This winter season, add kiwi to not only your cocktail but also your dessert

The winter season brings with it a variety of fruits and vegetables While many people make use of carrots peas and leafy vegetables on a daily basis fruits are also equally used to not only make drinks but also desserts While strawberries and oranges are used in abundance to not only make fruit juices cocktails and desserts among the less popular fruits it is hard to ignore kiwisThe bright green fruit is sweet with a hint of sourness that produces unique flavours on ones palate So imagine when they are added to different kinds of cocktails The fruit combines well with not only wine but also with gin and rumWith the winter season here middaycom spoke to Indian chefs who share recipes for unique cocktails and dishes They not only tell you how to mix it with gin but also with rum and wine They also share a recipe for a delicious crumbleKiwi Gin MaryWith kiwis in season Manoj Alphonse beverage head at Ishaara in Parel and Phoenix Marketcity Kurla says you should definitely make Kiwi Gin Mary with itAlphonse says it has a potent mix of fresh kiwi chunks puree and lime juice with rosemary He explains The Kiwi Gin Mary is a sweet and sour cocktail that is great for people who like fruity drinks The sweet and sour taste of kiwi goes well with the sharp taste of Gin creating a flavour which makes the cocktail wellbalanced This recipe is a delightful mix of tropical fruit herbs and citrusIngredientsGin 55 mlFresh kiwi chunks 5 nosKiwi puree 20 mlLime juice 15 mlRosemary 1 nosKiwi slice for garnishRosemary for garnishMethod1 Add fresh kiwi into the cocktail shaker gently muddle and other ingredients2 Add ice cubes and shake well Pour it on clear ice into a Collins glass3 Top it with tonic waterKiwi Tangy Rosemary ShrubKiwis are so versatile that they can also be mixed with whiskey according to Shivkumar Gouda executive bartender at Bombay High in ITC Maratha in Andheri to make the Kiwi Tangy Rosemary Shrub He explains The rosemary kiwi cocktail is refreshing and fragrant It combines the distinct flavours of rosemary and kiwi to tingle the taste buds enough with a play of flavour profile and apt for balmy winter onset in coastline cities like MumbairdquoIngredientsToki whiskey ndash 45 mlKiwi liqueur ndash 30 mlFresh kiwi slices ndash 2 to 3Rosemary syrup ndash 20 mlFresh rosemary for garnishBlock ice 1 no Method1 In a cocktail shaker muddle the fresh Kiwi slices2 In the same cocktail shaker add ice and kiwi liqueur3 Shake for a bit and add rosemary syrup4 Shake properly and add desired amount of whiskey and shake again5 In a prechilled oldfashioned glass serve with ice and garnish with rosemary leavesTropical Kiwi CrumbleWhy restrict yourself to cocktails and mocktails when you can also make desserts with kiwis executive chef Gaurav Parashar InterContinental Jaipur Tonk Road suggests making a Kiwi Crumble He explains It is a delightful fusion of seasonal sweetness and comforting warmth The tartness of fresh kiwi harmonises with a crisp oat topping creating a culinary symphony that elevates the winter dining experienceIngredientsKiwi 250 gmSpong Crume 150 gmCardamom 5 gmAlmond powder 100 gmButter 100 gmFlour 100 gmBrown sugar 100 gmOats 50 gmMethod1 Crumble all the ingredients in a medium bowl2 Combine flour sugar cardamom sponge crumbs and oats3 Add cubed butter and using your hands combine the butter into the flour mixture until the mixture becomes lumpy and crumbly do not overmix Set aside4 Assemble Kiwi crumbles Evenly divide your golden kiwi into your four ramekins5 Press the kiwis gently to the bottom Then evenly divide your crumble to top the kiwis6 Bake for 3045 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and the juices are bubbling Take out of the oven and sprinkle with toasted coconut and almonds7 Let it cool slightly top with ice cream and enjoyThe Winter SerenadeIf you love wine Omkar Shinde who is the senior mixologist at Blah in BKC says you can make The Winter Serenade a delicious cocktail with wine gin and kiwi He explains Crafting this cocktail took me on a journey of intertwining the lively tang of kiwi with the subtle sweetness of Acacia honey Infusing the vibrant mixed berry note of Hoegaarden Gin Parisian Romance gave this drink just the depth it needed creating a symphony with each sip The outcome is a refreshingly sophisticated elixir paying homage to fresh seasonal flavoursIngredientsHoegaarden Gin Parisian Romance 50 mlAcacia honey 10 mlFresh kiwi 50 gmTempranillo Bianco wine 20 mlMilk for clarification whole milk or any unflavoured fullfat milk 60 mlMethod1 Peel and muddle the fresh kiwi in a mixing glass or shaker until it isthoroughly mashed2 Add Hoegaarden Gin Parisian Romance Acacia Honey and Tempranillo Bianco wine to the muddled kiwi 3 Stir or shake the mixture well to ensure the ingredients are combined 4 In a separate container pour the milk over the mixed ingredients Let it sit for about 3040 minutes to allow the milk to clarify the mixture As it sits the milk will curdle separating the solids from the liquids 5 After the clarification process strain the mixture through a finemesh sieve or cheeseclothlined strainer into a clean container The clarified liquid that passes through will have a clearer appearance 7 Pour the clarified cocktail into a chilled glass over ice or serve neatenjoying the nuanced and clarified flavours of this unique concoctionKiwi CrackerLove tequila Then Stanley Fernandes who is the corporate bar manager at Butterfly High says you can make a potent Kiwi Cracker with the mezcal and seasonal fruit He explains The Kiwi Cracker with its vibrant blend of tequila mezcal fresh kiwi and mint captures the essence of winter in a glass The effervescence and subtle sweetness make it an ideal beverage to savour during the chilly monthsIngredientsTequila Mezcal 60 mlKiwi chunksMint leavesLime Juice 20 mlHoney 5 mlGlassware Coupe glassGarnish Kiwi slice and Maraschino cherryMethod1 In a shaker muddle kiwi chunks and mint leaves 2 Add Tequila Mezcal lime juice and honey to the shaker 3 Fill the shaker with ice and shake the ingredients well 4 Strain the mixture into a coupe glass 5 Garnish with a kiwi slice and a maraschino cherryCocowi FizzIf you are one who loves rum then Akshay Sail mixologist of The Westin Mumbai Garden City says you should definitely make the Cocowi Fizz which has an interesting and heady mix of spirits He explains The Tropical Kiwi Breeze a delightful variation of the classic Pina Colada brings together the tropical notes of Malibu with the sweet and sour balance of fresh kiwi cordial As a nod to the discovery of kiwi postWorld War 2 in North America this cocktail is a refreshing winterbased concoction that offers a tropical escape in every sip perfect for those laidback afternoonsIngredientsWhite Rum 45 mlMalibu Coconut Rum 15 mlFresh Kiwi Cordial 45 mlLime Juice 15 mlGarnish Kiwi SliceGlassware HighballMethod1 Fill a highball glass with ice cubes 2 Pour in white rum and Malibu Coconut Rum 3 Add fresh kiwi cordial and lime juice to the glass 4 Stir gently to combine the ingredients 5 Top up the glass with fresh soda created by making a quick soda in the glass 7 Garnish with a slice of fresh kiwi