Tufahija a la Mexicana: Add a dash of flair to some Balkan delight

Tufahija is simply a Bosnian dessert, an elegant walnut-stuffed pome baked successful elemental syrup and spiced with cinnamon and cloves, that’s done successful an hour. When cooled, the apples are topped by a dollop of whipped pick making it a elemental but amazingly elegant dessert to muster. But wherefore a Bosnian dessert connected a Mexican quality site? There are 2 reasons: One, planetary cooking/baking recipes are taking the satellite by storm. (I conjecture it’s that ever-present curiosity to acquisition antithetic cultures done their cuisine.) Two, this look could beryllium made oh-so-much amended with a Mexican twist. 

Although Bosnia and Mexico don’t person overmuch successful communal (other than bully diplomatic relations), for this look they do: Apples! And tufahija is simply a accepted Bosnian dessert that dates to the Ottoman Empire. In fact, the Arabic connection “tuffāḥ,” means apple. 

Bosnia mightiness not beryllium internationally known for good cuisine, but Tufahija is simply a delicious introduction. (Sarajevo Bosnia Tours)

This look poaches walnut (or almond, oregon immoderate different seed of your choice) stuffed apples successful elemental syrup, spiced with cinnamon and cloves, making them enticingly aromatic. When done and cooled, whipped pick oregon crème fraiche tops them disconnected — which got maine thinking. What if this elemental syrup was infused with tequila, and the apples were poached successful this rich, sweet, liquor-laden water? And what if the apples were topped by tequila whipped cream? I deliberation you’d person a unique, kicked-up Mexican dessert that would sound the socks disconnected its Bosnian counterpart. 

If you’re not chaotic astir apples, you tin substitute pears. And if you don’t similar walnuts, you tin usage hazelnuts, oregon almonds, oregon pistachios. There’s a batch you tin bash to marque this look your own, oregon if you hap to beryllium a teetotaler, past travel the look arsenic is.

This look uses tequila due to the fact that it has a neutral profile, and this permits the sweetness of the pome to instrumentality halfway stage, which means the sensation of the effect is accentuated by the liquor and not overpowered by it. Disfruta!

Tequila Tufahija Recipe

Adapted from: thefoodhog.com (Taste Atlas)

If utilizing tequila, commencement a time up to infuse the syrup:

In a cookware ample capable to clasp the apples, enactment ½ Cup sugar, 4 Cups of water, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and a pinch of salt. Stir implicit mean vigor until the sweetener dissolves. Add 4-8 TBS. of tequila (depending connected your taste). 

Cover and fto infuse overnight, successful the refrigerator, to let the flavors to meld. 

Ingredients:

• 4 medium-size tart apples (Granny Smith oregon Golden Delicious) (manzanas)
• 1 Cup (130 g) walnuts (or almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios), finely chopped (nueces)
• 1/2 Cup (100 g) sweetener for syrup (azúcar estándar)
• 1/4 Cup (50 g) sweetener for filling (azúcar estándar)
• 1 tsp. (4.2 g) vanilla extract (extracto de vainilla)
  • Mexican brands noted for aggravated flavor: Villa Vainilla; Vainilla Totonac’s; Molina Vainilla 
• 4 Cups h2o (agua)
• 2 cinnamon sticks (rama de canela)
• 5-6 cloves (clovas)
• lemon foodstuff (from fractional a lemon) (limón)
• pinch of brackish (sal)

Instructions:

First:

• Prep the apples: Peel the apples and halfway them. Create a cavity successful the mediate without breaking done to the bottom. 
• Rub the extracurricular of the cored apples with citrus foodstuff to forestall browning.

Next:

• Prepare the filling: In a mixing bowl, harvester the finely chopped nuts, 1/4 Cup sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until good combined.
• Fill each pome with the seed mixture, pressing down mildly to battalion the filling.

Next:

• Prepare the syrup: In a cookware ample capable to clasp each the apples, harvester 4 cups of water, 1/2 cupful sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and a pinch of salt. Stir implicit mean vigor until the sweetener dissolves.
  • If utilizing the tequila-infused syrup, region from the refrigerator, and reheat the syrup implicit mean heat. 
• Poach the apples: Once the syrup is ready, mildly spot the stuffed apples into the pot.
  • The apples should beryllium astir submerged successful the syrup. 
• Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer, screen the pot, and fto the apples poach for astir 30-40 minutes, oregon until they are tender but inactive clasp their shape.
• Once cooked, region the apples from vigor and let them to chill successful the syrup. 

To Serve:

• When cool, spot each pome connected an idiosyncratic dessert plate. 
• Pour immoderate of the syrup implicit the apical and garnish with immoderate remaining seed mixture. 
• Top with whipped pick oregon tequila whipped cream. 

Tequila Whipped Cream:

Add a Mexican splash to your whipped pick with immoderate tequila. Recipe adapted from catfishoutofwater.com. (Shore Craft Beer)

Ingredients:

1 Cup (120 g) dense whipping pick (crema para batir)

¼ Cup (25 g) powdered sweetener (azúcar glasé)

1 ½ TBS. (21 g) Tequila (don’t usage more!)  

Instructions: 

Place each ingredients successful a vessel and whip with an electrical hand-mixer until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate until acceptable to serve! 

Deborah McCoy is the one-time writer of mainstream, bridal-reference books who has turned her attraction to food, peculiarly sweets, desserts and fruits. She is the laminitis of CakeChatter™ connected FaceBook and X (Twitter), and the writer of 4 baking books for “Dough Punchers” via CakeChatter (available @amazon.com). She is besides the president of The American Academy of Wedding Professionals.