Delicious recipes from Belvoir
Wednesday 04 March 2009
With the English weather being as drizzly and miserable as ever, it's difficult not to dream of summer and sunshine!
And thanks to cordial producer Belvoir, you can start bringing some summery flavours into your kitchen - right now. Even better, you don't have to stress about your bikini body because all of them are waistline-friendly!
Celebrating 25 years of success, Belvoir has come up with some light and utterly scrumptious dishes including their signature elderflower cordial - believe it or not, the fruity flavour works for more than just cocktails (although they are perfect for that too, he he).
Chilli Tiger Prawns 
Serves 2-3
Ingredients:
250g raw tiger prawns
1 red chilli, seeds removed and finely chopped
1 green chilli, seeds removed and finely chopped
1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
2tbs tasted sesame seeds
Fresh Dill
Olive oil
1 lime
2tbs Belvoir ginger cordial
Instructions:
* To toast the sesame seeds, place in a dry hot frying pan and stir until golden brown. Remove from the pan. Wipe the pan around with kitchen paper.
* Heat about 1tbs of olive oil in the pan, add the prawns, garlic and chillies and cook for approx 4mns over a medium heat, until the prawns are just cooked. Add the ginger cordial and sesame seeds.
* Continue cooking for a further minute. Finally add a good squeeze of lime juice. Serve on a bed of fresh salad leave and finish with a sprig of fresh dill.
Elderflower poached salmon
Serves 4
Ingredients:
4 salmon steaks
Mixed herbs
Elderflower cordial
Instructions:
* Arrange 4 salmon steaks in a non-stick frying pan, add 2tbsp elderflower cordial, 1/4pt water, and a handful of mixed herbs.
* Bring to the boil then cover and simmer gently for 10mins.
* Lift from poaching liquid and serve.
White wine and Elderflower cordial fruit jelly 
Serves 6
Ingredients:
Gelatine
1/4 pint of dry white wine
50g caster sugar
350g mixed fruit of you choice
Elderflower cordial
(Omit wine to make child friendly)
Instructions:
* Prepare 4 sheets of gelatine or 11g powered gelatine to packet instructions.
* Heat 1/4 pint dry white wine, 1/2 pint water and 50g caster sugar gently in a pan, stirring until sugar has been dissolved.
* Increase the heat and simmer for 3mins until syrupy, then add the prepared gelatine, stirring until it dissolves. Stir in 6tbsp elderflower cordial and leave to cool.
* Prepare 350g of mixed fruit such as peaches, raspberries, strawberries and scatter over the base of a jelly mould. Then pour over just enough jelly liquid to cover. Chill until this has set, leaving the remaining jelly at room temperature. Repeat until all jelly liquid has been used.
* Refrigerate the jelly until firmly set.
Raspberry and Elderflower tart
Serves 6
Ingredients:
2 Eggs
50g Caster sugar
1/2 pint full fat milk
20g cornflour
20g plain flour
Fresh raspberries
Elderflower cordial
Instructions:
*Beat 2 egg yolks with 50g caster sugar while heating 1/2 pint full fat milk in a saucepan. Add 20g of cornflour and 20g plain flour to the egg and sugar mixture. Pour in the 1/2 pint milk and 4tbsp elderflower cordial.
* Pour the mixture back into the rinsed out pan and bring to the boil, stirring all the time until the custard boils and thickens. Cool slightly.
* Divide the mixture between 6 ready-made pastry cases and chill. Then top with raspberries.
Elderflower Sorbet
Ingredients:
1 egg
Elderflower cordial
Instructions:
* Mix 11tbsp of elderflower and 300ml of water in a plastic container and cool until half frozen.
* Remove from the freezer and beat until soft.
* Beat 1 egg white until stiff and add to the softened cordial/water mixture. Refreeze until firm.
For more healthy yet delicious recipe ideas head to Closerdiets.com, where you can put together a personalised diet plan according to your food preferences and lifestyle requirements.