Strawberries à la maison

Other than eating strawberries freshly picked from the field, this is one of Forough’s favorite ways to enjoy them. Since it’s still early in the season, we’ve included a few optional tips to add sweetness, if desired.

Serves 4 people | prep time 15 minutes |cooking time - minutes

 Ingredients:

-        1 lb strawberries

-        1 cup crème fraîche

-        1 cup cold heavy whipping cream

-        1 vanilla pod or, alternatively, 2 teaspoons of vanilla bean extract

-        2-4 teaspoons powdered sugar (optional)

-        1 tablespoon of strawberry jam (optional)

-        Mint leaves for garnish

Instructions:

1.      Chill your equipment:

-        Place a large mixing bowl (or bowl of a kitchen machine) in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

-        Chilled equipment helps the cream whip faster.

2.      Prepare the strawberries:

-        Rinse the strawberries under cool water.

-        Gently pat them dry with a clean cloth.

-        Remove the leafy tops and cut each strawberry into quarters.

-        Optional: For extra sweetness, toss the quartered strawberries with 2 - 4 teaspoons of powdered sugar and let them marinate for about 10 minutes or marinate them with some strawberry jam.

3.      Whip the cream:

-        In the chilled bowl, pour in the heavy whipping cream.

-        Add the scraped seeds from the vanilla pods or vanilla bean extract if using.

-        Whip on medium-high speed with a kitchen machine, hand mixer or a whisk until soft peaks form, about 5–7 minutes.

-        Soft peaks refer to the stage when the cream forms peaks that gently droop when you lift the whisk.

-        Once whipped, gently fold in the crème fraîche with a spatula, ensuring not to deflate the whipped cream.

4.      Assemble the dish: 

-        Spoon a generous dollop of the whipped cream mixture onto a chilled plate or into a serving bowl.

-        Arrange the strawberries on top of the cream.

-        Garnish with a few torn mint leaves for a fresh, aromatic finish.

-        Optional: Add a small dollop of strawberry jam over the whipped cream before topping with strawberries, or sprinkle crumbled meringue over the dish for added crunch and sweetness.

Bon appétit.

Forough & Le Bon Nosh Team