Easy Fruit Custard (Indian Fruit Salad)

Bask in this cooling Indian fruit custard, made with a wealthy, creamy custard sauce and fresh seasonal fruits. Whether you like the convenience of an Easy Pot or the standard stovetop method, this dessert is straightforward to make.

Enjoy this refreshing dessert during summer – it is ideal for potlucks and enormous gatherings or as a treat on your family.

What’s fruit custard?

Fruit custard is a classic Indian dessert that mixes the creamy texture of custard sauce with seasonal fresh fruits.

At its core, custard is a sweetened mixture made with milk or cream and thickened with eggs, cornstarch, or custard powder. Within the case of fruit custard, custard powder is usually preferred for its convenience and to maintain the dessert eggless, catering to numerous dietary preferences.

Once the custard sauce is ready, cooled to the best temperature, and achieves a silky, smooth consistency, quite a lot of chopped fresh fruits are folded in. The selection of fruits can vary widely, from apples, bananas, and grapes to mangoes, berries, and pomegranate arils, allowing for a flexible and colourful dessert.

This custard recipe with fruits isn’t only a treat for the taste buds but additionally a pleasant solution to incorporate the goodness of fruits into your weight loss program. Its ease of preparation and the pliability to make use of whatever fruits are in season or readily available make this fruit custard recipe a favourite amongst home cooks across the globe.

What’s custard powder?

Custard typically gets its thick, creamy texture from eggs. Nonetheless, for those seeking to avoid eggs, custard powder offers a superb alternative. This powder is primarily cornflour-based and transforms right into a custard-like sauce when combined with hot milk and heated.

The way to make custard with fruit

Making a delicious bowl of fruit custard salad is less complicated than you would possibly think. Let’s begin with gathering the ingredients.

Substituting custard powder

You may substitute custard powder with an equivalent amount of cornstarch or fast vanilla pudding mix. Try this text on tips on how to replace custard powder for more options. 

Step-by-step instructions (stovetop)

This easy fruit custard involves the next steps – 

1. Dissolve custard powder: Start by taking a small amount of the entire milk, kept at room temperature, in a bowl. Add the vanilla-flavored custard powder to this milk, stirring it well to make sure there aren’t any lumps.
2. Mix with hot milk: Next, pour the remaining of the entire milk right into a saucepan and gently heat it. Once the milk is hot but not boiling, add the custard milk mixture to the saucepan together with the sugar. Stir repeatedly to combine every thing well and to stop the custard from sticking to the underside of the pan.
3. Cook to thicken: Keep the mixture on medium heat and stir repeatedly. The custard will begin to thicken because it cooks. This process may take a number of minutes, so patience is vital. Be certain that you retain stirring to avoid any lumps forming.
4. Cool the custard: After the custard has thickened to your liking, remove it from heat. Allow it to chill at room temperature for a few hours. This step is crucial before refrigeration, because it prevents skin from forming on top of the custard. Remember, the custard will proceed to thicken because it cools down.
5. Refrigerate: Once the custard has cooled to room temperature, cover it and place it within the refrigerator to sit back.
6. Add fruits: Before serving, chop the fruits of your selection into bite-sized pieces, avoiding fruits that may curdle the milk or release water into your custard. Gently mix these fruits into the chilled custard.
7. Serve chilled: Your fruit custard is now able to be served. Enjoy it as a pleasant end to your meal or as a refreshing snack at any time of the day.

Can we make the custard within the Easy Pot?

Oh yes! In truth, it’s my preferred method. While it is quicker to boil milk over a stovetop, using an Easy Pot allows you the power to multitask while not having to watch the stove always. Here’s tips on how to make custard within the Easy Pot:

1. Dissolve custard powder: Start by taking a small amount of the entire milk, kept at room temperature, in a bowl. Add the vanilla-flavored custard powder to this milk, stirring it well to make sure there aren’t any lumps. Set it aside.
2. Boil milk: Begin by setting your Easy Pot to the boil mode using the yogurt function. This smart feature allows the milk to boil without supervision. The Easy Pot will beep to provide you with a warning once the milk has boiled after which mechanically shut down.
3. Add custard mixture: After boiling, switch the Easy Pot to saute mode (set to low). Add the previously prepared custard and milk mixture into the pot. Stir the mixture well and repeatedly to stop sticking and ensure even cooking. Keep stirring until the mixture starts to thicken.
4. Cooling: Once thickened, fastidiously remove the steel insert from the Easy Pot and place it on the countertop. Let the custard cool at room temperature for a few hours. This step is crucial to avoid the formation of skin on the surface.
5. Refrigerate: After the custard has cooled all the way down to room temperature, transfer it to a different bowl, cover the lid, and refrigerate. Chilling will further thicken the custard, enhancing its texture and flavor.

This method not only simplifies the method but additionally ensures an ideal custard each time, allowing you to enjoy this delicious dessert without the effort of constant supervision.

Suggestions for making fruit custard

• Clean equipment: Before you start, be sure that the heavy bottom pan or Easy Pot insert is residue-free and cleaned to stop milk from curdling during boiling.
• Properly mix the custard powder: Don’t add custard powder on to hot milk; this may result in lumps. As a substitute, mix it with milk at room temperature until it dissolves completely. A whisk can assist achieve a smooth texture.
• Stir repeatedly: After combining the custard-milk mixture and sugar with the new milk, keep stirring. This prevents the custard mix from sticking to the underside and burning.
• Allow to chill, then refrigerate: Let the custard cool to room temperature, then pop it within the fridge for a number of hours before you add the fruits.
• Chop the fruits evenly: For one of the best texture, chop all fruits into uniform, bite-sized pieces.
• Avoid overcooking: Should you overcook the custard, it’ll get too thick. If that happens, no worries — just stir in a little bit of warmed milk until you reach the specified consistency.
• Add fruits just before serving: Add your fruits just before serving to maintain them from going brown, especially bananas and apples. Should you’re prepping for a celebration, you possibly can add fruits like strawberries, blueberries, mangoes, pomegranate seeds, and grapes a few hours prematurely.

Troubleshooting fruit custard

• In case your custard is just too thick: Try adding a number of tablespoons of warm milk at a time, stirring well after each addition. Proceed this process until you achieve the specified consistency.
• Coping with lumpy custard? Use a slotted spoon to fish out any lumps, restoring a smoother texture.
• To stop a cream layer during refrigeration: To avoid the formation of a cream layer on top of your custard because it cools, gently place a chunk of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the custard before refrigerating.
• In case your custard is just too thin: Mix a tablespoon of custard powder with about 2 tablespoons of room-temperature milk to create a smooth paste. Stir this mixture into the new custard sauce and proceed to cook till the specified consistency is achieved.
• Burnt custard at the underside? Should you notice the custard beginning to burn, stop stirring immediately to avoid incorporating the burnt flavor. Rigorously transfer the unburnt custard to a latest bowl or saucepan, leaving the burnt portion behind.

Variations 

• Fruit custard with condensed milk brings a pleasant twist to the classic Indian eggless custard recipe. Replace 1/2 cup of milk with the identical amount of condensed milk, but remember to cut back the sugar accordingly.
• For a twist on the standard custard fruit salad, try custard powder with flavors like mango, vanilla, and strawberry.
• Leftover custard? Pour it into ice-cube trays or popsicle molds for a delicious treat to enjoy later.

Serving suggestions

Fruit custard could be served in quite a lot of delightful ways to suit any occasion or taste preference. Listed here are some serving suggestions to reinforce your fruit custard experience:

1. Classic bowl serving: Serve chilled fruit custard in individual bowls. For added crunch and flavor, sprinkle your selection of chopped nuts over the custard before serving. You may also add dry fruits like chopped dates, figs, and tutti frutti. The variations are infinite.
2. Fruit custard parfait: Top fruit custard with granola and fruits in a tall glass to make a breakfast parfait or a healthy dessert option.
3. Got leftover custard? Freeze it (without fruits) in popsicle molds for a refreshing frozen treat, perfect for decent summer days.
4. Serve with ice cream or sweetened mango puree: For a delicious twist, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a generous drizzle of sweetened mango puree or pulp over your fruit custard.

These serving suggestions could make this easy fruit custard a flexible dessert, able to impress guests, or just enjoy a pleasant treat at home.

Storage instructions

Storing fruit custard properly ensures that you could enjoy its creamy, fruity goodness for a little bit longer. Here’s a friendly guide to keeping your fruit custard delicious in storage:

1. Cool it down: Before fascinated by storage, let your fruit custard cool to room temperature. This helps prevent condensation contained in the container, which might make the custard watery.
2. Select the best container: Transfer the custard into an airtight container. This keeps it from absorbing any odors from the fridge and likewise prevents a cream layer from forming on top.
3. Add fruits later: If possible, store the custard and chopped fruits individually. Fruits can release water, which could affect the custard’s consistency. Mix them together only once you’re able to serve or, at best, a few hours before serving.
4. Keep it cold: Store your custard within the fridge. It’s best enjoyed chilled.
5. Use it inside 3 days: Fruit custard is ideally enjoyed inside 2-3 days. The brisker, the higher, especially when you’ve mixed the fruits.
6. Re-stir before serving: Should you notice any separation or liquid on top once you take it out of the fridge, give your custard a mild stir to bring back its creamy consistency.

By following these easy suggestions, you possibly can keep your fruit custard tasting great. It’s all about having fun with that sweet, creamy treat at its best!

More Easy Indian Dessert Recipes

Listed here are a number of of my favorite desserts that it’s best to definitely give a shot –

Trying to have fun an important day with Indian sweets? Try this extensive list of 45+ easy dessert recipes from throughout India. They’re perfect for dinner parties, festivals, or days once you just crave something sweet.

Recipe inspiration

My mom used to whip up this eggless custard, brimming with seasonal fruits, as the proper cool-down treat during summers or for special occasions comparable to our birthdays. It wasn’t only a dessert; it was a moment of joy, shared laughter, and sweet, sweet relief from the warmth.

To summarize, this Indian fruit salad with custard is a success for any occasion – be it parties, potlucks, or a straightforward family gathering. And guess what? It’s super easy to make. Just add your favorite seasonal fruits to the combination, and voilà, you’ve got yourself a crowd-pleaser with minimal effort!

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This post was first published on May 7, 2019, and updated with latest text and pictures on February 6, 2024.