Recipes with CHEF.
Welcome to our new series, where we test our Head Chef Dan on his culinary and ingredient skills.
Each month we’ll give him some seasonal ingredients (or a task asked by you, like the perfect steak) and he’ll put a dish together..
This month it’s a local Strawberry Eton Mess with Preserves of Suffolk lemon curd.
Ingredients –
- 1 punnet of fresh strawberries
- 1 lemon
- 1 jar of lemon curd from Preserves of Suffolk
- 1 giant loose lemon meringue from Flower and White
- 1 bottle of raw cream from ES Burroughs
- Icing sugar (optional)
- Dried raspberries for garnish (optional)
Method:
1. Prepare the Cream
Pour the raw cream into a chilled mixing bowl.
Using a hand whisk or electric mixer, begin whisking the cream at medium speed. Continue whisking until the cream starts to thicken. This may take about 5-7 minutes.
Add a tablespoon of icing sugar to sweeten it. Adjust to taste.
Whisk until the cream forms stiff peaks, meaning it’s thick and holds its shape.
Once the cream reaches the desired consitency, set it aside.
2. Prepare the Strawberries
Slice the fresh strawberries into thin rounds.
Place the sliced strawberries in a bowl and zest the lemon over the strawberries, then gently toss to combine.
Let the strawberries macerate for about 20 minutes. Maceration softens the fruit and enhances its flavour.
3. Assemble the Mess
Take serving glasses or bowls.
Spoon three dollops of lemon curd into the bottom of each glass.
Top the lemon curd with a layer of macerated strawberries.
Spoon a generous dollop of the prepared cream on top of the strawberries.
Crush the lemon meringue into small pieces and sprinkle some over the cream layer.
4. Layering
Repeat the layering process: lemon curd, strawberries, cream, crushed meringue.
Continue layering until the glasses are filled, ending with a layer of cream on top..
5. Final Touch
Using a spoon, create a quenelle in the middle of the final layer of cream.
Sprinkle dried raspberries over the top for a pop of colur and extra flavour.
6. Serve Immediately
Enjoy the delightful combination of flavours and textures in this indulgent dessert!
