Orange, Date & Almond Yoghurt Bowl
Oranges cut into rounds on the board so every drop of juice ends up on the yoghurt, with dates and almonds for chew.
Why it works
Cutting the peel and pith away with a knife and slicing the oranges across into rounds holds far more juice in the fruit than segmenting does, and whatever escapes onto the board goes over the top as a dressing. Cinnamon and orange blossom water both read as sweetness on their own, so one spoon of honey is enough for four bowls.
Method
- Stir the orange blossom water and half the cinnamon through the yoghurt. Divide it between four shallow bowls and spread it to the edges with the back of a spoon.
- Sit an orange on the board and cut the top and bottom flat. Cut down the sides, following the curve of the fruit, until no white pith is left, then slice it across into rounds about 1 cm (½ in) thick. Repeat with the rest and keep the juice on the board.
- Lay the rounds over the yoghurt in overlapping circles, then tip the juice from the board over them.
- Scatter with the dates, almonds and mint. Trickle over the honey, dust with the rest of the cinnamon and add the smallest pinch of salt, which sharpens the fruit.
- Serve straight away, while the yoghurt is still cold against the room-temperature oranges.
For the toddler
Spread their yoghurt at step 1 and set it aside before the honey, salt and last of the cinnamon go over at step 4. Honey is not for a baby under one, and the juice from the board sweetens it plenty, or stir through a little mashed ripe banana. Chopped almonds are a choking risk under five, so grind them fine or leave them off. Chop the dates small and cut the orange rounds into small pieces.
How the toddler notes workChef’s notes
Blood oranges in late winter, or ripe peaches in high summer, cut the same way. Pistachios in place of almonds.
Chop the dates and almonds first and leave them on the board, then use the same board for the oranges.
Stir a spoonful of rolled oats through the yoghurt at step 1; they soften while you slice the oranges.
Fruit and yoghurt keep three days apart. Assembled, the juice thins the yoghurt overnight.