There’s this game that I play sometimes a lot. It’s called the “and potatoes” game.
I look at an ingredient and wonder just what I can make involving said ingredient and potatoes. This does not, as you might imagine, always have a successful outcome.
Case in point: strawberries and potatoes (which, to be fair, even I thought a bit of a stretch).
I had strawberries on the brain since attending a demonstration in Bord Bia, where the charming Catherine Fulvio from Ballyknocken Cookery School talked us through a host of different ways with strawberries, which are just coming into season hereabouts.
There was strawberry millefeuille with mascarpone, strawberry shortcake, prosecco mixed with blended strawberries, and much else besides (though, frankly, the perfect strawberry doesn’t need much, other than perhaps a touch of sugar and some cream). Tellingly, there was nary a mention of spuds.
Catherine Fulvio shows the many ways with strawberries, none of them involving potatoes
Still, I thought that I knew better. Potato pancakes, says I to myself, with some strawberry sauce. Not so different to latkes with apple sauce, surely?
So I made a simple strawberry sauce which I really rather liked (probably because it involved more than a little brandy) but alas, I chose to poke about with a new potatoey pancakey recipe which didn’t quite meet my strawberry sauce halfway. So while I must leave you sans pancake, you can still help yourself to the sauce. It’ll do nicely, I think, with your regular crêpes or maybe with these pancakes or perhaps just with some vanilla ice cream. And sure you can always have potatoes later.
Warm Strawberry And Brandy Sauce
You’ll need:
- 200g strawberries
- 1 tsp butter
- 2 tblsp brandy
- 0.25 tsp orange zest
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp sour cream (optional)
The Steps:
- Wash the strawberries, pat dry and chop roughly
- Place a frying pan over a medium-low heat. When hot add the butter and allow to melt.
- When the butter has melted, add the strawberries, sugar, brandy and orange zest to the pan. Stir to mix and cook, stirring occasionally, until the strawberries have started to soften and release their juices, around 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, taste and add more sugar if you like and/or stir in the sour cream.
- Serve warm with pancakes and more sour cream or with vanilla ice cream.
The Variations:
- For a sauce without the brandy kick, you could try replacing the brandy and orange zest with orange juice.
The Results:
- Serves around 3-4 as a topping for pancakes or ice cream.
You are one brave and adventurous Spud, alright! I’m not sure I’d have considered this pairing … but you never know until you try, right? I’m sure you’ll perfect the combination in due course!
And meanwhile, that strawberry sauce would be lovely on so many things. :)
I love being that brave and creative in the kitchen to try experimental recipes. I think all dishes are ‘invented’ in this way. So why not trying new combinations?
I will definitely use this strawberry sauce on crepes I’m going to make this weekend. It sounds so fresh with the addition of orange zest.
Though no pancake made the cut this time, brandied strawberry sauce on its own is perfectly satisfying. I can imagine all the possibilities but your mention of crêpes hits the spot – I know what Sunday breakfast will be!
Is the ‘and potatoes’ game for a single player or can anyone join in? 8-D
Diva: y’know, you don’t ever really know until you try – sometimes the results are amazing and sometimes not, but it’s always good to give these things a whirl
zerrin: absolutely, dishes have to get invented somehow :) and definitely try the sauce on some crêpes, I’m sure that would be a happy combination
Tangled Noodle: Was sorry to disappoint you, the pancake lady of all people, by not posting some pancakes, but it would be worse to post something that fell short of the mark! Meanwhile I hope you enjoy the sauce with some crêpes – a very good choice – and of course you can join in on the and game, it’s fun for all the family :D
wow, what a delicious idea, it just needs some fine tuning. I can’t wait to see it when you figure it out.
That strawberry sauce sounds delightful! Did I just use the word delightful? I think that’s a first. Love your creativeness!
Sara: thanks for dropping in – I’ll be sure to post on this again when the idea is perfected :)
Lea Ann: I’m delighted to report that you did indeed use the word delightful :) Am also delighted that you stopped by to say that!
Where there is a will, there’s a way. :) Your potato creations amaze me. I am confident you’ll get it right the second time around and until then I will thoroughly enjoy this strawberry sauce.
Aw, thanks Lori :) I’ll enjoy the strawberry sauce meantime too!
strawberries + brandy – wait, say no more, you’ve said enough. This recipe is a keeper. The potato pancakes are sure to come. I’m with you in that I sense interesting possibilities.
What a fun sounding game! I will have to try something like that in my kitchen.
The strawberry sauce looks delicious! Can’t go wrong with brandy.
Gnocchi, strawberries, balsamic glaze, caramelised fennel, cracked pepper? I’ll let you know how it turns out. Great game!