Showing posts with label coconut. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coconut. Show all posts

Monday, June 10, 2013

Coconut-Saffron Tapioca Pudding

Lately I’ve been craving tapioca. A lot. Coconut tapioca, to be specific. I have a recent dinner hosted by a friend to thank for this hankering, as coconut tapioca was part of that night’s menu. There’s just something so comforting about tapioca. It’s something that brings me back to my childhood, when I would be delighted to get a bowl of coconut milk and tapioca dessert soup after a Cantonese dinner out (rather than the usual standard of red bean soup). And on occasion, my mom would make this incredible baked sago (what we liked to call tapioca) pudding—super eggy, super rich, and super delicious.

Coconut-Saffron Tapioca Pudding

Then last week, I had the brilliant Shole Zard dessert at Richmond Station—a Persian saffron pudding. It was ethereal and subtly sweet, with beautiful floral notes from the saffron. I was instantly in love with this dessert, and had been thinking about it ever since.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Piña Colada Pancakes

Pancakes…my total and utter weakness. I usually keep things simple with plain buttermilk pancakes drizzled with maple syrup. But I decided to have a little fun with some leftover pineapple and a can of coconut milk in my pantry, and made these amazing Piña Colada Pancakes.

Coconut Pancakes

Rather than using all buttermilk in the recipe, some coconut milk was used in the batter instead to enrich the pancakes with some coconut flavour. The addition of the shredded coconut added a wonderful textural quality to the fluffy pancakes. And instead of maple syrup, a very tropical and delicious pineapple-rum sauce was served with the pancakes, topped with some whipped cream flavoured with—you guessed it—more rum.

This is a decadent brunch entrée for sure, but I promise you, these will make any weekend morning that much more special (and worth getting out of bed for)!

Coconut Pancakes

Piña Colada Pancakes
Makes 8 pancakes

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1 large egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup coconut milk
1 tablespoon coconut oil (or vegetable oil)
1/4 cup coconut flakes or chips, lightly toasted

For the pineapple-rum sauce:
1/2 pineapple, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon water
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt

For the rum cream:
1/4 cup whipping cream
1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon rum, or to taste

Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and shredded coconut.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Slowly add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated. Do not overmix; your batter should still be a little lumpy. Set aside the batter to rest for 10 minutes.

Heat some oil or butter in a cast-iron pan or heavy skillet over medium heat. Drop a small ladleful of batter into the centre of the pan and let cook until bubbles begin to pop in the centre, about 2 minutes. Flip pancake and cook for an additional minute or two, until golden brown.

Keep the pancakes warm in a very low-temperature oven while you finish cooking the pineapples. Pile a couple of pancakes onto a plate, and serve with pineapple=rum sauce and rum cream.

To make the the pineapple-sauce: Heat 3 tablespoons sugar and a tablespoon water in a small, heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar has melted. Allow the sugar to simmer for about 2 to 3 minutes, when it just starts to brown. Add the pineapples and toss to coat, and allow to cook for about 2 minutes, to allow the pineapple to soften a bit and release some of its juices. Sprinkle in some salt and cinnamon and stir. Remove the pan from the heat and add the rum. Carefully hold a lighter close to the pan until it catches, return the pan over the heat, and allow the fire to burn off the alcohol. Cook for another 30 seconds, and serve with the coconut pancakes immediately, and some rum whipped cream.

To make the rum cream: Put all the ingredients into a bowl and whisk until stiff peaks form (or use an electric mixer). Keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Coconut Quinoa Granola

I'm always on the lookout for a new granola recipe in order to jazz up my morning yogurt. And I find that it's the perfect kitchen project on a lazy Sunday when I'm trying to get other chores done around the apartment. It comes together so quickly, and soon enough, my place is filled with the enticing smells of spices and nuts.

Coconut Quinoa Granola

My latest muse this past Sunday was this fantastic Coconut Quinoa Granola. Along with the old-fashioned rolled oats, raw quinoa and wheat germ were added to the mixture. The quinoa added some incredible nutty flavours to the granola, as well as a super crunchy texture.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Twelve Cookies of Christmas #11: Candied Cardamom-Coconut Cashews

Candied Cardamom-Coconut Cashews

These candied cashews are the second non-cookie item on my holiday baking list this year. I already had a confection added to the line-up (see Peppermint Marshmallows), so I wanted to have some spiced or candied nuts to mix things up a little.

At first I wanted to do some spiced pecans, but quickly changed my mind when I came across a recipe for Candied Cardamom-Coconut Cashews. The coconut and cardamom gives these candied cashews an exotic, tropical twist, and smell absolutely incredible.

Candied Cardamom-Coconut Cashews

What's so great about these is that they are so easy to make and keep very well, so you can make them well in advance during the holiday madness when life gets busy.

I got the recipe from the amazing Alice Medrich and her most recent cookbook Sinfully Easy Delicious Desserts.

Follow along with my Twelve Cookies of Christmas.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Beet, Carrot, and Spinach Curry

beet carrot curry_01

Spring is in the air! And what better way to celebrate spring than with this beautiful, colour dish.

Bright oranges and magentas, and rich greens.

This rich, flavourful curry is sure to impress any vegetarian (and non-vegetarians!).

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Twelve Days of Christmas, #9: Ambrosia Macaroons

I love a good macaroon, but mine have always failed if I made them the traditional way, using only whipped egg whites. No matter how they're whipped, or even with some cream of tartar added as a stabilizer, my whites will eventually start separating during the baking process. What I'll end up with is a very ugly, flat looking macaroon cookie with big blogs of chewy meringue mixture running every which way.

xmas cookies_15

Day Nine of my Twelve Days of Christmas Treats: Ambrosia Macaroons.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Lacy Coconut-Topped Brownies

I went back home for a quick visit a few weeks ago and wanting to make some treats for my friends, I turned to my trusted Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cookies by Alice Medrich. This cookbook never ceases to amaze me at how incredible the recipes turn out. Every recipe I've made from the book has turned out perfect and absolutely delicious. Alice is a baking genius.

coconut brownies_02

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