Hate Your Veggies? Eat Them As Desserts!

Sweet Potato and Chocolate Cake at The Sassy Spoon

Most of us have eaten shakarkandi or sweet potato chaat on the streets of Delhi. But, have you ever eaten desserts made with sweet potato? Yes, sweet potato chocolate cake is now a thing and you can find it in Mumbai.

After freakshakes, chilli ice-creams and charcoal pav bhaji, desserts using vegetables like beetroot, zucchini and pumpkin are now trending at Mumbai patisseries and cafes. We spoke to some talented pastry chefs in the city to understand this trend.

Sweet Potato and Chocolate Cake @ The Sassy Spoon

The unique cake was created keeping the diabetics in mind as it is completely sugar-free by Chef Rachel Goenka. "As a restaurant, we wanted to introduce sugar-free desserts as part of our menu because it's important to think of the healthy aspect of eating. I think we are one of the few restaurants in the city that do sugar-free desserts,” suggests Irfan Pabaney, Chef and Director at The Sassy Spoon. You can order it 24 hours prior and is not available for delivery.

Address: Classic Corner Building, Next to Holy Family Hospital, Hill Road, Bandra West

Zucchini Blondies at Le15 Patisserie

Zucchini Blondies and Sneaky Cookies @ Le15 Patisserie

Le15's desserts made with veggies will soon be available at all their outlets. Pastry chef Pooja Dhingra says, “These desserts are from my book Wholesome Kitchen, and will be introduced soon. I love them because when I first made the Sneaky Cookies, I couldn’t stop eating them. They are made with bottle gourd and taste delicious, and make for the best midnight treat. Whereas the Zucchini Blondies taste best when slightly warm, and you can't taste the zucchini, which makes it perfect for tea parties.”

Address: Ground Floor, Siffin Apartments, Dr. Ambedkar Road, Pali Hill, Bandra West

Ginger Caramel Ice-cream at Scoopalicious

Ginger Caramel, Beetroot and Pumpkin Pie @ Scoopalicious Ice Creams

Scoopalicious uses nostalgic flavours from the kitchen and offer organic ice-creams with no added sugar. "Our ice-creams consist of natural sweeteners like honey, jaggery and fruit pulp with no added preservatives. Although it shortens their shelf life, they are extremely healthy," says proprietor Roysten Misquitta.

Address: Shop 1, June Blossom Building, Opposite St, Peters Church Signal, Hill Road, Bandra West

The Antioxidant @ La Folie Lab

This particular dessert is a light fragrant Rose Panna Cotta lying on a bed of champagne caviar and a compote jelly made of red berries and beetroot juice along with a test tube of anti-oxidant red berry juice. Sounds fascinating? "It is eggless and served only at our cafe, and it has no sugar, carbs or gluten," says Parthesh Patel, partner at La Folie Lab. Chef Sanjana created this dessert using her imagination of the fountain of youth. "I imagine one to indulge in this seated in the lap of luxury enjoying the smoothness of the panna cotta, divinity of the champagne caviar to be topped off with a drink of anti-oxidant red berry juice. Made with red berries known for their anti-oxidant and anti-aging properties, it is the gastronomic answer to internal exfoliation,” she explains.

Address: Ground Floor, Libra Towers, Opposite St.Peter's Church, Hill Road, Bandra West

Zucchini and Chocolate Mousse @ Poetry by Love and Cheesecake

Chef Amit Sharma of Poetry by Love and Cheesecake created a Zucchini and Chocolate Mousse, which is healthy and tastes like chocolate, but has the goodness of zucchini as well. Though the zucchini cannot be tasted much, it’s a good idea to end a meal with or even have it for breakfast as it is full of fibre and healthy fats.

Address: Pali Darshan, Junction of 16th & 33rd road, Linking Road, Bandra West

Pumpkin Pie with Salted Jaggery Caramel @ 212 All Good

212 has a variety of desserts to choose from, but their Pumpkin Pie served here is unique. An ultimate combination of sweet and savoury flavours, the salted caramel jaggery helps enhance the flavours of pumpkin and has no added sugar.

Address: Ground Floor, Grand Galleria, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel.