Strawberry Recipes

The fragrant, sweet juiciness and deep red colour of strawberries can brighten up both the taste and aesthetics of any meal; it is no wonder they are the most popular berry fruit in the world.

Strawberries should be eaten as soon as possible. Do not remove the stalks or wash them until you are ready to use them.

To store strawberries, place them on a paper towel in a tightly-covered container and store in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. Leave the stalks on until ready to eat.

Strawberries are easily frozen. Gently wash them, dry, and remove the caps. Place on a baking tray and freeze. Once frozen, place in a zip-top bag, suck out the air with a straw, and seal. Return to the freezer for up to 6 months. Bear in mind, however, that defrosted strawberries do not hold their shape.

Strawberry Recipes

Strawberry Cheesecake from the BBC

Preparation time: less than 30 mins / Cooking time: less than 10 mins / Chilling time: a few hours

Strawberry Cheesecake

Ingredients

For the biscuit layer

150g/5¼oz crushed digestive

biscuits
2 tbsp melted butter
2 tbsp caster sugar
½ tbsp freshly grated lemon zest, very finely chopped
6 tbsp orange juice or juice from the strawberries

For the strawberry layer

1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp water
2 tsp cornflour, dissolved in a little cold water or orange juice
100g/4oz caster sugar
1kg/2lb 3¼oz strawberries, cleaned and sliced

For the cheesecake layer

2 sheets gelatine
1-2 tbsp of lemon juice
350g/12¼oz cream cheese
225g/8oz caster sugar
300g/10½oz thick Greek-style yoghurt
1 tbsp of vanilla extract

To serve

whipped cream
sprigs of mint

Method

For the biscuit layer, mix all the biscuit ingredients together and reserve.

For the strawberry layer, place the lemon juice and water into a small saucepan and mix in the cornflour well.
Bring to the boil and when the cornflour is dissolved, mix in the sugar and the strawberries.
Heat gently to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat, and allow to cool and thicken.

For the cheesecake mixture, soften the gelatine in the lemon juice and a spoonful of water if needed, for 3-5 minutes.
Heat the mixture gently over a low heat in a small saucepan until the gelatine is completely dissolved.
Meanwhile whisk the cream cheese and the sugar in a mixer or blender on medium speed.
When the sugar is dissolved turn down the speed and add the yoghurt and the gelatine.
When the mixture is blended together add the vanilla extract.

To assemble, place the biscuit layer into the base of six wine glasses, add a good dollop of cheesecake mixture, then add some strawberries. Chill the mixture for a few hours and top with whipped cream and a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.

This recipe – by Paul Rankin from Saturday Kitchen – is from the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/strawberrycheesecake_74455