Meeting the Ambassador of Kama

Strawberries are everywhere at the farmers market and we can't help but buy them every time we see them until they are no more. Of course we love strawberry shortcake, but we also fall back on an old stand-by of  Strawberries with Marsala. Simple, delicious and requiring no cooking, it's perfect for warmer weather (not that we have had much of it yet here in New York).

But now I'm crazy about a new way of serving berries, thanks to Pille of Nami-Nami. Jack and I met her last night at an NYC Bloggers Potluck, kindly organized by Habeas Brulee and hosted by The Paupered Chef. Pille brought an Estonian dish of Kama Mousse with Strawberries.

Never heard of kama? Neither had we, so don't feel bad! When we approached an alluring-looking bowl full of mounds of whipped cream and berries, Pille advised us to be aware that the dish also contained peas, barley and rye. After a closer look and seeing no peas (I had immediately thought of whole green garden peas!) I asked Pille for more information. As it turns out, kama is a powder made up of ground and roasted rye, barley and pea flour.  The result is a very light-tasting and refreshing summer dish of contrasting textures and flavors-- slightly sweet and savory and smooth and grainy.

You can read all about Kama at Pilles's lovely blog, and see her recipe for Kama Mousse, as well (I wish I had taken a photo, but I just didn't plan well enough). Pille has become a sort of ambassador for Kama, sending packages of it out to interested friends and followers of Nami-Nami, and she certainly won us over last night.

And if you're a little doubtful about the idea of Kama Mousse (or more likely, just don't happen to have any kama in your pantry), here's that recipe for berries with marsala.

Strawberries with Marsala

Let the berries macerate in a mixture of marsala and sugar (about 1/4 cup of each) for several hours. When you're ready, spoon them into a glass and top them with either a sweetened mascarpone mixture (recipe below) or with sweetened heavy cream-- beaten just enough to give it body.

Mascarpone topping:

8 ounces mascarpone
3 tablespoons sweet Marsala
3 tablespoons whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar

Combine the mascarpone, marsala, cream, and sugar, stirring gently.

 

Comments

[grace]

this kama mousse sounds very interesting, but for now, i think i'll stick with more simple pleasures. like strawberry ice cream. or your strawberries with marsala and mascarpone. (mascarpone = love)

[Manggy]

Gosh, a blogger potluck!! That sounds like so much fun, I hope there's an album out there, sort of a "Blogging High Society" page, heh heh :)
I have a strawberry dessert in the works too, how's that for being in sync? I love mascarpone in everything! Too bad it's so expensive here :(

[MyKitchenInHalfCups]

Lucky you to get to have an evening with Pille!
Love both the strawberry ideas. I take it the Kama is not available in this country?

[Bellini Valli]

It sounds like such a fun event...and the addition of anything with strawberries made it even better:D

[adele]

Intriguing. I've eaten Indian desserts made with chickpea flour - does kama have a similar texture?

I haven't seen strawberries yet at the Copley Square market... I may have to try some of the other farmers' markets in Boston.

[Aran]

i have never heard of kama either... will check her blog. those strawberries are sooo juicy looking... they don't need much!

[Lore]

Macerated strawberries and mascarpone? Love this time of year!

[Anne]

You had me at marsala. Plus strawberries? Yummm.

[dhanggit]

oh i love the sound of this NYC Bloggers Potluck!! too bad im too far geographically..good thing though i can enjoy this kama :-) have a great day ann!!

[Zenchef]

I thought I was the ambassador of Kama-sutra! When did I get ousted!? Anyway, I never heard of that stuff. I'm intrigued. And that mascarpone topping is so very me, I can eat that whole thing with a spoon. Yum!

[Marla]

Both of those sound delicious. I adore strawberries almost as much as garden tomatoes. You just had to say that there hadn't been much warm weather ... didn't you .... argh.

[Lori Lynn @ Taste With The Eyes]

There is a strawberry stand close to my house that I keep driving by, you inspired me to stop there after all this time.

[melissa]

I'm in love with the Marsala idea. I have some, so I just need to get strawberries this weekend. And some mascarpone. *Drool*

[melissa]

Had to come back to this post after what you said on my Marsala entry - I did end up making the Marsala version of these strawberries, with the mascarpone and cream... WONDERFUL! I didn't take a picture though, so I can't post about it. I have no idea why. Hmph.