Serradura with strawberries in port

Posted on June 28, 2014 Updated on April 16, 2016

One of the easiest but tastiest desserts you will ever make. This Portuguese-origin dessert is ingenious and literally means sawdust, named after the finely ground rich tea biscuits used to make its layers. The combination with strawberries in port is a match made in heaven and I discovered it just in time for the strawberry season.

Ingredients
Feeds 4

250g thick cream
7-8 rich tea biscuit ground to fine dust
7 T condensed milk
1 t vanilla essence

220g sliced strawberries
50g caster sugar
1/2 t allspice or pimento berries ground
1 star anice pod
1/2 t vanilla extract
Small handful finely chopped basil , preferably Thai basil.
Enough port to cover the strawberries , about 50Ml

Preparation

Grind biscuits to fine dust in a blender.

Whip cream to soft peaks.

Add vanilla extract and condensed milk, mix and whip again to soft peaks.

Layer four small glasses or containers with biscuit dust, a layer of whipped cream, biscuit and cream. Make layers thin.

Place in the fridge.

Slice and chop the strawberries in half.

Finely chop and basil and add to the strawberries in a bowls or container that has a lid.

Add the sugar, spices and vanilla essence and mix.

Add enough port to the strawberries to just about cover them, mix and set aside.

Cover with lid and place in the fridge for at least an hour.

Lia’s tips:

About four hours is an ideal time to set the strawberries aside. The strawberries get soggier the longer you leave them.

A child’s non alcoholic version is delicious with maple syrup.

The first time around the cream whips really quickly so take care not to make it too stiff.