Muhallebi (Middle Eastern Milk Pudding) #FreakyFruitsFriday #MelissasProduce #Sponsored

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Melissa's Produce.
I received complimentary product for the purpose of review and recipe development,

but all opinions are honest and they are my own. This page may contain affiliate links.

Here we are at the final week of this year's #FreakyFruitsFriday event. The Halloween before last, I noticed that Melissa's Produce* had a section on their website for 'Freaky Fruits.' I really wanted to showcase recipes featuring those fruits, so I reached out to my contact at Melissa's and he agreed. This year, I emailed him, again, and he agreed, again. Woohoo.

The group received a generous selection of less-than-common fruits, including dragonfruit, passion fruit, kiwano melon, cherimoya, chayote, blood oranges, rambutan, and pomegrante. With that bounty, here's what the crew is sharing today...

• Blood Orange Bars by Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats
• Buttermilk Passion Fruit Poundcake with Blood-Orange Glaze by Kate's Recipe Box
• Dragon Fruit and Blood Orange Salad with Pecans by Hezzi-d's Books and Cooks
• Freaky Fruit Cocktails by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Gluten Free Blood Orange Cupcakes with Passion Fruit Frosting by Frugal & Fit
• Grilled Beef Salad with Kiwano Dressing by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Kiwano and Blood Orange Smoothies by Blogghetti
• Mini Vegan Pavlovas with Coconut Cream and Passionfruit Curd by The Baking Fairy
• Muhallebi (Middle Eastern Milk Pudding) by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Passion Fruit & Blood Orange Curd Tart by Savory Moments
• Passion Fruit Coconut Loaf Cake by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
• Passion Fruit Lemonade by Jonesin’ For Taste

Today's Freaky Fruit

For this final week I am featuring the beautiful, mysterious pomegranate. Originally from Persia, pomegranates are one of the oldest cultivated fruits. Ancient Romans used the skins in the process of tanning leather. Perhaps due to the fruit's princely blossom crown, it has gained distinction as a royal fruit. Chaucer, Shakespeare and Homer have all extolled the virtues of the pomegranate in literature. The Moors brought the seedy fruit to Spain where Granada was named for it. The first pomegranate was planted in Britain by King Henry VIII. It reached our shores by way of the Spanish conquistadors.

Muhallebi

I picked this dessert because I wanted that shock of garnet pomegranate arils on the snowy white pudding - so lovely! Though this is traditionally made with rosewater, that is a polarizing ingredient in my household. Two of us love it; two of us despise it. So, I swapped out for vanilla and topped two of the servings with dried rose petals.

Ingredients

• ½ C rice flour
• 3 C whole milk
• 4 T organic granulated sugar
• pinch of fleur de sel
• 1 t pure vanilla extract
• pinch of ground cinnamon
• slivered almonds, for garnish
• pomegranate arils, for garnish (prefer Melissa's Produce)
• dried rose petals, for garnish (optional)

Procedure

In a medium saucepan, whisk together rice flour, milk, sugar, and fleur de sel until dissolved. Keep stirring with a whisk, over a medium heat, until the mixture comes to a simmer. 

Once the thickened to hold whisk marks, remove from heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Pour into individual bowls and let cool. To serve, garnish with almonds, pomegranate arils, and a dash of ground cinnamon. If you're using dried rose petals, place a few on top of the garnish.

You may find Melissa's...

on the web, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram

*Disclosure: I received product for free from the sponsor for recipe development, however, I have received no additional compensation for my post. My opinion is 100% my own and 100% accurate.