Kalo Mina! Happy February!

One of my all-time favorite Cypriot desserts!! You will love this recipe and it is easy to make. A beautiful Cypriot dessert that is really a base of simple ingredients. All you need is cornstarch, water, sugar, and vanilla or rose water. I had fun making this Cypriot dish in Cyprus at a taverna in Lageia. 

Vanilla Mahalepi with Mango Strawberry Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of water or milk
• 1 tablespoon of organic sugar
• 4.5 tablespoons of cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla powder

Mango Strawberry Sauce:

• 1 cup strawberries, coarsely chopped
• 1 mango, peeled, pitted, and coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• Optional: 2 tablespoons of toasted pistachios coarsely chopped
• Optional: Dried rose petals

Method:

1. 
   In a small bowl dissolve the cornstarch with milk or water. Whisk to mix together.
   Place mixture in a pot over medium heat and add the sugar and vanilla. Stir to combine, and then cook until the mixture coats the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from heat, and let cool a bit.
2. 
   Prepare 2-3 ramekins and lightly grease the inside of the ramekins. Pour the mixture in the ramekins making sure to leave some space from the top. Chill the mahalepi covered for 6 hours or overnight.
   Serve with the mango strawberry sauce, and top with sprinkled pistachios. You can get fancy and add the dried rose petals.
   
   Sauce:
   Place all ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook for about 15 minutes, or until the sauce thickens. Once the mixture is thickened, remove from heat and place sauce in a blender, and blend until smooth. Cool and set aside until ready to serve.