BARBERRY FOOL

If you’re in need of a foolproof, super-quick dessert, then this is the one. While Persians never use barberries in desserts, I am an experimenter and one who likes to get the best from the ingredients I buy. Barberries have a wonderfully sour nature that makes them incredibly versatile in cooking, marinades, butter compounds and even drinks… [You can buy dried barberries in Waitrose or online.]

SERVES 6

PREPARATION TIME

15 minutes, plus soaking

● 50g dried barberries, plus extra to decorate

● 600ml double cream

● 6tbsp icing sugar

● 4tbsp Greek yogurt

● Handful of pistachio slivers (or very roughly chopped whole nuts), to decorate

1 Put the barberries into a heatproof mixing bowl, pour over 4tbsp boiling water and leave to soak for a few min.

2 Transfer barberries and their soaking liquid to a blender and blitz to a paste.

3 Using a handheld electric whisk, whip cream with icing sugar in a large mixing bowl until stiff peaks form, then gently fold in barberry paste and Greek yogurt.

4 Serve in individual glasses, and decorate with a few extra barberries and pistachios.