Keeping Summer Simple and Sweet
Yet, it's not summer without desserts. But you have to make them as simple as possible, and use the plethora of fresh seasonal fruit out there, and try to keep them both sweet and refreshing. I'd like to introduce two of my regular summer desserts, which adhere to these ground rules and use local ingredients, one of them being quite old-fashioned and traditional, the other being an instant modern classic.
“The best way to use the plentiful summer fruit.” Image credit: Taste of Croatia
Same as many other names and expressions in Zagreb culinary lingo that come from German language and stem from our Austrian-Hungarian background, so does this super simple dessert called glajgeviht. Which is just our broken German version of the expression Gleichgewicht, meaning equilibrium, balance (literally: of the same weight). It is a kind of shortbread cake made with seasonal fruits like cherries, berries, plums, apricots... Use one kind only or be bold and make a mix. Extra spices or flavours are not needed, you aim for the essence of fruitness. The name probably comes from the fact that the ratio of ingredients is perfectly balanced – you need the same weight of eggs, sugar, flour and fat. Or maybe it comes from the fact that the end result is so light and nicely balanced. The sweet and sour juiciness of the fruits meets the soft and tender fluffiness of the dough in perfect harmony. And it's impossible to eat one piece only.
Some extra fruit sauce on your glajgeviht? Yes, please!” Image credit: Taste of Croatia
Glajgeviht isn't something you would find in supermarkets, pastry shops or restaurants, which makes it even more special. It stands for home cooking, family time, comfort. Like many others, I have the recipe written on a piece paper from my mother's recipe notebook. And it is so simple even the clumsiest beginners can take a shot at it. A little word of advice: glajgeviht is also very useful if you have a child who is not crazy about eating fruit. The other super simple summer dessert is completely different, definitely not something your grandmother would pass on to you or something that reminds you of childhood.
“Simple and delicious – vanilla ice cream with pumpkin seeds and oil, as they do it in Đurina hiža.” Image credit: Đurina hiža FB
It doesn't really have a name. It's called for what it is – sladoled s bučinim sjemenkama, ice cream with pumpkin seeds. I tried it for the first time some 7-8 years ago, when our famous TV chef Tomislav Špiček had his own restaurant in Zaprešić. Everybody talked about this amazing new dessert. Of course, it was not his original creation, but in the world of traditional and conservative restaurant desserts, at that time serving a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with roasted pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil was avant-garde and daring. It's modern, but uses a very local and specific ingredient creating this amazingly tasty and rich yet refreshing combination. Vanilla ice cream is there because it's neutral, the mildest flavour, a perfect foundation to build on. No need to say, you can whip up this dessert in no time. Just a little tip: throw in a bit of sunflower seeds, too. Good news is that nowadays you can find ice cream with pumpkin seeds served in numerous restaurants in and around Zagreb.
“Ice cream can be upgraded with all sorts of fresh local seeds and berries – let your imagination run free.” Image credit: Taste of Croatia
I'm sure there are many other simple seasonal desserts, local or not, but I've picked my favourites. It's all about using fresh seasonal ingredients and listening to your body and its needs. Summer is really the best season to have a sweet tooth because it gives you so many possibilities. Keep those heavy chocolate cakes for winter.
Header image credit: Taste of Croatia
Author: Morana Zibar / Taste of Croatia