Lebanese Fruit Cocktail Recipe
Description
Lebanese fruit cocktail is a refreshing, layered dessert drink made with a thick, fruity smoothie, a colorful medley of fresh fruits, and a generous topping of Areesha (soft curdled cream). Finished with a drizzle of honey, pine nuts, and slivered almonds, this beloved Lebanese treat is pure heaven in a glass! Perfect for hot summer days, it is easy to recreate at home and can also be enjoyed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream instead of the traditional cream.
Ingredients
For the Smoothie
- 2 cups chilled milk
- 1 cup canned guava juice
- 2 tablespoons strawberry Jell-O powder
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 medium-sized ripe bananas
For the Fruits
- 10 cherries pitted and halved
- 2 bananas sliced
- 1 medium mango peeled and cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) chunks
- 2 kiwis peeled and cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) chunks
- 1 small avocado peeled and cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) chunks
- 1 peach pitted and cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) chunks
For Garnish
- 8 tablespoons honey
- ½ cup pine nuts rinsed and drained
- ½ cup slivered almonds rinsed and drained
For the Areesha (Curdled Cream)
- 2 liters 2 quarts water
- 12 heaped tablespoons full-cream milk powder
- ⅓ cup white vinegar
Instructions
To Make the Areesha (Curdled Cream)
- In a pot, whisk the milk powder into the water until fully dissolved.
- Place the pot over medium heat, whisking constantly, and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the vinegar. The milk will immediately begin to curdle, separating into soft curds and whey.
- Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the curds to separate completely.
- Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to drain off the excess liquid. Transfer the curds to a bowl and set aside to cool completely.
To Prepare the Smoothie
- Place all the smoothie ingredients in a blender. Cover and blend until smooth.
- Transfer the smoothie to the refrigerator and chill for 2 hours.
To Assemble the Fruit Cocktail
- Prepare 8 tall cocktail glasses.
- Divide the fruit among the glasses, arranging it in layers and filling each glass about halfway.
- Pour the chilled smoothie evenly into the glasses, filling them almost to the top.
- Top each glass with 1 tablespoon of areesha (curdled cream).
- Drizzle each serving with 1 tablespoon of honey and garnish with the pine nuts and slivered almonds.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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