Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
As spring arrives, so does the UK berry season, bringing with it a bounty of flavourful and nutritious fruits. Experts in nutrition emphasize the benefits of seasonal berries, with strawberries taking center stage. These vibrant red fruits are a particularly good source of vitamin C, an essential nutrient that plays a key role in supporting a robust immune system and promoting healthy skin. Incorporating fresh strawberries is a delicious and healthful way to enhance any springtime meal.
Strawberry and Feta Tart Recipe
For those seeking a light yet flavourful dish perfect for spring, consider this delightful strawberry and feta tart. This simple recipe, championed by nutritionists, offers a harmonious blend of sweet and savoury notes and requires only around 25 minutes in the oven.
Yields
Serves: six
Ingredients
- 375g sheet puff pastry, thawed if frozen, room temperature
- 200g reduced fat cream cheese
- One tbsp chives, finely chopped
- Two tsp lemon thyme leaves
- 125g feta cheese, crumbled
- 125g strawberries, hulled and sliced
- Balsamic glaze, for drizzling
- Rocket leaves, for serving
Instructions
Preparation
Preheat oven to 200C (fan 180C/gas mark six). Unroll the puff pastry onto a baking sheet. Score a border 2cm from the edges on all sides, creating a rectangle.
Assembly
In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, chives, lemon thyme, and a pinch of black pepper. Spread the mixture evenly over the pastry base within the scored border. Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese and sliced strawberries over the cream cheese layer.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and puffed up.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the strawberry and feta tart warm, drizzled with balsamic glaze. Alternatively, garnish with fresh rocket leaves and accompany with a side salad for a more substantial meal.
Beyond Strawberries: Exploring Other Berry Benefits
While strawberries are a springtime staple, other berries like raspberries and blueberries also offer significant nutritional advantages during the berry season.
Blueberries and Cognitive Function
Blueberries are widely recognized for their potential to enhance brain function. Nutrition experts suggest these ‘brain-boosting’ effects are linked to anthocyanins, the pigments responsible for blueberries’ blue hue. Anthocyanins are a type of polyphenol, a powerful antioxidant compound.
Raspberries: Another Source of Polyphenols
Raspberries are also rich in polyphenols, underscoring the importance of incorporating a variety of berries into your diet throughout the spring months to maximize health benefits.