Keskul Turkish Almond Pudding Food

TURKISH MILK AND ALMOND PUDDING (KESKUL)

Steps:

• Grind the almonds finely in a food processor. Bring the milk to the boil, preferably in a non-stick pan (which prevents the cream sticking and burning at the bottom), then take it off the heat.
• In a small bowl, mix the ground rice to a paste with 4-5 tablespoons of water, making sure there are no lumps. Add this to the milk and cook over a low heat, stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon, and always in the same direction, for about 15 minutes or until the mixture begins to thicken. (If lumps form, you can save the cream by beating it with an electric beater.).
• Add the ground almonds and continue to cook over the lowest possible heat, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes or until the consistency is that of a thin porridge.
• Add the sugar and continue to cook, until it has dissolved.
• Stir in the almond essence, let the pudding cool, then pour it into a glass serving bowl or individual bowls.
• Serve chilled, sprinkled with the chopped pistachios.

KESKUL - TURKISH ALMOND PUDDING

Steps:

• Place the egg yolk, sugar, rice flour, and corn starch in a saucepan and mix.
• Add ½ cup of milk to the mix and continue beating until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps. Add the remaining milk.
• Add the ground almond and desiccated coconut to the saucepan, and mix well.
• Place the saucepan on medium-low heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring continuously.
• Cook the mixture for a few more minutes and then add the vanilla paste.
• When the pudding gets thick enough, remove the pan from the heat and divide the mixture into serving bowls. You can check the consistency of the pudding with a spoon. It should be covering the back of the spoon without dripping.
• Let the bowls chill in the fridge for a couple of hours and then garnish them with ground pistachio, coconut flakes, and red fruits before serving.

ALMOND CUSTARD (KESKUL)

Steps:

• Grind almonds, finely in a food processor.
• Place in a bowl and knead with your hand to make a firm paste.
• Heat 250ml milk to boiling point, pour onto almond and stir with wooden spoon until well blended. Set aside to steep.
• In a large mixing bowl, blend 1/4 cup cold milk with ground rice.
• In a heavy based saucepan, heat remaining milk. Bring to a boil and pour onto ground rice mixture, stirring constantly, then return mixture to pan. Bring to a boil, add salt and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
• Strain almond milk through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing almonds with back of spoon. Pour almond milk into pan; stir well to combine and stir in sugar. Simmer gently for a further 10 minutes.
• Stir in almond extract and pour into individual dessert bowls. Serve garnished with chopped pistachio nuts.