Chill in the refrigerator until set.
- Mix the sugar and water for the syrup together in a heavy-based pan. Cook over gentle heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil and allow to boil for about 2 minutes, or until the syrup thickens slightly. Add the almond essence and allow to cool at room temperature. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Prepare the fruit and place in attractive serving dish. Pour over the chilled syrup and mix well.
- Cut the set almond float into 1 inch diamond shapes or cubes. Use a spatula to remove them from the pan and stir them gently into the fruit mixture. Decorate with sprigs of fresh mint to serve.
Chinese Style Dessert Recipe-Almond Float with Fruit-calories-nutrition