• Home
  • Photography
  • Food Styling
  • Writing
  • Contact
  • About
  • Clients
  • Menu

Nicolas Ghirlando

Food: Styling / Photography / Writing
  • Home
  • Photography
  • Food Styling
  • Writing
  • Contact
  • About
  • Clients
img_1022.jpg

Strawberry, white chocolate and basil summer sponge

July 18, 2017 in Pastry/Baking, Pastry/Baking, Puddings, Recipes

With only a minute to spare, we burst through the doors of the seventeenth century formal rooms into the wedding of an old friend. Maya, freshly pressed in her brand new dress still smelled faintly of sick. She had parted company with her breakfast just as we entered Richmond park (its roads lined with wooden spikes –possibly for the heads of drivers who tried to stop ANYWHERE– and no laybys) in a queue of cars and what appeared to be a lost peloton from the Tour de France. Finding a children's clothes shop with ten minutes to go before the ceremony was like Challenge Anneka. (An eighties tv show, for those of you who didn't have my childhood).I was returning to an almost normal heart rate. The petrol situation in the car would have to be dealt with later. The light had come on just as we left the house. Every mile to the venue was like driving with the sword of Damocles swinging above us; but we were there at least.The last wedding we went to, two or three years ago involved me screeching up to the steps of Brighton town hall kicking Bee and Maya out of the car, wheel-spinning off to find somewhere to park with Noah having a meltdown in the back because he didn't get to go with mummy and was stuck with purple-faced daddy. I hope no-one else I know gets married again. It's too stressful.And this leads me to another marriage which is far easier to prepare, less stressful to get to and, with hope, doesn't involve being sick. Strawberries, white chocolate and basil go so well together, and this flan is so simple to make. It looks far more impressive than the amount of work it takes to make so is perfect for a summer weekend tea-time treat and the children loved it.Ingredients2 eggs55g golden caster sugar55g strong flourSeeds from a vanilla podStrawberries, as many as fit on the base, about a punnet's worth, depending on their sizeA fig or two, quartered1 plum, quarteredWhite chocolate shavings2tbsp pistachios, choppedSome basil leaves to finish1tbsp atomised strawberries (freeze-dried and optional)For the glaze2tbsp raspberry jam1tbsp honey2tsp waterMethodHeat the oven to 190c and butter a 18cm flan tinWhisk the eggs, vanilla and sugar in a bowl over a pan of simmering water until light and airy then remove from the heat and gently fold in the flour.Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes, until golden and springy.Leave to cool on a wire rack.Top with the fruit and nuts, cover with the glaze then add the basil, dried strawberries and chocolate leaves and serve.

Tags: atomised strawberries, easy dessert, easy pudding, figs, fruit tart, glaze, nuts, plums, quick desserts, quick puddings, sponge, strawberries, summer fruit, white chocolate
Prev / Next

Wells Blog

Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Maecenas faucibus mollis interdum. Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue.


Featured Posts

Summary Block
This block is invalid. Please check the block settings and try again.
Featured
Vulputate Commodo Ligula
September 13, 2026
Vulputate Commodo Ligula
September 13, 2026

Commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus.

Read more →
September 13, 2026
Elit Condimentum
September 6, 2026
Elit Condimentum
September 6, 2026

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper.

Read more →
September 6, 2026
Aenean eu leo Quam
August 30, 2026
Aenean eu leo Quam
August 30, 2026

Quisque iaculis facilisis lacinia. Mauris euismod pellentesque tellus sit amet mollis.

Read more →
August 30, 2026
Cursus Amet
August 23, 2026
Cursus Amet
August 23, 2026

Sed purus sem, scelerisque ac rhoncus eget, porttitor nec odio. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.

Read more →
August 23, 2026
Pellentesque Risus Ridiculus
August 16, 2026
Pellentesque Risus Ridiculus
August 16, 2026

Vivamus pellentesque vitae neque at vestibulum. Donec efficitur mollis dui vel pharetra.

Read more →
August 16, 2026
Porta
August 9, 2026
Porta
August 9, 2026

Praesent id libero id metus varius consectetur ac eget diam. Nulla felis nunc, consequat laoreet lacus id.

Read more →
August 9, 2026
Etiam Ultricies
August 2, 2026
Etiam Ultricies
August 2, 2026

Donec id justo non metus auctor commodo ut quis enim. Mauris fringilla dolor vel condimentum imperdiet.

Read more →
August 2, 2026
Vulputate Commodo Ligula
July 26, 2026
Vulputate Commodo Ligula
July 26, 2026

Commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus.

Read more →
July 26, 2026
Elit Condimentum
July 19, 2026
Elit Condimentum
July 19, 2026

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper.

Read more →
July 19, 2026
Aenean eu leo Quam
July 12, 2026
Aenean eu leo Quam
July 12, 2026

Quisque iaculis facilisis lacinia. Mauris euismod pellentesque tellus sit amet mollis.

Read more →
July 12, 2026