Mother's Day Recipes: Ravinder Bhogal's Elegant Treats for Mum
Few gestures convey love as powerfully as an unexpected cup of tea, but to truly honor the maternal figure in your life this Mother's Day, pairing it with indulgent homemade snacks elevates the celebration. Ravinder Bhogal, a celebrated culinary expert, offers three exquisite recipes that blend British tradition with modern flair, moving beyond fussy hotel finger sandwiches to deliver fortifying savories, classic cakes, and buttery biscuits.
Lemon and Elderflower Drizzle Cake
This simple yet stunning cake can be baked in a standard tin, but using a bundt tin transforms it into a showstopping centerpiece. For a lighter option, skip the icing and serve with a dollop of creme fraiche and fresh berries instead.
Preparation: 5 minutes
Cooking: 55 minutes, plus cooling
Serves: 10
Ingredients:
- 225g softened unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
- 225g caster sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 tbsp elderflower cordial
- 225g self-raising flour
- Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp milk
- 150g icing sugar
- Elderflowers or edible flowers for decoration (optional)
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 180C (160C fan)/350F/gas 4. Generously butter a 2.4-litre bundt tin, using a pastry brush to reach all crevices.
- Whisk the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, whisking well after each. Incorporate 1 tbsp elderflower cordial.
- Sift in the flour, add lemon zest and milk, and fold gently with a metal spoon.
- Pour batter into the tin and bake for 35-40 minutes, until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For the icing, mix lemon juice with the remaining elderflower cordial. Whisk in icing sugar gradually until smooth. Drizzle over the cake, decorate with flowers if desired, and serve.
Lime and Passion Fruit Curd Yo-Yos
These crumbly biscuits feature a tart passion fruit curd filling that contrasts beautifully with their sweet base, offering a sophisticated twist on traditional treats.
Preparation: 5 minutes
Cooking: 45 minutes
Makes: 16
Ingredients:
- 250g softened unsalted butter
- 60g icing sugar
- 1 big pinch fine salt
- Finely grated zest of 2 limes, plus 2 tbsp juice
- 225g plain flour
- 75g cornflour
- For the filling: 60g softened unsalted butter, 120g icing sugar, 1 pinch fine salt, 1 tsp lime juice, 75g passion fruit curd
Method:
- Preheat oven to 160C (140C fan)/325F/gas 3. Line two baking sheets with greaseproof paper.
- Cream butter, sugar, salt, and lime zest in a stand mixer until pale and fluffy. Beat in flour, cornflour, and lime juice until just combined; avoid overbeating.
- Roll tablespoons of batter into balls, place on sheets spaced apart, and flatten with a fork. Bake for 15-18 minutes, swapping trays halfway, until pale golden. Cool slightly on trays, then transfer to a rack.
- For the filling, beat butter, icing sugar, salt, and lime juice until fluffy. Spread half the biscuits with filling, top the rest with passion fruit curd, and sandwich together.
Bloody Mary Prawn Brioche Rolls
These savory rolls feature a zesty bloody mary marinade, with an option to swap ketchup for sriracha for added spice, making them a bold and flavorful choice.
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking: 15 minutes
Chilling: 2 hours
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
- 50ml vodka
- 50ml extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp white-wine vinegar
- ½ tsp toasted and ground coriander seeds
- 1 small banana shallot, finely sliced
- 1 long red chilli, split lengthways
- 1 small garlic clove, thinly sliced
- Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 400g cooked prawns
- ½ iceberg lettuce, shredded
- 4 brioche rolls, buttered
- 4 thick tomato slices
- Black pepper and celery salt to taste
- For the dressing: 6 tbsp mayonnaise, 2 tbsp ketchup, zest of 1 lemon, juice of ½ lemon, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce
Method:
- In a shallow dish, mix vodka, olive oil, vinegar, coriander seeds, shallot, chilli, garlic, lemon zest, and juice. Add prawns, coat well, and chill for 2 hours.
- For the dressing, combine all ingredients in a bowl and adjust to taste.
- Remove prawns from marinade. Assemble rolls with dressing, lettuce, and prawns. Top with tomato slices, season with pepper and celery salt, add extra Tabasco if desired, and close with bun lids.
These recipes from Ravinder Bhogal provide a delightful way to celebrate Mother's Day, blending elegance with heartfelt homemade touches. Whether you opt for the sweet drizzle cake, tangy biscuits, or savory prawn rolls, each dish promises to make the day special and memorable.
