If you love cooking and easy recipes that bring a fresh twist to classic flavors, this grilled strawberries and Pimms dessert is a must-try. Inspired by the iconic English Pimms drink, this recipe transforms simple strawberries into a warm, fragrant, and slightly boozy treat that’s perfect for impressing guests or adding a little luxury to your everyday dessert. With a few simple ingredients and just a handful of minutes, you can make this delightful dish that pairs perfectly with crunchy shortbread and creamy ice cream.
The Perfect Strawberries for Grilling
The secret to this easy recipe starts with preparing the strawberries properly. Begin by trimming the bottoms off each strawberry so they have a flat base. This helps them stand upright and pack snugly together in your tray. Packing them tightly is important because strawberries are delicate and will shrink slightly as they cook.
When the strawberries are arranged with their flat cut side down, all the juices and flavor will collect at the bottom of the tray. This natural syrup becomes the base for a delicious sauce that elevates the dish.
Vanilla and Stem Ginger: A Flavorful Twist
Vanilla and strawberries are a classic pairing, and here, the addition of real vanilla beans takes the flavor to the next level. You can use vanilla sugar if you prefer, but scraping the seeds from a vanilla bean gives an intense fragrance and a little texture, almost like tiny caviar pearls.
Another brilliant ingredient for this recipe is stem ginger, which you can find in most supermarkets or Asian grocery stores. Use a couple of pieces of candied ginger along with a few tablespoons of the syrup it’s stored in. This syrup adds a wonderful spicy sweetness that complements the strawberries beautifully.
Mix the vanilla seeds into the ginger syrup and drizzle it all over the packed strawberries, letting the flavors mingle. Randomly scatter chopped candied ginger bits in the gaps between the strawberries — don’t worry about being too neat; the rustic look adds charm to the dish.
Grilling the Strawberries
Once your strawberries are dressed with the vanilla-ginger syrup and ginger pieces, place the tray under a grill or broiler. The goal isn’t to cook the strawberries fully but to warm them gently until the syrup starts bubbling and thickening, which takes about three minutes.
This quick grilling step intensifies the flavors and softens the berries just enough to create a meltingly delicious texture.
Adding Crunch with Shortbread Biscuits
While the strawberries are grilling, prepare some shortbread biscuits to add a lovely crunch to the dessert. Take about six biscuits, wrap them in a clean tea towel, and bash them up to create coarse crumbs. This step is easy and quick, and the buttery, crumbly texture of shortbread pairs perfectly with warm strawberries and creamy ice cream.
Bringing It All Together
The final touch is a scoop of good-quality ice cream. The contrast of hot, sweet strawberries with cold, smooth ice cream is simply irresistible. For an extra special finish, add a splash of Pimms liqueur — a nod to the classic English summer drink that inspired this dessert. The booze warms through the bubbling vanilla syrup, adding depth and a festive note.
Serve immediately while the strawberries are still hot and syrupy, topped with crushed shortbread and a generous scoop of ice cream. The combination of textures and temperatures — crunchy, cold, hot, and sweet — makes for a superb and memorable dessert that’s surprisingly easy to make.
Tips for Success
- Use fresh, ripe strawberries: The better the berries, the better the final dish.
- Don’t overcook the strawberries: Keep an eye under the grill, aiming for syrup bubbling but not burning.
- Experiment with the booze: While Pimms is traditional here, other fruit liqueurs work beautifully too.
- Serve immediately: This dessert is best enjoyed fresh for the contrast of textures and temperatures.
This grilled strawberries and Pimms dessert is a brilliant example of how cooking easy recipes with a few thoughtful ingredients can create something truly special. It’s quick, simple, and perfect for both casual dinners and celebratory occasions. Give it a go and enjoy a beautiful taste of English summer in your own kitchen!
This article was created from the video EASY Grilled Strawberries & Pimms | Jamie Oliver with the help of AI.
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