A Terrine of Summer Fruits

This one is a stunner.

It's also dead easy to make and slices like a dream – a lovely, fresh-tasting, summer dessert. It's important to have two tins because the terrine needs to be weighted while it is setting. In testing, I have found that it is necessary to add the smaller amount of jelly at the end to avoid spillage when weighting, as it's this weighting that makes the terrine easy to slice.

The Delia Onine Cookery School: Find out why Delia launched her free cookery school, just click the image to play.

This recipe is from Delia's Summer Collection. Serves 6-8

Method

First prepare the fruit: remove the stalks and halve the strawberries if they are any larger than a quail's egg.

Then mix the fruits together in a large bowl, being very gentle so as to avoid bruising them. In a small saucepan heat half the rosé wine till it begins to simmer, then whisk the sugar and gelatine into it. Make sure that everything has dissolved completely before adding the remaining wine and the lime juice. Then pour the liquid into a jug and allow it to cool.

While that's happening, lay the mixed fruit in one of the loaf tins – and it's worth arranging the bottom layer with the smallest, prettiest-shaped fruit as this will be on top when the terrine is turned out.

Next, pour all but 5 fl oz (150 ml) of the liquid over the fruit. Now lay a sheet of clingfilm over the tin, place the other tin directly on top, then put two unopened tins of tomatoes or something similar to act as weights into the top tin and put the whole lot into the fridge for about 1 hour, or until it has set. Then warm up the remaining 5 fl oz (150 ml) wine mixture and pour it over the surface of the terrine.

Note: In testing I have found that it is necessary to add the smaller amount of jelly at the end to avoid spillage when weighting, as it's this weighting which makes the terrine easy to slice.

Re-cover with clingfilm and return to the fridge overnight to set firm.

When you are ready to serve, turn out the terrine by dipping the tin very briefly in hot water and inverting it on to a plate. Use a very sharp knife (also dipped first into hot water) to cut it into slices. Serve with chilled pouring cream, crème fraîche or Greek yoghurt.

Equipment

You will also need two 2 lb (900 g) loaf tins, 7½ x 4¾ inches x 3½ inches deep (19 x 12 cm x 9 cm deep), preferably non-stick but anyway with a good surface.

You are here