Savoring Sapodilla: These Are The 5 Best Desserts To Make With Chikoo

From its caramel undertones to its velvety consistency, the chikoo can be a versatile ingredient in the kitchen, one that works well in both hot and cold desserts. Do try these dessert recipes to become a bona fide chikoo convert!

1. Chikoo and Cardamom Pudding

The Chikoo and Cardamom Pudding is a blend of tender, caramelized chikoo slices infused with the aromatic warmth of cardamom. To prepare this pudding, you'll need ripe chikoo, milk, sugar, cardamom pods and a thickening agent like cornflour. The process is straightforward enough: puree the chikoo until smooth (you would want to de-skin and deseed them first), then combine with milk, sugar, the cornflour and cardamom in a pot until it thickens into a pudding consistency. Let it simmer gently, until perfection is achieved. For those following a vegan lifestyle, feel free to substitute milk with coconut milk for an equally delightful outcome. It's perfect either way.

2. Chikoo Sorbet

A Chikoo Sorbet is just what the dessert doctor ordered for a scorchingly hot day! Just using chikoo, water and sugar, this recipe puts the fruit’s flavor and texture front and center. The trick is to use sweet, ripe chikoo, deskin and deseed them before blending to a creamy consistency along with the sugar and water. Freeze the blended puree, stirring occasionally to prevent ice crystals from forming. It's worth mentioning that this sorbet is dairy-free, eggless, and can be made sugar free by substituting sugar with stevia or honey.

3. Chikoo Chocolate Truffles

For those who appreciate the balance between simplicity and extravagance, Chikoo Chocolate Truffles are the perfect match. To make these truffles, you'll need chikoo puree, dark chocolate, cream, and cocoa powder for dusting. The chikoo puree is combined with melted chocolate and cream before being chilled until set. Then comes the fun part --- rolling the frozen mix into bite balls before dusting them with cocoa powder! If you prefer a vegan option, simply use vegan chocolate and coconut cream instead. These truffles showcase how chikoo can transcend boundaries, offering a taste that is both exotic and familiar.

4. Chikoo Halwa

For those who enjoy exploring unique variations of classic desserts, Chikoo Halwa offers a delightful taste. It calls for chikoo, ghee, sugar and nuts for garnishing. Grated chikoo (choose firm ones) is sautéed in ghee until it caramelizes. Then sugar is added to enhance its sweetness. The halwa is garnished with a sprinkle of chopped nuts creating a bevy of contrasting textures. It can be made vegan friendly by substituting ghee with coconut oil.

5. Chikoo Tartlets

Lastly, for those seeking challenges in the kitchen, Chikoo Tartlets present an elegant and sophisticated dessert option. These tartlets feature gluten-free shells filled with a luscious chikoo custard made from chikoo puree, milk, sugar and a thickening agent. The custard is carefully poured into baked tart shells and chilled until perfectly set. The result is a dessert that not just pleases the eyes but also tantalizes the taste buds. For a vegan version, you can substitute milk and use a vegan tart shell.