CELEBRITY MASTER CHEF DR KAVIRAJ KHIALANI
Cherries are one of the most attractive and wonderful fruits to enjoy and the very first look of them on desserts, cakes and pastries is truly a mood enhancer and elevate the senses as well. While the best way to enjoy them are the fresh ones like in season these days, other options for a year round connect remain the frozen, canned or tinned options which do an equally good job as well.
While cherries taste great when had fresh the cooked and baked versions too are interesting in several cuisines. While we have seen cherries being used as popular garnishes in cakes like black forest, white forest etc we do have desserts which use cherries in cooked or stewed form, sauce form, jelly form, compote form, marmalade and jams as well.
It is easy to adapt to cherries in our day to day cooking and I must confess that working with cherries is truly a pleasure and a great ingredient which refreshes the mind and also detoxifies the system. Cherries are great to add into muffins, cupcakes, sweet variety of breads, adding them to milkshakes, smoothies, parfaits, ice-creams, tarts and pies is equally appetizing!
Here are a few Health Benefits of Cherries
- Cherries are not only delicious but also packed with vitamins, minerals and plant compounds with powerful health benefits.
- Cherries are rich in dietary fiber, a good source of vitamin-c and also potassium which can reduce risk of hypertension etc.
- Cherries have a significant amount of phytochemicals which protect our body against certain enzymes which can lead to inflammation and arthritis pain as well.
- Cherries are high in anthocyanin content which gives them that dark red shade infact they say more sour the cherries more is the content of anthocyanins; these powerful anti-oxidants help our body’s cells protect themselves against free radicals.
- Cherries are also a good option to include in our diets to manage and reduce weight as well.
- Cherries are considered heart healthy foods, and they also improve the brain function and are good for our bones too.
- Cherries are anti-aging, reduce the risk of gout attacks and also help reduce muscle pains.
Here are some ways to incorporate Cherries into our Daily Diets
- Cherries can be enjoyed fresh as a sweet snack, pair dried cherries with chocolate chips, unsweetened coconut flakes, and salted almonds for a delicious homemade trail mix.
- Cherries can be used to prepare a cherry compote out of frozen tart or sweet cherries and spoon on yogurt oat meal or chia pudding.
- Cherries also go well when added halved, pitted or seeds removed to a fruit salad, incorporate dried cherries into baked goods for a kick of natural sweetness.
- Cherries also add a bit of tart cherry juice to sparkling water and top with a lemon wedge for a fun mocktails and mixed drinks/detox water jars etc.
- Cherries can also be added fresh or cooked cherries to ice cream, pies, crumbles, and other desserts. Make a homemade cherry barbecue sauce to use with meat or poultry dishes.
- Whip up a cherry salsa with diced cherries and fresh herbs like basil to serve alongside savoury meals. Add frozen cherries to your favorite smoothie. The possibilities for using cherries in your kitchen are endless, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
- Cherries can also be adapted into Indian sweets and desserts with a fusion touch to them. Some of the easy ways to use them are to stew the pitted cherries in a little jaggery syrup with a pinch of cinnamon powder and some sliced almonds layer that with a Chawal ki phirni in a clay pot or kullad and garnish with caramelised cherries or a compote of cherries with chopped walnuts or crushed praline in it.
- Cherries cooked in a honey, rum and raisin sauce can also be added to a seviyan kheer layered in shot glasses and garnished with assorted nuts, a cherry shahi tukda or double ka meetha with cherry wali rabdi, also try doing a cherry aur Kaju ka sheera using semolina, coconut milk and a few assorted seeds like chia, flax seeds, sunflower seeds and serve it warm.
Here are a few easy recipes to prepare using the Seasonal Cherries
FRUITY CHERRY SALAD
Ingredients
For the base of the salad
Assorted salad leaves- 1 cup, iceberg, Lollorosso, cos, romaine.
For the body of the salad
Cherries- 1 cup fresh- 12-15 pieces.
Green/ red apple- 1 no cut into cubes
Cucumber-1/2 no cut into cubes
Raisins- 2 tsp
Almonds/walnuts- 2 tbsp. roughly cut
Celery- 2 stalks-cut into ½ inch pieces
For the dressing of the salad
Mayonnaise sauce/ hung curd- ½ cup
Salt and pepper to taste
Lime juice- 2 tsp
Parsley/mint leaves- 2 tsp. cut
For the garnish of the salad
Micro-greens-1/4 cup- as desired for garnish.
Cherry tomatoes/ olives/ parsley/ jalapenos- as desired for garnish.
For non-veg options: boiled chicken cubes/poached prawns/ chicken sausage slices/ boiled cubes of eggs etc.
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the salad and keep ready.
- In a mixing bowl combine together the ingredients for dressing and mix well.
- Arrange a bed of crispy lettuce leaves on the salad serving plate/salad bowl.
- Finally toss the body of the salad with the dressing and portion the same on the plate, garnish and serve immediately.
HEALTHY CHERRY SHAKE
Ingredients
Cherries-12-15 no. seeds removed.
Banana-1 ripe peeled and cut
Peanut butter-1 tsp optional.
Flax seeds/ sunflower seeds/ pumpkin seeds- 1 tsp any one.
Honey-1 tsp
Milk / soy milk- 2 cups
Cashews/almonds-2 tsp
Method
- Assemble all the ingredients for the cherry shake.
- Combine them all into the jar of a mixer/grinder and churn it all well to a nice smooth texture.
- Pour the shake into chilled glasses and garnish with mint/ nuts/seeds etc and serve.
ANGELS DELIGHT SALAD
Ingredients
For the body of the salad:
Cherries- 12-15 no, seeds removed.
Cottage cheese/tofu- 150gms cut into slices/cubes.
Cucumber-1 no peeled and sliced
Green/red/yellow capsicums-1/2 cup dices.
Onion-1 small diced
Green/red apple-1 no sliced
Assorted greens/lettuce leaves- 1 cup
For the dressing & garnish:
Olive oil-2 tsp
Date puree- 2 tbsp.
Honey-1 tsp
Lime juice-2 tsp
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh/ dry herbs- to taste
Chaat masala-1/2 tsp
Roasted crushed cumin-1/2 tsp
Mint leaves- 5-6 no.
Almonds/cashews-2 tsp sliced
Assorted seeds of your choice- 2 tsp
Method
- Assemble all the ingredients for the salad. Apply a little oil, salt and pepper/spices of your choice, lime juice, mustard paste, chili sauce etc on the paneer pieces and grill them lightly on both sides and add it to the body of the salad. We can also use boneless chicken breast fillets as well in the same way.
- In a mixing bowl combine together the dressing for the salad and give it a nice mix, add in the body of the salad with the cherries and toss everything well.
- Arrange the salad on a chilled plate or salad bowl and portion it out, garnish the salad with more cherries, nuts, seeds etc as desired and serve immediately.
CHERRY CHIA CHOCOALTE DESSERT
Ingredients
Cherries- 12-15 no fresh, seeds removed.
Dark chocolate- 150 gms, melted
Chia seeds- 2-3 tbsp. soaked in 3 cups of water for 20 mins.
Milk/soy milk- 500 ml
Date- puree- 2-3 tbsp.
Cinnamon powder-1/4 tsp
Sugar to taste or condensed milk may be used as well.
Assorted nuts- 2 tbsp. chopped- almonds/cashews/walnuts.
Crushed chocolate biscuits/digestive crackers/oatmeal biscuits- 4-5.
Chocolate shavings Mint/cherries/assorted sliced nuts for garnish.
Method
- Warm up the milk add in the date puree/sweetener of your choice and mix well, add in cinnamon powder and stir.
- Add in the soaked chia seeds drain off the excess water and stir them into the simmering milk and cook for 3-4 mins on low flame.
- Turn off the flame and add in the shavings/melted dark chocolate and mix well until the color has changed.
- Allow it to cool completely and then start layering the dessert with cherries, powdered crackers/biscuits and nuts, chill the sweet for around 30- 45 mins and then remove it, garnish and serve.
CHOCO – CHERRY FANTASY
Ingredients
Cherries- 12-15 no, seeds removed.
Chickoo- 2 no ripe, peeled, stone removed and cut.
Dark chocolate- 150 gms, melted
Soy milk/milk – 2 and a half cups
Chopped dates-2 tsp
Chopped nuts- assorted variety- 2 tsp
Assorted seeds- 2 tsp
Mint leaves- 6-8 no
Honey-2 tsp
Method
- Prepare all the recipes for the shake and keep chilled.
- Using the jar of a food processor combine together all the ingredients and give it a nice churn to blend smoothly.
- Pour the prepared drink into chilled glasses and add more nuts/seeds/choco chips if desired.
- Serve the drink garnished with mint, chocolate shavings etc.
NUTTY CHERRY HUMBLE BAKE
Ingredients
For the cherry mixture
Cherries- 15-20 no
Butter-2 tsp
Brown sugar- 2 tbsp.
Honey-2 tsp
Cinnamon powder-1/4 tsp
Raisins-2 tbsp.
Almonds/cashews-2 tbsp. chopped
Rum/brandy- 2 tsp optional.
For the covering
Crushed biscuits/digestives/crackers- 2 cups
Butter-3/4 cup melted
Honey-2 tsp
Date puree- ½ cup
Vanilla essence- 1 tsp
Milk-1/2 cup
Method
- Prepare all ingredients for the humble cherry bake.
- Warm a pan add in the butter, brown sugar, honey, cherries and saute well on a light flame.
- Add in the cinnamon powder, raisins and rum or brandy as needed and mix well.
- In a mixing bowl combine together the crushed biscuits, melted butter, vanilla, milk, honey and date puree and form into a mixture like a semi-dry dough.
- Grease a baking dish with melted butter, place the cooked up and cooled cherry mixture at the base, top up with the biscuit mixture and cover the cherries.
- Cover the entire mould with aluminium foil and allow it to bake in a pre-heated oven at 160 degrees Celsius for 20-25 mins and serve warm with some vanilla custard or some sweet cream etc.
Celebrity Master Chef Dr Kaviraj Khialani is a Mumbai-based hotel-restaurant and food consultant. He is specialised in over 33 international cuisines and has quality experience with hotels and airlines as a part of his long journey of over two decades in his chosen field. Chef Kaviraj is a renowned author, academician, food designer, writer and has also been awarded several national awards and global recognitions for his talent & outstanding achievements. Besides having been featured on several food shows on ColorsTV and Star Plus he is a mentor, coach and guide to aspiring to be future chefs and hoteliers of tomorrow.
He can be contacted at twitter: @kaviraj_chef, Mobile: 91 9820939336.
