Start summer early with strawberry-rhubarb pastry

Published 10:34 pm Monday, June 4, 2012

Strawberries and rhubarb all but scream summer. Just add some lemonade and you’ll be totally over the top with warm weather food.

So we decided to go with it. We combined the best elements of strawberry-rhubarb pie and lemonade into one luscious and easy-to-bake treat perfect for eating outdoors. The result is one part pie, one part fruit crumble.

The only way to make it better? Throw some vanilla ice cream on top.

Summer strawberry-rhubarb pastry

1sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed (each 17.3-ounce package contains 2 sheets)

2pounds fresh strawberries, hulled and halved

1pound fresh rhubarb, cut into 1-inch pieces

1/2cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided

Pinch of salt

Juice of 2 lemons

1/2cup cornstarch

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Coat a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the thawed sheet of puff pastry to 9-by-9-inches. Set aside.

In a large saucepan over medium-high, combine the strawberries, rhubarb, 1/2cup of the sugar and the pinch of salt. Heat, stirring gently now and then, until the fruit is tender and bubbling, about 7 to 8 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice and cornstarch. Stir into the simmering fruit. Simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 1 minute.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Place the prepared pastry over the top, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar. Using a paring knife, slice a couple of vent holes in the pastry. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown. Spoon into bowls and serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes 8 servings. Per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 150 calories; 15 calories from fat (10 percent of total calories); 2 g fat (0 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 36 g carbohydrate; 2 g protein; 4 g fiber; 60 mg sodium.