Does it often happen to you that in the middle of the night, you walk up to the refrigerator in the hope of finding something savoury to eat? But all you find is some leftovers and fruits waiting for you to choose them. So, you’re in despair at 3 AM, making puppy eyes in the kitchen, attempting to whip something up real quick.
If that’s the case, making a parfait could be your go-to option. The layered dessert, which is usually made from yoghurt, custard, fruits, granola, nuts, and other additives as per your choice, is not just easy to make but is also known to be a guilt-free dessert. But before you make one for yourself, here’s how it made its way to the 21st century and the most popular types of parfait.
A Brief History Of Parfait
Parfait is a French word which means “perfect”, and there’s no doubt to why the lip-smacking dessert is named so. Talking about its roots, it was first made in France in the 1890s, but with very different ingredients. The earlier versions of parfait looked very similar to the creamy desserts like mousse. Back in the 18th century, parfait was mainly made from eggs, sugar, and cream.
However, as the Industrial Revolution took place, the dessert made its way from many European countries to America. In a very short time, the dessert got so much attention that a “parfait spoon” was made to eat all the layers of parfait from a tall glass easily. The layered dessert that you might enjoy today is the American twist to the classic parfait. It includes layers of ice cream, crumbled cake, toppings of whipped cream, fruits, chocolate chips, and much more.
As of today, while the rich chocolatey versions of parfait are still classic, healthier versions are also in trend. So, you might choose to use yoghurt instead of ice cream, sugar-free biscuits instead of brownies or cake, and a generous addition of seasonal fruits topped with dry fruits and nuts.
Popular Types Of Parfait
American Parfait: The traditional parfait is made by taking cake or cookies as a base layer. The other layers are usually filled with fruits, whipped cream, and jam.
Yoghurt Parfait: For a healthier option, you can layer yoghurt, granola, fruits, and nuts and enjoy it as a midnight snack or even in the morning.
Chocolate Parfait: For the most indulgent type of parfait, you can layer custard, chocolate mousse, and rich ganache with whipped cream and nuts.
Frozen Parfait: To get a chilled version of parfait, you can add ice cream with layers of cake and whipped cream and relish after refrigerating for a few hours.
How To Make Parfait At Home?
For a healthy dessert option, here’s a recipe for yoghurt-based parfait that you can grab to curb your cravings.
Ingredients:
- Yoghurt - 1 cup
- Seasonal fruits - 1/2 cup
- Granola - 1/4 cup
- Honey - 1 tablespoon
Instructions:
- Layer one-third of the yoghurt in a tall glass
- Add half of the fruits you have.
- Top them with a layer of granola.
- Repeat the layers and end with a final layer of yoghurt.
- Garnish with honey, and you’re ready to dive in.