How to Make Strawberries and Cream - Strawberries and Cream

How to Make Strawberries and Cream

Ingredients

Original Recipe

2 cups fresh strawberries
2 cups half & half
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (optional)

Strawberries with Mascarpone Cream

2 cups fresh strawberries
2 tablespoons sugar
1 vanilla pod/bean
1 cup mascarpone cream cheese
1 cup plain yogurt

Strawberries with Orange Cream

2 cups fresh strawberries
2 cups half and half
1/2 cup sugar
1 orange, juice and zest
1 lemon, juice and zest
1 vanilla pod/bean
1 cup orange sorbet

How to make it 

Method 1 Making the Original Recipe

1 Select the strawberries. 

Strawberries and cream is a pared-down, simple presentation of strawberry flavor at its best. Making strawberries and and cream with frozen or soft strawberries just won't do; choose the freshest strawberries you can find, at the peak of their ripeness. They should be ruby red and firm, with bright green tops.

2 Wash the strawberries. 

Place them in a colander and rinse them gently with water, taking care to clean them on all sides. Don't handle the strawberries too roughly or you may bruise them.

3 Cut the strawberries.

 Strawberries and cream is classically prepared with strawberries cut into halves or quarters, but you may cut them according to your personal preference.

Begin but cutting off the green tops with a paring knife. Try not to chop off too much of the strawberries' flesh.

Cut the strawberries in half lengthwise.

Slice the halves in half to make quarters.

4 Mix the cream ingredients. 

Combine the half and half, sugar, and optional vanilla and balsamic vinegar in a bowl. use a whisk to fully incorporate the ingredients and help the sugar dissolve.

Taste the cream. Add more sugar if you'd like additional sweetness.

If you'd like to try another sweetener, consider honey or agave nectar.

5 Layer the strawberries into cups.

 Each person you're serving should get about 1/2 cup of strawberries.

6 Pour the cream over the strawberries.

 Add equal portions of cream to each cup, pouring it slowly over the strawberries. Serve immediately.

Method 2 

1 Process the strawberries. 

Place them in a colander and rinse them carefully. Use a paring knife to slice off the green tops. Slice the strawberries in half lengthwise, then cut them into quarters.

2 Place the strawberries in a bowl and sprinkle them with 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) sugar.

 Let the strawberries sit in the bowl for 5-10 minutes, until their juices have been released.

3 Prepare the mascarpone mixture.

 While the strawberries react with the sugar to release their juices, get the mascarpone ready.

4 Serve the dish.

 Spoon a generous serving of the mascarpone cheese onto a serving plate. Push a well into the center of each cream serving, using the back of a spoon. Place strawberry slices inside the mascarpone well on each serving.

Drizzle over the top of the strawberries using the leftover juice from the strawberries bowl.

If you wish, crumble some shortbread over each serving. It's now ready to serve immediately.

Method 3 Making the Strawberries and Orange Cream

1 Process the strawberries.

 Place them in a colander and rinse them carefully. Use a paring knife to slice off the green tops. Slice the strawberries in half lengthwise, then cut them into quarters.

2 Place the strawberry quarters in a large bowl. 

Add the sugar, orange zest, and lemon zest. Toss the ingredients with a spoon so the strawberries get completely coated. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to marinate for half an hour.

3 Juice and zest the orange and lemon. 

Wash the orange and lemon carefully, then dry them off. Use a zester (or in a pinch, a cheese grater) to scrape off the top layer of peel, the zest, into a bowl. Continue until the zest has been scraped away, then half the orange and lemon and squeeze out their juices.

4 Make the orange cream. 

Place the cream in a mixing bowl. Add the scraped out vanilla seeds and the orange and lemon juice. Beat the mixture until the cream thickens to form soft peaks.

5 Serve the strawberries and orange cream.

 Prepare each serving in an individual martini glass or small glass bowl.

Place one scoop of orange sorbet in the base of a martini glass.

Add a generous layer of marinated strawberries.

Finish with a dollop of orange cream.

Sprinkle with grated dark chocolate or chopped walnuts for garnish.

6 Finished.