Home | WebMail | Register or Login

      Calgary | Regions | Local Traffic Report | Advertise on Action News | Contact

British Columbia

Cool off this weekend with one of these frozen treat recipes

Chef Rajeev Arora, who runs eight kitchens in B.C.'s Lower Mainland,offers up some sweet treat recipes to help keep you cool this weekend.

Saffron and pistachio kulfi, banana split popsicles and more to keep you going through the long weekend

It's been a long, hot week treat yourself to one of chef Rajeev Arora's frozen desserts.

A heat dome blanketing much of Western Canada created record-breaking temperatures throughout B.C. over the week.

The heat is set to continue through the weekend for parts of B.C.'s Interior, with forecasted temperatures in the high 30s.

Chef Rajeev Arora, who runs eight kitchens in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, said he likes to spend hot days down at the beach, cooling off with one of hishomemadefrozen treats.

He shared some of his favourite recipes on CBC's The Early Edition.

Saffron and pistachio kulfi

Ingredients:

  • 2cupsheavy cream, divided
  • 1/2tspsaffron threads
  • 1(14-ounce) can condensed milk
  • 1tsp cardamom powder
  • tspvanilla extract.
  • 2 tbspraw pistachios, crushed

You will also need a popsicle mould with popsicle sticks, or disposable cups, or a freezer-safe 6" X 10" X 2"container.

Pour1 cup of the heavy cream into a medium-sized saucepan and add the saffron threads.Heat over low-medium heat, until it comes to a gentle boil. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Transfer cream into a covered container and refrigerate until completely cold (at least 5 hours or up to a day).

Into a large bowl, combine saffron-infused cream and remaining 1 cup of cream. Whip the cream with an electric beater, on high speed,until thick and softly whipped. Add sweetened condensed milk, cardamom powder, vanilla
extract andpistachios into the whipped saffron cream, and then whip again for about 30 seconds, until mixed completely.

Transfer the mixture into the popsicle moulds, cups or freezer container. Sprinkle remaining chopped pistachios on top,insert popsicle sticks and place in the freezer overnight.

If you're using disposable paper cups, cut off part of the cup to peel off when you're ready to eat. If you've used a container to make your Kulfi, scoop out into serving bowls like you would ice cream.

Rajeev Arora is the corporate executive chef for Century Group and is responsible for eight kitchens in the Lower Mainland. (Submitted by Rajeev Arora)

Port wine and watermelon granita

Ingredients:

  • 6 cups cubed, seeded watermelon, split in 3 cups each
  • cup sugar
  • 1 tbspshredded lime zest
  • 1 cup port wine
  • cup fresh lime juice
  • 1 cup water

You will also need a 9" X 13" metal baking pan, and extra watermelon and mint to garnish.

In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water, sugar, and lime zest to a boil, until the sugar is dissolved. Strain the sugar mix and place into a blender, adding 3 cups of watermelon. Whirl until smooth, and pour into a 9" x 13" metal baking pan. Add the remaining 3cups of watermelon to the blender, along with port and lime juice, whirl until smooth, add to pan, and mix well.

Cover and freeze until mixture is beginning to freeze at the edges, about twohours. Stir, coverand freeze until solid. Just before serving, scrape into soft clumps with a fork. Spoon into chilled glasses or bowls.

Garnish with watermelon and mint.

Banana split popsicles

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1cupcream
  • 2medium sized bananas
  • 1 tsp vanillaextract
  • 2 tbsphoney
  • 2 tbspsugar
  • 1/2cupdiced fresh strawberries
  • 1cupmelted chocolate
  • 1 cup brownie crumbs
  • 1 cup crushed almonds (optional)

You will also need popsicle moulds and popsicle sticks.

In a food processor combine, yogurt, cream, sugar, honey and bananas until smooth. Place the banana mixture into a large jug with a spout and add the vanilla extract, diced strawberries and brownie crumbs.

Pour into popsicle moulds, insert your popsicle sticks and freeze until solid.

To remove the popsicles from the moulds, run under warm water for about fiveseconds and gently pull on the popsicle stick to release. Before serving, melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring until melted and smooth.Allow to cool. Once the chocolate has cooled but is still liquid, dip each popsicle in the chocolate, then in the crushedalmonds.

Allow to set slightly and serve.

Banana split popsicles are a unique frozen treat made by chef Rajeev Arora. (Submitted by Rajeev Arora)

Halo-halo

Ingredients:

  • 2 medium size diced bananas
  • 6 tbspdiced mango
  • 6 tspcorn kernels
  • 6 tsp sweetened chick peas
  • 6 tsp sweetened red beans
  • 6 tbsp sweet young coconut shredded
  • 6 tbspcoconut jelly
  • 6 tsp sugar palm seeds
  • 6 mini scoop ube ice cream
  • 6 mini scoop vanilla ice cream
  • 2 cups evaporated milk
  • 3 cups frozen coconut water shaved or fresh ice shaved.
  • 6 tspsugar (optional)
  • 3 tsp pinipig or Rice Krispies (for garnish)
  • 3 tsp maraschino cherries

Add corn kernel, sweet chickpeas, red beans, young coconut, sugar palm seed, on the bottom ofsix tall glasses; this should not exceed a quarter of the volume of the glass.

Add shaved frozen coconut water or shaved ice to nearly fill the glass, add a teaspoon of sugar if you want it sweeter, though most of the ingredients are quite sweet already.

Place banana, mango and coconut jelly evenly on top of the ice, drizzle evaporated milk. Top with a small scoopof ube and vanilla ice cream. Garnish with Rice Krispies and maraschino cherries.

With files from The Early Edition