If you like Turkish Delight, you are going to love this smooth, grain-free, chocolate and rosewater flavoured custard.

This is the first of my recipes that has catered for those who have some type of Thermo Cooker.

A Thermo Cooker makes this grain free custard a no fail dessert but if you don’t have one, then don’t despair. Simply blend all the ingredients, then cook over a double boiler while constantly stirring with a silicon spatula. It will be cooked when the mixture coats the spoon.

COOKING HINTS

Preparation

Gather your ingredients and utensils. Please note that I have used an Australian 20 ml tablespoon, which equals 4 teaspoons.

Step 1

This recipe is grain free as it uses tapioca flour/starch instead of cornflour. Cornflour can be used as a substitute, however use only 1 tablespoon.

This custard can also be dairy and/or nut free depending on the type of milk you choose. If you are on a low FODMAP diet, it will also determine what milk you use.

Honey can be used instead of maple syrup but as it is stronger tasting you may want to add less than the 2 tablespoons. You can always stir in more at the end.

I find the best additive-free rosewater in my local Persian grocery store. I love the taste of rosewater so I would add the whole tablespoon. Use less if you haven’t tried it yet. If you aren’t a fan of rosewater then simply leave it out.

Step 2

You don’t need fancy dessert bowls – nicely shaped water glasses will work just fine.

Step 3 

I’m trying to do away with using plastic wrap so I use a saucer to cover the custard while it cools. Never heat food covered in plastic wrap as it emits toxic fumes. In fact, don’t let it come in contact with food as it is full of nasty chemicals. I will still sometimes use what I have left to cover food without letting it touch the food.

Step 4

You can eat this custard warm, however I think it tastes better as a cold dessert.

Step 5

If you feel uneasy about getting an uneven sprinkle of cacao powder, use a sifter or shaker. Cacao is different to cocoa, in that it is the raw version that is higher in antioxidants.

Step 6

Using rosebuds is an extravagence but you must admit it looks good. You could even use fresh rose petals, however it would be difficult to find organic. You would definitely not want to ingest the pesticides sprayed on the roses bought in the supermarket and most markets.