Balsamic Strawberries with Ricotta Cream

Ellie Krieger shows you how to prepare a sweet and healthy snack - balsamic strawberries with ricotta cream.

You worked hard, you’ve had a rough day and now it’s time for a reward. Balsamic strawberries with ricotta cream is just the answer. You can have all the ingredients in your refrigerator waiting for you, so they’re there when you need it. So I’m starting here cutting up some strawberries, 16 ounces which I’ve hulled already and washed just getting them quartered and I’m going to douse them with the most amazing balsamic syrup. Here’s how I do it. This syrup is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy and it’s so easy to make. It starts with just three tablespoons balsamic vinegar straight into a pan then two tablespoons of sugar. You just bring it to a boil and simmer for two minutes. And this is what you get, a rich dark thick balsamic syrup that is totally awesome with strawberries. I’ll just let that cool there a couple of minutes while I cut some ribbons of basil. I need about two tablespoons altogether. You might think that basil and berries are an unlikely match but just wait until you try it. It’s not only mint that can go in desserts. Sprinkle that in and I’m going to also toss in this gorgeous decadent sticky syrup that brings out the sweetness in the strawberries like you won't believe and what would go better with this than a delicious rich cream and if you think you can’t have that when you’re eating healthy, think again. I have the perfect solution. This fantastic ricotta cream. It’s ultra rich, luxurious and creamy and does just the trick for that cream fix. But it’s really good for you, it’s made with part skim ricotta cheese, I made it just a couple of hours ago. Here’s how, so a cup of part skim ricotta into a food processor with two tablespoons of dark sweet honey and a half a teaspoon of vanilla extract to make it even extra special. Then process until smooth. Then into the fridge to set. A couple of hours later or whenever you’re ready for it, you have this fantastic dessert. On top of that goes the balsamic strawberries, also right at your fingertips, right on top there, utterly rewarding even just to look at. A little sprig of basil on top and there it is.