Yogurt Berry Fool Recipes

GOOSEBERRY YOGHURT FOOL

Steps:

• For the fullest flavour, I think gooseberries are best cooked in the oven. So first place them in the baking dish, sprinkle on the sugar and bake them on the centre shelf of the oven, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes, or until tender when tested with a skewer. After that tip them into a sieve set over a bowl to drain off the excess juice. Now reserve about a quarter of the cooked gooseberries for later, then place the rest in the bowl of a food processor, add 4 tablespoons of the reserved juice and whiz to a thick purée. After that, leave the purée to get quite cold, then empty the yoghurt into a bowl, give it a stir, then fold in half the purée. Now spoon this mixture into the serving glasses, spoon the rest of the purée on top and, finally, add the reserved gooseberries. Cover the glasses with clingfilm and chill till you're ready to serve, then serve with some Pecan Shortbreads (see below) cut into smaller rounds.

BLUEBERRY-YOGURT FOOL

Steps:

• In a blender, combine 1 pint of blueberries, honey, lime juice, and 5 mint leaves; puree. Press mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove skin and seeds. Discard skin and seeds. Taste and add more honey if desired. Transfer to a container, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cold, about 10 minutes.
• With an electric mixer or a whisk, whip the cream until it holds stiff peaks. Fold the cream into the yogurt.
• Using a light hand, fold the blueberry puree into the yogurt mixture about three quarters of the way, leaving a swirly pattern of dark purple streaks through the white yogurt mixture.
• Spoon into 4 glasses and chill. To serve, sprinkle with pistachios, and garnish with remaining blueberries and mint sprigs.

GOOSEBERRY FOOL

Steps:

• Put the gooseberries and sugar in a pan with a splash of water. Heat gently, stirring, then bring to a simmer and cook until the fruit starts to burst. Squash the gooseberries with a potato masher or fork until pulpy. Cool then chill until cold in the fridge.
• Put the yoghurt in a bowl and beat with the icing sugar and vanilla until smooth. Gently whisk in the cream (it will thicken as you whisk so don't overdo it). Ripple through the gooseberry pulp then spoon into pretty glasses or bowls to serve.

CHEF JOHN'S FRESH BERRY FOOL

Steps:

• Place raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries in a bowl. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup sugar. Stir until sugar is mixed with fruit and juices begin to form. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
• Place heavy cream and creme fraiche in a cold bowl. Add 1 tablespoon sugar and vanilla extract. Whisk until mixture has soft peaks and sharp lines, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Place some cookie crumbs in the bottom of each serving dish. Spoon in some of the fruit and a layer of whipped cream. Repeat layers, ending with a sprinkle of cookie crumbs.

RASPBERRY FOOL

Steps:

• In a fine sieve set over a bowl drain yogurt, chilled, at least 8 hours and up to 1 day. Discard liquid and transfer yogurt to bowl.
• In a small saucepan toss together raspberries and sugar and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until juicy, 2 to 3 minutes. Force mixture through cleaned fine sieve into a bowl, pressing on solids. Chill raspberry pur e until cold, at least 1 hour, and up to 1 day.
• In a chilled small bowl beat cream until it just holds stiff peaks and gently fold in yogurt. Fold in raspberry purée to create a marbled effect.
• Spoon fool into 4 stemmed glasses. Chill desserts, covered, 1 hour.