Black pepper strawberries with chocolate crumble

  • Portion size: Serves 4-6
  • Hands-on time 20 min, oven time 15 min
  • Difficulty: easy
Recipe by: Francesco Mazzei

Francesco Mazzei’s strawberry dessert is a lovely way to finish off a meal – and a bit of a talking point with its unexpected ingredient. Sweet creaminess is pleasantly complemented by both the heat of the pepper, and the richness of the chocolate crumble – leaving you wanting more.

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Ingredients

  • Finely grated zest 1 large unwaxed amalfi lemon and 20ml juice (or use a regular lemon)
  • 60g caster sugar
  • 200g strawberries, hulled and quartered
  • 160ml double cream
  • 160g mascarpone
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 20g icing sugar
  • Handful fresh basil leaves to serve (optional)

For the chocolate crumble

  • 40g demerara sugar
  • 25g plain flour
  • 25g cornflour
  • 40g ground almonds
  • 15g cocoa powder
  • Pinch ground cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp free-range egg white
  • 40g cold unsalted butter, cubed
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Method

  1. Heat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4. In a medium bowl, combine all the crumble ingredients, apart from the butter. Using fingertips, rub in the butter until the mixture resembles large breadcrumbs. Spread over a baking sheet, then bake for 15 minutes until crisp. Set aside to cool.
  2. Mix the zest and juice, caster sugar and a good pinch of black pepper in a bowl. Stir in the strawberries, then leave to marinate for 10 minutes.
  3. Whip the cream, mascarpone, vanilla and icing sugar with a balloon whisk. Serve the strawberries (with basil, if using), crumble and cream in separate bowls for guests to help themselves.
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Nutrition

  • 466kcals Calories
  • 35.5g (21.1g saturated) Fat
  • 5g Protein
  • 30.6g (23.9g sugars) Carbs
  • 1.9g Fibre
  • 0.1g Salt

Per serving (for 6)

Make Ahead

Make the crumble up to 12 hours ahead, then keep covered at room temperature.

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