Celebrate The Festive Season With These Delectable Treats From A Celebrity Chef!

Walnut-Stuffed Chocolate-Covered Dates

Makes 10

Here's a sugar-free treat to indulge in without guilt!

Ingredients

• 1 cup of walnuts, cut into halves
• 10 pitted dates
• 1 cup melted chocolate (you can use your gas stove or microwave to melt chocolate)
• Flaky sea salt (for sprinkling)

Method

1. Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet.
2. Cut a lengthwise slit in the dates. Fill each date with 2 or 3 sliced walnuts, and pinch the edges of the dates closed.
3. Dip the bottom half of each date into melted chocolate and place it on a plate or parchment paper to harden.
4. Sprinkle flaky sea salt over the dates, and refrigerate the dates for 20 minutes.
5. Store them on the counter or in the fridge.

Walnut, Garlic, and Herb Cheese Log

Serves 4

This lip-smacking cheese log is a perfect appetizer for your evening party. It goes well with crackers, a sandwich, and vegetable sticks.

Ingredients

• 500 gm fresh cream
• 1 tbsp vinegar and 1 tbsp water (to curdle the cream)
• 1/2 tsp crispy garlic
• 1/2 tsp chilli flakes
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp chopped spring onions
• 1 tsp fresh thyme or chopped coriander leaves
• Crushed black pepper (to taste)
• Pink salt (to taste)

For the coating:

• 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 1/2 tsp chilli flakes
• 1/2 tsp parsley

Method

1. In a saucepan, heat the cream on low flame. Stir continuously and bring it to a simmer (before the boiling stage).
2. Add the vinegar-water mixture to the cream. Continue stirring slowly. The cream will start curdling lightly (the curdling won't be visible, and the mixture will look thick).
3. Strain this mixture through a muslin cloth over a sieve and set it aside for about 25 minutes. Most of the water will drain. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour until slightly firm. Your 100% cream cheese is ready.
4. In a bowl, stir the cream cheese, chili flakes, garlic, spring onions, and herbs until blended. Season it with pink salt and pepper. Place the flavored cheese cream on a cling wrap and shape it into a log with your hands. Refrigerate the cheese log for 20 minutes.
5. For the coating, mix the chopped walnuts, herbs and chili flakes. Now roll the cheese log on this coating and place it on a serving dish.

Walnut and Pumpkin Alfredo Pasta

Serves 2

This unique pasta has the goodness of pumpkin and the crunch of walnuts!

Ingredients

For the fresh pasta

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup semolina (sooji)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp olive oil
• Hot water to knead the dough

For the pumpkin sauce:

• 500 gm roasted or pressure-cooked red/orange pumpkin
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1/2 tsp grated garlic
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder
• 2 cubes of processed or cheddar cheese
• 2 - 3 tbsp milk (to adjust the consistency)
• Salt (to taste)
• Pepper (to taste)

For the topping:

• Walnuts (a handful)
• Herbs of your choice, parsley or thyme (to taste)
• 1 tbsp parmesan cheese

Method

Fresh Pasta:

1. Mix all the ingredients well to form a dough. Knead the dough (it should become soft and smooth, neither too wet nor too dry). Cover and keep it aside for about an hour.
2. After an hour, knead it to smoothen it out.
3. Roll out the dough thinly and cut it into your desired shape. To make farfalle (bow-tie pasta), cut the dough into rectangles and pinch them in the center.
4. Cook the pasta in boiling water for about 3 to 4 minutes.
5. Drain the pasta and toss it into a bowl of cold water.
6. Now, drain the pasta and keep it aside.

Pumpkin Sauce:

1. Puree the roasted or pressure-cooked pumpkin into a smooth paste.
2. In a pan, add some butter. Add garlic and cook it for a minute or two until it turns fragrant.
3. Add the pumpkin puree to this, along with the turmeric and red chili powders. Add the cheese cubes and milk, and cook until the sauce thickens.

Pasta Assembly

Toss your pasta in this pumpkin sauce, and serve topped with herbs, walnuts and parmesan cheese.

Neha Deepak Shah was the first runner-up in MasterChef India Season 4 (2015).