Michelle Darmody: How to make a delicious no-bake strawberry tart

This recipe can also be used for cheesecakes or chocolate filled tarts

Sweet Strawberry Tart with cream and strawberry coulis shot on a rustic background

A No-Bake recipe is great at this time of year when you may not have the oven on as often. This tart recipe uses a simple base that is cooled in the fridge and is very versatile.

It can also be used for cheesecakes or chocolate filled tarts. Here the crunchy base is topped with whipped ricotta and fruit. Whipping and adding air to this soft white cheese transforms its texture making it lighter and far smoother. The softness allows the sweetness and subtle milky flavour of the ricotta to shine through and the addition of icing sugar gives it structure, stiffness and extra sweetness. I love the addition of a little cardamom but you can omit this if you prefer. I find that cardamom and strawberries complement each other very well. Similarly, the balsamic vinegar is an optional extra but it does enhance the taste of the strawberries. Its acidity helps to break down the cell walls of the berries in a process called maceration, and it also intensifies the natural fruit sugars within the strawberries.