Tiramisu

Who doesn’t love tiramisu?  Only those of you who have never tried it. Before I begin anywhere, this desert contains too many calories in just 1 bite. If you are on a weight loss diet, I’m sorry. J But for those of you who care nothing less, please do try it.

Traditional tiramisu is a popular coffee-flavoured Italian dessert. It’s made of ladyfinger biscuits (also called sponge fingers) dipped in strong coffee, layered with cream, cheese, eggs mixture and topped with powdered cocoa. In the traditional tiramisu mix, rum is added. (Which is a big NO NO) And that is why I call it the halal tiramisu.

Though the ingredients may sound complicated and the dessert itself looks exotic, it’s pretty simple to make. Here is a step by step process.

The ladyfinger biscuits turn into a soft fluffy cake when it absorbs all the cream cheese. 

The real recipe for tiramisu calls for mascarpone cheese, which is quite expensive and not easily available too. Not to worry, cream cheese works beautiful. I have used this particular brand.

Mix 200g of cheese and 3 tbsp of sugar till smooth.

Separate 3 egg yolks from the white in a bowl. To the eggs add 4 tbsp of sugar and mix well.

Use a double boiler for this step. The bowl of eggs must sit in a pot of boiling water. Cook for 1-2 minutes stirring continuously till the deep yellow colour of the yolk turns milkish yellow (Cooking for too long may cause the egg yolks to scramble/clot. Keep stirring.)

Pour this egg mixture into the cheese mix immediately and stir well. To this add 2 tbsp of strong coffee.

Whip up 1 ½ cups of cream. I have used one sachet of powder whip cream. You can alternatively use fresh cream and whip it up.

For those of you who don’t have an electric beater. Pour ice water in a large bowl. Use a steel container to whip up your cream. Keep the container immersed in the water. This will help whip up the cream faster. Whip till the cream forms soft peaks. (Takes atleast 5 minutes and an aching arm)

Fold in the whipped cream into the cheese and egg mix. Your custard for the tiramisu is ready.

Now, time to arrange the masterpiece! Use a large deep dish for layering the lady finger and custard. Keep the coffee ready in a flat dish to dip the tiramisu.

Dip each ladyfinger into the coffee mix (The coffee is strong so don’t dip too much, just a bit here and there) and arrange in the dish.

Pour half of the cream cheese custard on top.

Sprinkle cocoa powder with a sieve. (I dint have any cocoa at home, so I used my son’s Nesquick chocolate milk powder J)

Repeat again, with another layer of ladyfingers, cheese and cocoa dusting.

Cover with a cling wrap and keep it in the refrigerator overnight to cool.

This recipe uses 24 ladyfinger biscuits and serves 12 people. One serving of this recipe will provide approximately 182 Calories.

Here is what you’ll need:

200 gm cream cheese / Mascarpone cheese

1 packet ladyfinger biscuits/ Sponge biscuits

3 egg yolk

7 tbsp sugar (divided)

1 ½ cup whipped cream

2 tsp instant coffee

Cocoa powder (for garnish)

Method:

1. To a glass of water add 2 tsp of instant coffee.
2. In a large bowl mix the softened cream cheese with 3 tbsp sugar till creamy soft.
3. Mix 4 tbsp sugar with the egg yolks till dissolved.
4. Double boil the egg yolks sugar mixture till dark yellow turns pale yellow.
5. Add the egg mixture to the cheese. Add 2 tbsp of coffee and mix well.
6. To this add the whipped cream and fold it in gently.
7. In a deep dish, arrange the ladyfinger biscuits soaked in coffee.
8. Spread the cheese egg cream custard and dust cocoa.
9. Repeat again with another layer of ladyfingers and custard.
10. Dust with cocoa.
11. Chill overnight.

  Recipe by Zohra Sada