Christmas Menu Part 4 - Cashew-Cinnamon Creme with mandarine compote

• 300 ml plant based mik (e.g. oat + 150 ml milk)
• 2 Tsp vanilla extract or pulp of 1 vanilla pod
• 2 Tsp rice syrup
• 1 1/2 - 2 Tsp cinnamon
• 1 Tsp Agar Agar
• 200 gr cashews
• 2 dates
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup

Compote

• 50 gr raw cane sugar
• 2 mandarines
• 1 star anis
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 100 ml freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 Tsp starch
• optional: 1 splash citrus vodka or orange liqueur

1. Soak the cashew nuts in cold water for 2-3 hours or overnight
2. Mix 300 ml milk with the vanilla, rice syrup, cinnamon and agar gar in a pan and bring to a boil
3. Let cool in a cold bain-maire
4. Drain the water from the nuts and add them to a high speed blender with the remaining ingredients (dates, 150 ml milk, maple syrup)
5. Mix until very smooth, this can take up to 5 minutes and the creme will get hot
6. Add the agar agar mixture until everything is smooth
7. Pour into jars and put in the fridge

Compote:

1. Peel the mandarines and cut them into pieces
2. Caramelize the sugar in a pan and deglaze with the orange juice
3. Add the remaining ingredients (except the starch and the alcohol is optional) and let simmer for 4-5 minutes
4. Mix the starch with a bit of cold water until fully dissolved and add to the composite, bring to a quick boil
5. Take out the cinnamon stick and star anise and serve with the creme - warm or cold

You can easily prepare the creme upfront and also the compete. If you want to serve it warm, just quickly heat it up again. The only thing you should not forget is to soak the cashews the day before. Its important to have a really good high speed blender, otherwise you won't get a smooth creme. If you don't want to use mandarine, oranges work as well. The spices add a christmassy taste and I can't think of a better finish to the Christmas menu.

I really hope you liked my Christmas menu and inspires lot of people to go for a Christmas dinner without any animal products. I can only assure you my family was relay happy with the menu - which we enjoyed last week ( a little pre-christmas celebration). I can't wait for Christmas and to spoil my loved ones with delicious vegan food and I hope you too!

You can find all the other Christmas recipes here.

Love Verena