I can not resist cooking with Strawberries – and it is a treat to use them when they are just picked! Here are my favorite recipes that are creative, lightened-up and so so delish!

Here are my favorite Strawberry Recipes incorporating their incredibly sweet flavor, juicy bite and ruby red color.

Savory Strawberry Recipes:

Ruby and Golden Beets team with Feta Cheese, Scallions & Pecans dressed with an Strawberry-Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette
Pairing with Strawberries: great complimentary textures and flavors. Continue layering with assertive sliced scallions, creamy and tangy feta cheese and crunchy pecan halves. The Strawberry-Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette adds just the right piquancy.

Seasonal Lettuces and Vegetables team with the Juiciest Strawberries with the perfect Zesty Maple-Walnut Vinaigrette
I love this plant based salad with just-in-season May-June vegetables and strawberries. I’ve added walnuts for crunch and sliced feta cheese – both add interest and protein.
Add your favorite grilled proteins, grains or beans as well!

A homemade whisked vinaigrette tops the salad. Start by stirring minced shallots and grated garlic with sherry vinegar, pure maple syrup, sea salt and a few cranks of pepper. Whisk in a neutral oil of your liking… and some walnut oil for flavor and depth.

Bronzed, Grilled Halloumi teams with Asparagus and Shallots  – in this easy preparation. Dazzle with a Balsamic Reduction with Local Spring Strawberries.

When grilled, Halloumi has a golden brown, crispy exterior, a soft, gooey interior – and a wonderfully salty-savory flavor.
Strawberry Balsamic Sauce – The quick Balsamic-Honey reduction is enriched with a few tablespoons of crushed (minced) local Strawberries.

An easy skillet dish – Tender Chicken, Crispy Skin with a Hearty yet Light Pan Sauce with Plenty of Strawberries and Garnished with Tarragon Leaves. Irresistible!
This easy ONE skillet dish – cooked in a seasoned cast iron skillet is a healthy alternative main course meal.
Naturally sweetened with strawberries … not a sweet sauce, but a rich reduction sauce.  

Simply Sweet Strawberry Recipes Desserts!

These individual crisps are bursting with strawberries and an almond lace cookie top. Totally crunchy! If I do say so myself – these crisps are genius… not loaded with sugar with a top layer that cracks – like Crème Brûlée!

This one below include Rhubarb!

Yep – Delicious Cheesecake without Cream Cheese!
You might think it’s impossible to lighten a creamy, rich and decadent dessert such as cheesecake without compromising flavor. Try this recipe! True sweet-cheesy flavor, and a lighter, whipped and airy texture which I actually like better than cream cheese!
See Recipe: Karen’s Strawberry Rhubarb Topping

A lightened-up recipe with creamy deliciousness – a crackled sugar top is complemented with a fruity roasted sauce.
These small sized Crème Brûlées are the perfect indulgent dessert with less fat than traditional recipes… and no heavy cream!
I broke the hard sugar topping with a spoon, them added some Strawberry-Rum Compote – D-E-L-I-S-H!  

I’m a rhubarb fanatic! Perfectly blended into a fabulous creamy dessert. It’s sweet-tart flavor and gorgeous pinky hue sets off the sweeter strawberries.
Luscious Vegan Ice Cream – Oh yeah, you would never know! Tastes like world-class Ice Cream

So EASY! Simply add softened frozen yogurt to a regular sized muffin tin with a paper liner… Freeze – pull off the paper and Voilà – a beautiful individual serving! Top with Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

ONE MORE RECIPE WITH THE STRAWBERRY FROZEN YOGURT:

See recipe: Mini Double Chocolate Fudge Cookie Thins – Gluten Free (to eat and for ice cream sandwiches)

For Decoration:

A wonderful, beautiful confectionery decoration that is simple to make with a luminescent glow. Make one sheet and break apart to decorate cakes, cupcakes and – my milk chocolate pudding.
So simple to prepare – make a GORGEOUS impact when broken into shards with a glass-like look.

Nothing Beats a Just Picked Strawberry:

These intensely aromatic jewels of fruit are sweet and juicy… and red all the way through! (this means not white inside)

While we all do not have a strawberry patch growing in out backyard ~ we can visit a Farmers’ Market and buy directly from the grower, or visit a Pick Your Own site. See:
U-PickFarms USA

Peak Freshness and Nutrition: Picking strawberries directly from the plant ensures you get the fruits at their peak ripeness, translating to maximum flavor, vitamins, and antioxidants.
Environmental Impact: By picking locally, you’re likely reducing your carbon footprint compared to consuming fruits shipped from afar.

Storing Strawberries

Remove any too soft ones. Refrigerate Between Paper Towels in an Airtight Container.
Place your strawberries in a single layer between clean paper towels to soak up any excess moisture to keep them fresh. Store the strawberries in a produce keeper or an airtight container to help them stay fresh and avoid spoiling. Always keep the stems on the strawberries to protect the interior from moisture.
Freezing- Wash and dry the strawberries before removing the stems. If the hulled strawberries are big, cut them into halves or quarters. Arrange them on a tray in a single layer, ensuring they are not touching. Once frozen, transfer the strawberries to a freezer-safe bag or container…. easy!

Strawberry Nutrition:

When it comes to anti-oxidant power, strawberries shine. In addition, one cup of strawberries provides 140 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. Strawberries are also packed with flavonoids – research shows that it helps keep “bad” (LDL) cholesterol from oxidizing and damaging artery walls.
One cup of halved strawberries is about 49 calories.
Strawberries are a fiber-rich source of complex carbs that are naturally low in calories and fat. Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of potassium, folate, and magnesium. Strawberries are also high in antioxidants.

Enjoy these fresh modern Strawberry Recipes!
Karen