Gluten-Free Vegan Gizzada

Gluten-Free Vegan Gizzada

If you look around on different cuisines, you will find several dessert recipes that are vegan, gluten-free, and utterly delicious. For someone who has a sweet tooth, these recipes are a treasure.

One such recipe that we bring to you today is the Jamaican  Gizzada recipe. It is a popular Jamaican dessert that has its roots in several other cuisines. Other Jamaican favorites are Vegan Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding, Jamaican Spice Bun, and Vegan Cassava Pone.

Despite the fame, it is a humble dessert that serves perfectly well as a snack as well. It is easy to make, tasteful, healthy, and very satisfying; here is everything you need to know about this dessert!

What Is A Gizzada?

Gizzada, also known as pinch-me-round, is a delicious Jamaican dessert. It is actually a shell pastry that is filled with a coconut filling. The best thing about this dessert is that it is vegan-friendly. Also, by choosing gluten-free ingredients, you can turn it into a gluten-free dessert.

History of gizzada

The thing about this dessert is that although it is Jamaican, you will find desserts that are similar to thins in other cuisines as well. For instance, “queijada” is a name this coconut-filled shell pastry is given in Portugal.

Furthermore, you will find a dessert almost similar to this one in the Haitians and Trinidadian cuisine. So, it is safe to say that this dessert has a Portuguese origin and as people traveled to the Jamaican land, the dessert became popular and was entirely adopted by the Jamaicans.

As people continued to travel to different lands, the dessert went with them, and it was adopted by the locals and soon became a prominent part of their cuisine. No wonder it was well-received by the local people everywhere. It is truly delicious.

Components Of A Gluten-Free Vegan Gizzada

From the look of it, you will see that Gizzada is made from two main components. These are:

• The base: now, the base of this dessert is a shell pastry. It is made from gluten-free ingredients and has a crispy and flaky texture. The pastry is shaped like a start, and because of its unique shape, it gets the name pinch-me-round.
• The filling: the filling sets the tone for the dessert; it adds all the flavors that make this dessert unique. The filling is made from coconut and is soft, sweet, and chewy. The combination of flaky pastry and the sweet chewy filling is a match made in heaven.

How To Make A Coconut Gizzada?

Making Gluten-Free Vegan Gizzada might seem like a laborsome process, but it is actually quite fun. Especially when you enjoy baking and have a way of handling pastry, you will really enjoy the process. Here is a detailed step-by-step guide to making delicious Gizzada.

Step 1: First of all, you will have to start by making the pastry. For this, you will have to add all the dry ingredients to a large bowl. Next, add in small pieces of cold vegan butter. Mix the ingredients well so that the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Step 2: Next, you have to add in cold water, about ½ cup. Using either fork or your hands, mix the ingredients well until it forms a dough. Cover the bowl with cling film and place it in the refrigerator for about 3 minutes.

Step 3: In the meanwhile, add all the filling ingredients to another bowl. Mix well and let it sit for about 20 minutes until the sugar dissolves completely. Don’t forget to keep stirring in between.

Step 4: Once 30 minutes have passed, take the dough out of the refrigerator and knead it. Place it on a floured working station and roll it into a ¼ inch thick sheet using a rolling pin.

5: with the help of a cookie cutter, cut circles of the dough.

 6: Using your hands and thumb, push the dough from the center towards its edges and pinch from the sides to form a star shape.

7: Place the pastry on a parchment-lined baking tray and place it in a pre-heated oven for 5 minutes at 350-degree F.

 8: Remove the tray from the oven and scoop in a tablespoon of coconut filling. Place the tray back in the oven for 20 minutes.

9: Once the pastry gets golden brown color, remove the tray from the oven and let the pastries cool down.

Tips And Tricks For Perfect Gluten-Free Vegan Gizzada

Here are a few tips and tricks to make perfect Gizzada:

• To make a gluten-free version, make sure you use gluten-free all-purpose flour. You can easily find it from the gluten-free section of the grocery store.
• Make sure the vegan butter is cold. It will give the pastry a flaky texture.
• Before you add vegan butter, don’t forget to cut it into small pieces. This way, it will be easy to mix the dry ingredients.
• If you don’t have dried coconut, you can also use store-bought coconut flakes.
• Make sure you let the filling mixture sit for about 20 minutes so that the organic sugar dissolves naturally.
• As you pinch the pastry shell bottom with a fork, you allow the air to pass through it, helping it to cook well.
• When storing these, don’t forget to wrap them individually in plastic wrapping.

How To Store Coconut Gizzada?

The best thing about these pastries is that you can store them for later use. All you have to do is place them in an air-tight container or jar, and they are good to go for about 5 days.

However, when storing these gizzadas, you must wrap them in high-quality plastic wrap individually like a toffee. Otherwise, they will get soggy. This way, they will stay fresh for up to a week. Because of the way you store these, Gizzada is a perfect treat and is a perfect gift for every occasion.

Try this delicious Jamaican dessert at home and indulge in the unique flavor and texture of this dish. Serve it on your next friend and family get-together and impress your friends and family with your culinary skills.

Other Jamaican Desserts

1. Jamaican Blue Draws
2. Cornmeal Pudding
3. Pineapple Tart
4. Coconut Bread
5. Jamaican Fruit Cake

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