mango pudding

Mango pudding is a dessert you can find in most Asian countries but I was lucky enough to try it in Singapore about a year and half ago. Ripe mangoes and coconut milk make this dessert a cool, summer treat and can instantly cool your mouth off after a spicy meal. Not to mention it was the healthiest dessert option at my 9 wonderful desserts of the world dessert party. Many mango pudding recipes use evaporated milk or whipping cream but the coconut milk in this recipe creates the perfect balance with the sweet mangoes. It's important to use sweet, ripe mangoes for this pudding to get that fresh flavor in this pudding. Adding sugar to unripe mangoes will make this dessert sweet but it won't pop with mango flavor like it's supposed to. Even though summer is coming to end, mangoes are still in season so try this Asian-inspired dessert.

Mango Pudding
serves 4-6

3 ripe mangoes--diced
3 tsp gelatin (1 packet)
1/2 c. hot water
1/2 c. sugar
1 1/4 c. coconut milk

In a blender, puree the diced mango until smooth. In a saucepan, heat water until it reaches a rolling boil. While stiring the water with a whisk, slowly add in the gelatin until it has dissolved and there are no gelatin chunks. Add the sugar to the water/gelatin mixture and stir until dissolved. Pour this water mixture into the blender with the mango and then add the coconut milk. Blend until smooth. Run pudding through a strainer to eliminate any chunks and pour into serving bowls. Refrigerate for 2 hrs to 24 hrs. I topped each pudding with a small basil leaf but these would also be great served with a little whipped cream or ice cream.

foodbuzz 24x24: 9 wonderful desserts of the world

Who would want to make 9 desserts in one day? Uh I would! When I found out Foodbuzz (a social network for food bloggers and food lovers) had chosen to sponsor my 9 'wonder'ful desserts of the world party idea to be a part of this month's Foodbuzz 24x24 event, I was beyond excited. Foodbuzz 24x24 is where 24 food bloggers each host a dinner or in this case a dessert party on the same day and share their parties on each of their blogs. It was a great excuse to have friends over and use more butter than I ever have in one day. For the menu, I chose a few of the desserts from countries I have been to and the rest from countries I will hopefully get a chance to visit one day!

Pictured--top left to right:

USA: s'mores cookies (I couldn't resist after making s'mores pizza last week)
France: coconut macaroons
India: gajar halwa -- carrot pudding
Argentina: alfajores -- dulce de leche cookies
Spain: churros
Australia: sticky date pudding with toffee sauce
Singapore: mango pudding
Switzerland: spitzbuebe -- raspberry preserve filled sandwich cookies
New Zealand: hokey pokey ice cream

Everyone seemed to have a different favorite dessert but I'd say the coconut macaroons were the overall favorite considering there wasn't one left! My favorite was the New Zealand hockey pockey ice cream, I can't wait to share the recipe. Between friends, desserts, beer and the game 'battle of the sexes' it was a fun night and despite all the work I am happy to say I would love to do it again. This week I will post the recipes for each dessert in between eating the leftovers. I knew there was no way we could finish all the desserts so I had chinese take-out boxes for everyone to take home their favorite desserts. I already have a take-out box packed and ready to take to work tomorrow. The hard part is deciding which dessert to eat first.

What is your favorite dessert from a different country?