There are two kinds of parfaits, the American version consists of layers yoghurt or Ice cream, granola or pastry, fruits and topped with whipped cream, which we are mostly familiar with. However the actual origin of the Parfait is France, it consist of eggs, cream and sugar cooked together to form a custard served cold and may or may not be layered with fruits and what have you.
Parfaits (American version) have become very popular today, they can pass as a dessert or healthy breakfast option. Most healthy food shops have their own versions of parfaits but the basic idea remains the same- Creamy, crunchy, soft, fruity and sweet are the taste and texture profiles most people sell and to crown it up, it’s healthy and good for you.
Let’s breakdown these textures and provide examples-
CREAMY- I personally like to layer my parfait and I start with the creamy base of yoghurt, plain yoghurt or Greek yoghurt.
CRUNCHY- The crunchy element is also what adds bulk to the parfait and keeps one full, so things like granola, muesli, coconut flakes, nuts and seeds like- chia seeds, hemp seeds, flax seed, sunflower seeds, almond nuts, pistachios, cashews etc. When I buy my granola or muesli, I make sure to go with the ones that have extra nuts and dried fruits and even coconut and banana chips.
SOFT AND FRUITY- These are mostly fruit and I think one can be as versatile as possible or as humble as using just one. From soft fruits like bananas, kiwis, papaya, orange and tangerine segments to all kinds of berries and other more textured fruits like apples, pears, plums, apricots etc. the list goes on and on. However considering the fact that in Nigeria the variety of locally sourced fruits are limited, the cost of imported fruits like berries could be on the pricey side.
SWEET- Most of the fruits used go from sweet to tart, however, some sweetness may still be desired while still keeping things ‘healthy’. I like to use these three; honey, date syrup or date powder because I can easily find them around me. There are many other low calorie sweeteners but I like to stick with the natural options.
It is very clear that there is no recipe per se for a parfait, once you have the basics you can roll however you please with as many or as little ingredients as you desire.
See how I made mine and what i put in it!
peace!!!
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