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Cold Yogurt and Melon Cake

17/11/2023

A cold yogurt and melon cake is a delicious and refreshing summer dessert. Here I provide you with a simple no-bake version.

Ingredients

  • 250 g of dry biscuits (such as Digestive)
  • 100 g of melted butter
  • 500 g of Greek yogurt or other creamy-consistency yogurt
  • 300 g of ripe melon (cleaned and cut into pieces)
  • 100 g of powdered sugar (or to your taste)
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 10 g of sheet gelatin (fish glue) or 5 g of agar-agar if you prefer a vegetarian option
  • A pinch of salt

Preparation

  1. Start by crushing the biscuits until you get a coarse flour. Mix this with the melted butter until you have a homogeneous mixture.
  2. Line the bottom of a springform pan with parchment paper and spread the biscuit mixture on the bottom, pressing down well to create the base of the cake. Place in the refrigerator to firm up for at least 30 minutes.
  3. In the meantime, soften the gelatin sheets in cold water for about 10 minutes or prepare the agar-agar according to the instructions on the package.
  4. In a bowl, mix the yogurt with the powdered sugar and lemon juice. Add a pinch of salt.
  5. Squeeze the gelatin to remove excess water and dissolve it in a very small amount of hot water (or in the microwave for a few seconds), until you get a transparent liquid. If using agar-agar, heat it to boiling and wait for it to completely dissolve.
  6. Add the liquid gelatin or agar-agar to the yogurt and mix well to ensure there are no lumps.
  7. Cut the melon into pieces, reserve some for decoration and gently fold the rest into the yogurt cream.
  8. Pour the yogurt and melon mixture over the now firmed biscuit base and level the surface with a spatula.
  9. Place the cake in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or better overnight, so it sets properly.
  10. Before serving, decorate the cake with the reserved melon pieces and, if you like, with mint leaves or another aromatic herb for an extra touch of freshness.

Trivia

This cake is perfect as a dessert after an outdoor summer dinner, perhaps accompanied by a fresh melon beverage or a glass of sparkling Moscato. Remember that you can play with flavors, for instance using melon-flavored yogurt for a more intense taste or adding chopped mint for a more aromatic touch.