Parfait
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| Place of origin | France |
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| Main ingredients | Sugar syrup, eggs, cream |
 Cookbook: Parfait  Media: Parfait | |
Parfait (/pɑːrˈfeɪ/; [paʁfɛ] from French meaning "perfect") is a kind of frozen dessert that dates to 1894.[1]
France
In France, parfait refers to a frozen dessert made from a base of sugar syrup, egg, and cream. A parfait contains enough fat, sugar, alcohol, and/or, to a lesser extent, air to allow it to be made by stirring infrequently while freezing, making it possible to create in a home kitchen without specialist equipment. The fat, sugar, alcohol or air interferes with the formation of water crystals, which would otherwise give the ice cream an uncomfortable texture in the mouth. The formation of ice crystals is managed in the making of regular ice cream by agitating the ice cream constantly while it freezes or chemically by adding glycerol. Neither should be necessary when making a high-quality parfait.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, parfait can refer to a very smooth meat paste (or pâté), usually made from liver (chicken or duck) and flavoured with liqueurs.[2]
North America
In the United States, parfait refers to either the traditional French-style dessert or to a popular variant, the American parfait, made by layering parfait cream, ice cream, and/or flavored gelatins in a tall, clear glass, and topping the creation with whipped cream, fresh or canned fruit, and/or liqueurs.
In Canada and the United States, parfaits may also be made by using yogurt layered with granola, nuts or fresh fruits, such as peaches, strawberries, or blueberries.
See also
References
- ↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
- ↑ Recipe by Barney Desmazery. "Velvety duck liver parfait recipe - Recipes". BBC Good Food. Retrieved 2011-11-24.