Including dessert in a healthy low-fat diet can be a challenge, but if you look for those that are mostly fruit, you can find plenty of options. "Pear Gratin with Cranberries & Pecans" (page 491) is a fairly healthy choice, especially if you leave out the margarine (as I did), because all it really amounts to is fresh fruit sprinkled with nuts. I say "fairly healthy" because there is a significant amount of nuts in this recipe, which are high in fat. Sliced pears are tossed with dried cranberries, sugar, ginger, and cornstarch, arranged in a gratin dish (I used a pie plate since I don't have a gratin dish), drizzled with a splash of soymilk, topped with chopped pecans, and baked in a hot oven until the fruit is soft. This was a delightful dessert, although the cornstarch didn't seem to thicken up the juices much. In retrospect, I think I could have left out the ¼ cup soymilk without detracting from the overall enjoyment (and maybe the dessert would have thickened up some as well). The recipe calls for dotting the top of the gratin with ¼ cup margarine prior to baking, but I left this out completely, and didn't miss it at all. If you are really feeling decadent, the recipe suggests serving this warm topped with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream. (Of course, this would cancel out those benefits of a fruit-only, low-fat dessert!)
Keeping it "McDougall Friendly" checklist:
- Completely omit the ¼ cup margarine. You won't even miss it!
I don't think I ever had a baked fruit dessert yet. It sounds like a good alternative to fruit salad! Would you eat this hot, warm or chilled?
ReplyDeleteHello Ines! This dessert was delicious hot out of the oven (or warm, letting it cool down just a little), and equally delicious chilled overnight in the refrigerator. Either way works, your preference! :-)
DeleteYum, this looks great for a chilly winter evening :) Aren't pears great when they're baked? They get even sweeter. I might tweak this recipe by subbing oatmeal for some of the nuts.
ReplyDeleteDanielle
Hi Danielle! Yes, pears do get even sweeter when they are baked. My husband really enjoys poached pears, another great way to serve them as dessert. Good idea, subbing some oatmeal for some of the nuts. If you try that, let me know how it turns out!
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