Litchi Yogurt Parfait

Name: Litchi Yogurt Parfait
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: indian
Ingredients: 3 cup yogurt (thick, hung for 2 hours until reduced to about 1.5 cups thick yogurt or use Greek yogurt); 24 pcs litchi (ripe, peeled and deseeded, halved); 2 tbsp honey; 3 pcs green cardamom (seeds only, crushed to powder); 12 pcs almonds (unsalted, roughly chopped or slivered); 12 pcs pistachios (unsalted, roughly chopped); 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds (for garnish)

RATING

0.0/5

TASTE SCORE

8/10

Creamy hung yogurt layered with juicy litchi, crunchy nuts, and a hint of cardamom. A light, refreshing Indian-inspired no-cook dessert that comes together in 15 minutes. Perfect for summer gatherings or a quick sweet treat.

PREP

15m

COOK

SERVES

1 CUP

257 cal

SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS

For 4 servings

3 cupyogurt · thick, hung for 2 hours until reduced to about 1.5 cups thick yogurt or use Greek yogurt24 pcslitchi · ripe, peeled and deseeded, halved2 tbsphoney3 pcsgreen cardamom · seeds only, crushed to powder12 pcsalmonds · unsalted, roughly chopped or slivered12 pcspistachios · unsalted, roughly chopped2 tbsppomegranate seeds · for garnish

NUTRITION · PER SERVING

257

CALORIES · 1 CUP

Protein13g · 20%

Carbs37g · 58%

Fat7g · 25%

Fiber3g

Sugar33g

Saturated fat2g

Cholesterol11mg

Sodium130mg

Potassium696mg

Phosphorus332mg

How we calculate →

METHOD · 7 STEPS

prep · ~120 min
Hang the yogurt if using regular yogurt.
Place yogurt in a muslin cloth, tie it tightly, and hang over a bowl for 2 hours until the whey drains out and you have about 1.5 cups of thick, creamy hung curd. Skip this step if using thick Greek yogurt.
TIPThe yogurt should be very thick — almost like cream cheese in texture. This prevents the parfait from becoming watery.
prep · ~5 min
Peel, deseed and halve the litchis.
1.Peel the outer skin off each litchi.
2.Gently remove the seed from the center without tearing the flesh.
3.Halve or roughly chop the litchis and set aside, reserving a few whole halves for garnish.
mix · ~2 min
Sweeten and flavor the hung yogurt.
1.Transfer the thick hung yogurt to a mixing bowl.
2.Add honey and crushed cardamom powder.
3.Whisk gently with a spoon until smooth and well blended.
TIPDon't over-beat the yogurt or it may release water again. Fold gently.
prep · ~1 min
Chop the nuts.
Roughly chop the almonds and pistachios into small pieces. A mix of textures works best — some finely chopped, some coarsely broken.
assemble · ~5 min
Layer the parfait in serving glasses.
1.Spoon a layer of sweetened yogurt into the bottom of each glass (about 2 tbsp).
2.Add a layer of halved litchis (4-5 pieces per glass).
3.Sprinkle a pinch of chopped almonds and pistachios.
4.Repeat layers one more time — yogurt, litchi, and nuts.
5.Finish with a final dollop of yogurt on top.
garnish · ~30 min
Garnish and chill.
Top each parfait with a couple of reserved litchi halves, a few pomegranate seeds, and a light sprinkle of crushed pistachios. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
TIPChilling is important — the parfait firms up slightly and the cardamom infuses beautifully into the yogurt.
serve
Serve chilled.
Serve the parfaits straight from the fridge in their glasses with long spoons.

PRO TIPS

What to keep in mind.

6 tips from the recipe — small details that make a real difference to the final dish.

1
Hang the yogurt for exactly 2 hours to achieve a cream-cheese-like thickness that won't waterlog the parfait.
2
Reserve a few whole litchi halves for the top garnish to create a beautiful, professional-looking finish.
3
Chill the assembled parfaits for at least 30 minutes so the cardamom flavor infuses into the yogurt.
4
Gently fold the honey and cardamom into the yogurt rather than whisking vigorously to prevent it from thinning.
5
Use unsalted, raw nuts and toast them lightly in a dry pan for extra crunch and deeper flavor.
6
Assemble the parfaits just before chilling, not too far in advance, to keep the litchi texture fresh.

RECIPE VARIATIONS

Adapt it for your goals.

vegan

Vegan

Substitute the hung yogurt with thick coconut yogurt or cashew cream, and use maple syrup instead of honey. The tropical notes of coconut pair beautifully with litchi.

low sugar

Low-sugar

Skip the honey and rely on the natural sweetness of very ripe litchis. Add a pinch of stevia or monk fruit sweetener to the yogurt if you prefer a sweeter dessert.

nut free

Nut-free

Replace almonds and pistachios with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or a crunchy granola made from oats and coconut flakes for a similar textural contrast.

berry twist