GORDON RAMSAY’S STRAWBERRY TRIFLES (Serves 8)
INGREDIENTS:
8 boudoir biscuits or sponge fingers; 1tbsp gin For the jelly: 450g fresh strawberries, quartered; 125g caster sugar; 180ml elderflower cordial, mixed with 70ml water to make 250ml; 6 sheets of leaf gelatine For the custard: 300ml double cream; seeds from ½ vanilla pod; 3 large egg yolks; 30g caster sugar For the macerated strawberries: 25g caster sugar; 250g strawberries, halved if large; 1tbsp goodquality balsamic glaze; 2 fresh basil leaves, chopped To decorate: Freezedried strawberries (optional); fresh basil sprigs or leaves, shredded (optional)
METHOD:
1. To make the jelly, put the strawberries into a pan with the sugar and 1tbsp of water. Cover and cook gently until soft, about 8mins. Pour into a blender (or use a stick blender) and blitz until smooth. Sieve and press with a spoon to extract pureéd juice. 2. Weigh out 250ml of this juice and mix with the diluted elderflower cordial, reserving the remaining strawberry juice to use for soaking the boudoir biscuits. Place gelatine leaves in a small bowl of cold water and leave for 3–5 mins, until softened. 3. Meanwhile, pour the strawberry and cordial mix into a saucepan, and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat. Squeeze out the gelatine and add to the saucepan. Whisk until completely dissolved. Pour the jelly into a large glass bowl or divide among individual glasses, then leave to set in the fridge for at least three hours. 4. To make the custard, pour the cream into a saucepan, add the vanilla and bring to the boil over a medium heat. Put the egg yolks and sugar into a heatproof bowl, and stir using a spatula. 5. Pour half of the cream onto the egg-yolk mix, stirring constantly, then return the mixture to the remaining cream in the pan, stirring as you go. Cook gently, stirring continuously, until the custard is thickened enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon (65–70°C); do not let it boil. Pour into a bowl, then cool quickly in the fridge. 6. Meanwhile, put the caster sugar into a large bowl and add 25ml of water. Stir to help dissolve the sugar. Stir in strawberries, balsamic glaze and basil, then leave to macerate for about 30 minutes. 7. To assemble the trifle, sit the boudoir biscuits on top of the jelly in a single layer, breaking to fit if using
individual glasses. Mix reserved strawberry juice with the gin and pour evenly over the biscuits. Transfer the bowl or glasses to the fridge to chill briefly. 8. Pour the cold custard over the soaked biscuits to cover them evenly. Return to the fridge until you’re ready to decorate the top. 9. To serve, strain the macerated strawberries and spoon over the custard. Decorate with some freeze-dried strawberries and basil, if you like.
■ Recipe from Bread Street Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay, published by Hodder & Stoughton