Create your own Ekka Strawberry Ice Cream Dessert with a simple Spanish twist from Chef Javier Codina of Moda Restaurant using his mother’s recipe. You’ll enjoy making this easy strawberry meringue dessert know as Catalan Pyjamas.
Rich in nostalgia, Catalan Pyjamas is based on a strawberry meringue dessert that Javier’s mother made when he was a child. This traditional Spanish dessert usually features peaches or mangoes. However, Javier has given it an Ekka spin using strawberry ice cream and fresh Queensland strawberries. It’s a bit like Eton Mess but with Spanish flair, hola! Enjoy this Strawberry Ice Cream Dessert.
If you are not a Queenslander, you might be wondering what’s the Ekka? It’s a country show and the largest annual event held each year in Queensland. We have dog and cat shows, beef judging, cake competitions, showbags, rides and fireworks. It runs for nine days in August and is lots of fun.
Catalan Pyjamas – An Easy Strawberry Ice Cream Dessert
Created by Javier Codina, Executive Chef, Moda Restaurant
Here are some tips from Javier to make this easy dessert even easier!
- The meringue and strawberry syrup can be easily purchased if you don’t want to make your own. Javier suggests buying the best quality that you can, especially for the meringue.
- Strawberry syrup is straightforward to make, too, and you can use it in many ways. Try the recipe below.
- That sickly sweet supermarket meringue just sets his teeth on edge says Javier. Use your favourite recipe to make the meringue. Just remember you don’t need much!
- Serves 4
Ingredients
- 12 large Queensland strawberries
- 100 ml whipped cream (caster sugar and vanilla optional)
- 50g meringue
- 4 tbsp strawberry syrup
- 8 scoops of Strawberry ice cream
Method
Assemble by layering ingredients in individual bowls or glasses and serve immediately.
Strawberry Syrup
Double or triple this recipe, and you will have extra for later use. I used three 250 gm punnets of strawberries and will freeze the leftovers or keep it in the fridge in a sterile, sealed container.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup strawberries
- ¼ cup caster sugar
- 1 Tbs lemon juice
- 1 Tbs water
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
INSTRUCTIONS
Place strawberries, caster sugar, lemon, water and vanilla in a saucepan and simmer over low heat until the sugar has dissolved and has thickened slightly, approximately 10 minutes or more. Do not boil. As it cools, the compote will thicken slightly. Put the compote through a sieve, and you have strawberry syrup!
