Healthy, lip-smacking delights with the best fruits of summer

You just came back home battling the scorching heat outside; grabbed a chilled water bottle from the fridge and started wondering about good foods…“Something that takes minimal effort to make, yet taste-wise hits the best? And perhaps healthy too.”

Check your fridge’s crisper drawer, and look out for what fruits you have! 

Summer is not really that bad, thanks to all the refreshing, juicy fruits that it gives. If you feel bored (just like me) with having them in the same old ways, here are some interesting, innovative, must-try recipes below. 

I myself have tried them out, and trust me, the rich, yummy, unique flavours are just gonna blow your mind. Worrying about the availability of fruits and other ingredients? Chill out, for you don’t need anything ‘extra’; everything is in your kitchen already! 

Mango chia seed pudding 

‘Creamilicious’ in one word! This pudding is so cute that your heart will just melt at first sight – let alone eating it. Only 4 simple ingredients, no hassle, nothing. 

How to make (my very own style)?

Blend 1 medium-sized ripe mango with some homemade curd and two teaspoons of honey (natural sweetener) in a mixer until it takes the form of a smooth texture. Don’t add water.

Layer a glass or bowl (whichever you prefer) with the pre-soaked chia seeds at the bottom, then pour the mixture over. For topping, either use a large dollop of curd or swirl honey. Diced mango pieces do literal justice. 

Keep it in the fridge for half an hour, and your pudding is all set. ENJOYY! 

Watermelon ice-cream

To make this perfect pink ‘pookie’ dessert, first cut a big, round watermelon in half, and scoop its inside. Add the diced pieces into the blender with full-fat cream (if unavailable, use full-fat milk); blend it nicely until soft peaks appear.

In a pre-chilled bowl, pour in the mixture and blend for another two to three minutes. Sprinkle some chopped fresh nuts of your choice and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Tadaaa…it’s ’TREAT TIME’!

Drizzle some honey and a few fresh watermelon chunks into your just-scooped ice cream.

French toast pineapple sandwich  

A die-hard fan of sweet, tangy flavour? This innovative version of French toast is bound to make your heart go ‘Ymmm..’ 

Here’s how to make it. 

Add a little butter to a non-stick pan and gently toss your bread slices. When they turn slightly golden brown, pour a cup of egg-milk mixture over them, and let it simmer for some time. As the milk thickens, carefully flip over the bread slices until both sides are done.

Plate them – one slice first, then the pineapple rings in between, with the other slice on top. Sprinkle some cornflakes and a little drizzle of honey on top (Nutella lovers, you are welcome too!). 

A perfect, wholesome breakfast dish. Well, you can also have it during a short snack break. In that case, the chilled version feels awesome!

Litchi labneh 

This humble little summer fruit always makes me think of the peach and berry fusion. Its sweetness, texture, and colour everything is soothing to the heart (and appetizing, of course!).    

Well, since I mentioned ‘fusion’, why not learn an elegant fusion dessert recipe today with litchi?

To prepare litchi labneh, first take a clean muslin or any fine cloth. Pour the curd into it to let all the water drain out. Yes, hung curd! It is better if you can place a heavy object over that – this removes the remaining moisture, making the curd’s final texture smoothest. Leave it like that for just 10 to 15 minutes. 

In the meantime, add a handful of peeled and deseeded litchis into the blender with two teaspoons of honey for sweetness and a few drops of rose water (optional). Blend it into a fine puree. 

Once your hung curd is ready, shift that to a bowl and add the freshly prepared litchi puree into it. Then, mix, mix and mix! Use a normal hand blender. Roughly chop some of your favourite nuts and, of course, litchis for toppings. 

Let Litchi labneh rest in the fridge for another 15 minutes. Serve it as a post-lunch relish. Best vibes only! 

Jackfruit pudding balls 

The sweetness and chewiness of this massive tropical fruit, with its‘pineapple+banana+mango combo’ flavour, is pure heaven to the taste buds. 

And when cooked in milk-based pudding, a whole new kind of dish is born!

How to prepare?

Peel the fruit and take out some fleshy pods. Deseed them to put in the blender. With that, add equal parts of rice flour and a small amount of powdered jaggery. It will turn into a fine paste, rather like a slimy dough. Knead well to make small balls out of it and put some jaggery filling inside. 

In a deep pan, heat milk until it comes to a boil. Keep the flame high and stir consistently – the milk’s level will slightly reduce. At this stage, add some sugar and the jackfruit balls one by one. Close the vessel’s lid, and slow cook the mixture for about 10 to 15 minutes. 

Open the lid once to see if the jackfruit balls are perfectly soft; they will have doubled in size – this indicates it is time to put off the flame. 

An excellent dessert for family get-togethers and occasional sweet treats. Serve with chopped dates and nuts as toppings.  

Ice apple custard     

Not a fruit, yet nothing less than one. Being the seed of the palm fruit, it’s juicy from the inside, containing sweet liquid with a jelly-like outer kernel. Here’s how you can make a delectable dish from this cute ice-apple. 

Simmer the milk over high flame, separate some of it in a small bowl, and mix the custard powder of your choice to form a smooth liquid. Slowly pour it into the pan and stir continuously to prevent lumps. Once the mixture has uniformly thickened, add the chopped ice apple pieces. Turn the flame off and let it sit for some time.

If you are planning to snack on the custard immediately, I would ask you to pause for a moment. The best, elegant vibes set when you refrigerate the dish. Serve chilled and enjoy the ‘JIGGLE’! 

Black plum popsicles

Tarty flavour is something that not everyone enjoys. These little, sweet and sour fluffy berries are just like that – looking like dark pearls, full of good nutrients.

Among many interesting ways that you can have this fruit, the simplest one I’m going to share with you now. 

Roughly chop the plums and put them in a blender. Add a small amount of honey for sweetness, a pinch of black salt, and some lemon juice into it. Blend them until a fine purplish slurry is made. Keep your ice cream mould ready and pour the mixture. Refrigerate for a few hours – your popsicles are ready. 

Peach crisps

This juicy fruit has a flowery aroma with a nutty flavour; the ripe ones just melt in the mouth the moment you eat them. Wanna know how to make a sweet and savoury light snack out of it? 

Pick some of the freshest, ripe peaches and peel them carefully. The heart just bounces with joy when you see the deep yellow-orange colour inside. Cut rings out of them or slice into thin pieces, and dab the fluid with tissue paper.

Make a light, cornflour slurry with milk and add a little sugar; whisk and whisk until a uniform batter is made. Dip the slices one at a time, and coat in rolled oats. Repeat this step for a second time.   

Next, shift the coated peach slices to an air fryer and bake them until crisp and flaky. Store the chips in an airtight container – they will stay fresh for a long time. If possible, sprinkle some 

Pro tip: You can enjoy these crisps with the frozen watermelon ice cream. Taste absolutely excellent with this combo. 

Cherry mini munch bars 

One of the healthiest snacks ever – made with ‘cheery’ cherries. 

Here’s how to make it. 

Lightly roast the oats in a shallow pan with butter. Once they turn golden brown, keep them aside to cool. Blend the cherries into a smooth paste, and add a little bit of honey to it. Heat the mixture for some time in a pan until the consistency thickens. Take any biscuit of your choice, spread the cherry mixture on top, and sandwich it with another one. 

Dip the bar into milk and roll over the oats. And you are ready with the crispiest and healthiest snack bar ever! 

And yes, don’t forget to store them in airtight containers. This will help preserve the little munchies!  

Read also: The ultimate fruit Pie recipe for Crispy Crust and Juicy Filling – Fnbbuzz