Wimbledon season: Strawberries and Cream Pavé, Brazilian recipe

Wimbledon tennis is a world class event that brings together some of the top talents in the tennis. However, this event is not just about tennis as it involves some interesting food traditions that separate it from other events. The following is a look at a just one of the well-known food and drink traditions around Wimbledon.

Wimbledon food – Strawberries and cream

Strawberries and cream is a customary Wimbledon season treats that event goers have been eating for a long time. In fact, this dish predicates tennis by a couple of centuries. This treat has been consumed at Wimbledon since 1542, based on what an Englishman noted in his journal. Since then, each year more than 2,000 gallons of cream and over 60,000 pounds of strawberries at consumed at the event. That is a whole lot of strawberries and cream, and the British are keen on keeping this tradition going.

Tennis and strawberries are both signs of the arrival of summer and were considered as signs of prosperity in the past. Actually, when Wimbledon tennis first started, it was commonplace to see upper-class audiences snacking on strawberries between matches. Nevertheless, this relationship between the tasty treat and tennis was formalised in 1953, as vendors officially started to sell strawberries at the concession stands at Wimbledon.

It is still unclear the exact time that cream was included to the treat to create strawberries and cream. What is clear is that lots of these treats are consumed annually during the Wimbledon tennis season. Despite the incapability of pinpointing the precise date that this tradition started, the high numbers of strawberries and cream intake mean that it will remain a British tradition for a long time.

Strawberries and Cream, the Brazilian way

The first recipes for Pavé came from France to Brazil, and there are  some speculations about the name, pavê make a connection with the floor deck, floor, pavement stones, the explanation is that this dessert is assembled from layers in the same way as buildings.

In this case, more specifically, it’s kind of cold pie which the base is crackers, cornstarch or whole champagne biscuits, like soft cake soaked in juices, liqueurs or syrups and cream between the layers. There are also various supplements: fresh fruit or in syrup and chocolate are the most common.

After the lunch time comes dessert, and there is hardly anyone who does not like a pave, there may be variations in the flavors, recipes, but everyone likes this very popular dessert in Brazil. It looks good on any occasion.  It usually presented in a square or shallow oval dish. I decided to put in a large bow. Here is a recipe celebrating the start of the Summer and Wimbledon season, the Brazilian way!

Strawberries and Cream Pavé  
Ingredients
    1 can of condensed milk
    300ml of fresh double (heavy) cream
    100g of good quality cooking white chocolate
    2 boxes of strawberries (500g)
    100g champagne biscuit/savoiardi biscuits
    300ml whipping cream
    1 tablespoon of caster sugar
    1 teaspoon  of vanilla extract
    Strawberry sauce:
    200g of strawberries (above)
    1 teaspoon of sugar
    25ml of strawberry liquor
    Decoration:
    50g of hazelnut brittle, in pieces
    Strawberries

Method
1)First make the hazelnut brittle. This process will take about 5-7 minutes and requires attention, switch off the phone and.  In a medium, pan melts the 60g of sugar over medium heat, keep an eye as it can burn quickly.  When the sugar has dissolved and take a light caramel colour, switch off the heat and quickly add 30g of chopped hazelnuts, mix quickly and pour on a buttered surface. Let it cool.
2)Wash all the strawberries, separate 1/2 of them for decoration, the other half make a sauce.
3) For the strawberry sauce: chop 200g strawberries into bite-sized pieces, take a pan with the spoon of sugar and water Bring to low heat for about 20 minutes Transfer to a bowl and let cool.  When cold, strain the sauce and reserve.
4)In a clean bowl, add the fresh double (heavy) cream and whip it until slightly fluffy. Keep mixing gently and slowly add the condensed milk with the cream. Reserve.
5)Melt the white chocolate in a water bath. Leave to cool for 5-6 minutes and add the melted chocolate to the cream and condensed milk mixture.
4)Gently mix in the strawberry sauce.
6)Last topping: Using a mixer to prepare the whipped cream, beating the whipping cream with a spoon of sugar and vanilla extract. Reserve.
7)In a serving dish, place a layer of biscuits, top with strawberry sauce, fresh strawberries and add chocolate cream mixture, carry on until you use up all the ingredients.
8)Finish with a layer of vanilla whipped cream. Garnish with whole strawberries and Hazelnut brittle for crunch.
9)Refrigerate (overnight is best) and serve chilled. 

Happy Wimbledon and Summer 2015!

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12 Comments

  1. my cup of beauty
    June 24, 2015 / 5:00 pm

    my husband is Brazilian maybe I can surprise him one day with this but he doesn't like leite condensado much 🙁

    xx

    Dominika

  2. June 24, 2015 / 5:04 pm

    Hey Dominika, I am sure he won't taste too much as it is mixed with chocolate and cream. Rx

  3. June 24, 2015 / 5:24 pm

    That hazelnut brittle sounds amazing! What a great summer recipe.

  4. June 24, 2015 / 5:24 pm

    That hazelnut brittle sounds amazing! What a great summer recipe.

  5. June 24, 2015 / 6:41 pm

    Hi Hayley, a bit of sweet crunch it's always a good idea R

  6. June 24, 2015 / 6:41 pm

    Hi Hayley, a bit of sweet crunch it's always a good idea R

  7. June 25, 2015 / 3:49 am

    I didn´t know about the relationship of strawberries and tennis!
    Love this Brazilian way for this dessert! Great pictures. Just wanted to take a cucharadita from the screen.
    Best!
    Vero

  8. June 25, 2015 / 8:27 am

    Amazing summer recipe! Love the photos as well! Thanks for sharing x

  9. June 25, 2015 / 8:35 am

    This looks so yummy Hayley. I should try it out.

  10. Andrew
    June 28, 2015 / 2:52 pm

    Bring on the strawberries!

  11. June 30, 2015 / 11:39 pm

    This is an action packed kinda dessert, full loaded in fact! I'm on a low GI diet at the no but will be looking to make this for the rest is of the family, looks stunning! Thank God for Wimbledon for providing the inspiration

  12. July 2, 2015 / 11:30 am

    15 years in London and I have STILL never been to Wimbledon! Need to rectify that… I HAVE however had lots of strawberries and cream, and this dessert looks like an awesome way to enjoy them!