Vanilla Pudding with Strawberries
Vanilla pudding with strawberries is, for me, closely tied to childhood-and to my grandmother’s kitchen. She would make it in early summer, when strawberries were in season. For the pudding, she always used the classic Dr. Oetker vanilla pudding mix.
Coincidentally, vanilla pudding was also the first thing I ever tried to make on my own. I followed the instructions-or so I thought-but I stirred the powder straight into the milk and put it on the stove. The result: a pot full of little lumps. I went to my grandmother for help, and she showed me how it’s actually done: first whisk a small amount of milk with the powder until completely smooth, then stir it into the rest of the milk and cook.
If you can’t get your hands on Dr. Oetker pudding, here is a simple version you can make from scratch. Served with fresh strawberries, it’s an easy, delicious summer dessert.
Recipe
Ingredients for 4 people:
Vanilla Pudding
75 g granulated sugar
3 tbsp cornstarch
1/8 tsp salt
500 ml whole milk
2 large egg yolks
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Strawberry Compote
300 g strawberries
2 tbsp sugar (or to taste)
Instructions:
Vanilla Pudding
Mix 50 ml of the milk with the cornstarch until completely smooth (there should be no lumps).
Pour the remaining milk into a saucepan. Add the sugar, salt, egg yolks, and the cornstarch mixture. Whisk well, then place over medium heat.
Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens l.
Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract. Pour into serving dishes and let cool slightly.
Strawberry compote
Quarter the strawberries (depending on size) and place them in a bowl with the sugar. Let them sit for a while to release their juices. Adjust sweetness to taste.
Serving suggestion
Serve the pudding topped with the strawberry compote.
