Shalvi Mohindra
Pastry Chef and Chocolatier
Ingredients
- 100g butter (softened)
- ½ tsp salt
- 75g sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of ½ orange
- 175g gluten-free flour blend
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 150 degrees celsius (fan bake).
2. Combine and Mix
In a stand mixer (or using a hand mixer), combine butter and sugar and mix until thick and creamy. Select high-speed if using a hand mixer or medium speed if using a stand mixer.
3. Add salt and vanilla extract
Once done, scrape the bottom and the sides of the bowl and add salt and vanilla extract.
4. Add orange zest and gluten-free flour
Mix for another minute and then start adding gluten-free flour and orange zest. Add the flour in 3-4 increments, mixing slowly. If the dough seems crumbly, stop the mixer and squeeze the crumbs with your fingers. If the dough seems very dry, you can add 1 tsp of cold milk to the mix. Do not over mix the shortbread or else it will be dense.
5. Form the dough
Form a little log on a piece of gladwrap, the diameter should be about 3 centimeters.
6. Place in the fridge
Put the log in the fridge for about 1 hour.
7. Cut the dough into pieces
Once the log is set, take it out and cut 1 cm thick disk shapes and place your cookies on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. You can have about 3-4 cm space in between the cookies as they do not spread much.
8. Baking time
Bake for 10 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
9. Enjoy!
Shalvi has studied Diplome de Patisserie at Le Cordon Bleu, New Zealand and now specialises as a chocolatier. She had previously worked as a Chef de Partie for airline catering, creating desserts for first class and business class passengers, and is now working with as a Head chocolatier at Cocoa Wilds, where all the products are freshly made using no preservatives or artificial flavours.
When it comes to current and new recipes, Shalvi is always looking for healthier options, because desserts can still be indulgent and delicious without negatively impacting our health.
This is why Shalvi’s passion is to find and use only the best natural ingredients; an approach and philosophy she also incorporates in her everyday cooking by using fresh, whole foods and avoiding processed foods.
