Lemon Ricotta Brûlée with Basil Strawberries
(from carrollc1’s recipe box)
Don’t make more than 2 hours before serving because the strawberries will get too syrupy.
Source: Central Market cooking class in San Antonio
Serves 4 peopleCategories: Dessert
Ingredients
- 8 oz fresh Ricotta cheese (dry, not wet)
- 1/2 C heavy cream
- 1/3 C granulated sugar + more for caramelizing
- Zest of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 4 oz fresh strawberries, quartered (peaches are good too)
- 1 T basil chiffonade
- 1 tsp sugar
Directions
-
Cream the Ricotta with 1/3 C of sugar and vanilla until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Gradually add the heavy cream and lemon zest, and beat for an additional 3-5 minutes until smooth in consistency.
-
Stir together strawberries, basil and tsp of sugar. Line the bottoms of 4, 6 oz ramekins with the berry mixture. Divide the ricotta mixture between the 4 ramekins and spread evenly, smoothing the tops. Chill for 30 minutes or up to 4 hours, but not overnight.
-
Before serving, sprinkle top of mixture with sugar and use a flame torch to caramelize sugar just before serving. If you don’t have a torch, you can place it under a broiler until the sugar caramelizes, but the torch is better.