Custard apple recipes: 3 sitaphal recipes to try

What comes to your mind when you hear Sitaphal? Love it or hate it, this tropical fruit is a great source of nutrients. Also known as custard apple, it is a delectable fruit that not only tantalizes the taste buds but also offers numerous health benefits. It has a creamy texture and a sweet taste. Custard apple is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin B6, calcium and iron. Moreover, it contains no cholesterol or fats. It’s packed with great nutrients and more and should definitely be part of your diet. But if you are tired of eating sitaphal sabzi, we share with you 3 sitaphal recipes that you can try.

Benefits of Sitaphal or custard apple

As mentioned, sitaphal or custard apple is a nutrient powerhouse that offers countless benefits. They are rich in antioxidants, which have anti-cancer, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties. Did you know that foods rich in antioxidants, such as sitaphal, eliminate free radicals from the body, reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease?

Studies have also shown that custard apple benefits include supporting the immune system, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. It is also a good option for people with diabetes and liver problems. However, it is advised not to consume the seeds of this fruit, only the pulp, as the seeds can be poisonous.

Custard apple recipes you have to try!

Here are 3 delicious recipes prepared with sitaphal by food scientist and restaurateur Neha Deepak Shah. She recently shared these recipes on her Instagram.

1. Sitaphal ice cream

If you love ice cream, this sitaphal ice cream is a must for you!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of milk
• 1 cup fresh cream
• 1 cup milk powder
• 1 cup sitapal pulp
• 1/2 to 3/4 sugar (depending on your taste)
• Set aside 1/4 extra sitaphal pulp

How are you?

Place milk, fresh cream, milk powder, sitaphal pulp and sugar in a blender. Once it is well mixed, pour the mixture into a container and place it in the freezer. Once the mixture is semi-hard, add the extra pulp you saved in the ice and freeze it again. Your ice cream is ready to enjoy!

Expert pro tip: Because the ice cream does not contain cornmeal or stabilizers, it may take 5-7 minutes to soften before taking a scoop.

2. Sitaphal Basundi

A light, refreshing sweet, you can try sitaphal basundi occasionally. However, people with an underlying disease should consult a doctor to know if they can include this in their diet.

Ingredients:

• 1 liter milk, boiled and reduced by half
• 2 large sitapal
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of sugar
• 2 to 3 whole elaichis (cardamom)
• 1/2 teaspoon elaichi powder
• Nuts and rose petals to garnish

How to prepare?

Add sugar (or a healthy alternative), cardamom and cardamom powder to the milk and let it boil until it reduces by half. When it is ready, let it come to room temperature and add sitaphal pulp to it. Garnish with rose petals, nuts or varq. Now, enjoy!

3. Sitaphal Angoori Basundi

Preparing balls:

• Milk
• Sugar syrup (or honey syrup, maple syrup to make it healthy)

For the Basundi:

• 1 liter milk, boiled and reduced by half
• 2 large sitapal
• 2 to 3 tablespoons sugar (or a healthy alternative)
• Nuts and rose petals to garnish

How to prepare?

For this you have to first make chhena. To do this, you need to heat the milk until it boils, then add lemon juice or vinegar to curdle it. Strain the mixture and press out the whey. Pour away all the water and start kneading. Now make small balls and cook them in sugar syrup (or a healthy alternative). Let it cook for 8-9 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave it alone.

While the milk balls are cooling, boil some milk in a bowl and let it reduce by half. Once it is ready, add sitaphal pulp to the milk and mix it well in a blender. Pour the mixture into a bowl and add the balls after squeezing them. Let it cool and garnish with rose petals, nuts or varq.

Please note: You can use sugar alternatives such as honey, maple syrup or natural sweeteners to make it healthier. Also, people with an underlying illness should consult their doctor first before making any changes to their diet.