3 Unique Recipes With Strawberries

The delicious strawberries are undoubtedly among the world’s best-loved fruit. Their sweet and tangy flavour combines with an incredible aroma which is perfect for desserts or eating as is. With their rich red colour and unique pattern of seeds on the surface, they also look beautiful enough to make the taste buds water with greed!

While strawberries are a popular ingredient for cakes, ice-cream and other desserts, there are also a number of unusual ways to use this fruit.

Unique Dishes to Create using Strawberries

Listed here are three interesting variations of popular dishes that can all be created with strawberries. They are quite simple to make and embody the freshness and flavour that this delicious fruit brings to any dish. Additionally, the recipes listed here do not require any cooking or major preparation, making them perfect for hot summer days!

1.      Chicken Salad with Strawberry Chunks

This fresh and delicious salad makes a great appetizer or a light meal, especially in summer. You can pair it with toasted slices of bread with a light layer of butter or eat it plain. A tangy dressing brings out the savoury flavour of the chicken, the sweetness of the fruit as well as the rich taste of cheese.

Ingredients:

Vinaigrette Dressing

  • Sugar – ½ tablespoon
  • Red Wine Vinegar – 1 tablespoon
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil – 1 tablespoon
  • Water – ½ tablespoon
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Salad Base

  • Fresh Lettuce Leaves (Torn) – 2 cups
  • Rocket Leaves (Arugula) – 2 cups
  • Fresh Strawberries (Cut into quarters) – 1 cup
  • Boneless Pre-Grilled or Rotisserie Chicken – 200 grams
  • Onion (Sliced) – ¼ cup
  • Gorgonzola Cheese (Crumbled) – ¼ cup

Instructions:

Prepare the vinaigrette dressing by mixing all the ingredients except olive oil in a large bowl with a pinch each of salt and pepper. Then add a few drops of olive oil at a time and whisk the mixture thoroughly each time. Repeat till the dressing is light and all the oil is whisked in, and then set aside.

Slice the chicken and place it in a large bowl, then gently combine the lettuce, rocket, strawberries and onion into the mix. Spoon the mix on plates (about a cupful on each of 4 plates), drizzle crumbled cheese and salad dressing over each plate and serve.

2.      Salsa with Strawberries and Avocado

Salsa is traditionally paired with tortilla chips, but it also goes well with a number of other dishes. This sweet and tangy version goes well with grilled or roast pork, chicken and fish as well as simply spread on a slice of toast. It’s also one of the easiest recipes to prepare, with no cooking or long preparation involved!

Ingredients:

  • Fresh Strawberries (Finely Chopped) – 1 cup
  • Avocado (Peeled and Finely Chopped) – ¼ cup
  • Fresh Cilantro (Finely Chopped) – 2 tablespoons
  • Jalapeno Peppers (Seeded and Finely Chopped) – 2 teaspoons
  • Onion (Finely Chopped) – 2 tablespoons
  • Fresh Lime Juice – 2 tablespoons
  • Fresh Lime Zest – ½ teaspoon
  • Sugar – ¼ teaspoon

Instructions:

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and gently mix them together, then serve right away. You can add salt and pepper if you like, but no more than a pinch (any more will overpower the flavour of the fruit). If you like, you can garnish the salsa with a few whole cilantro leaves.

3.      Sparkling Strawberry Limeade

This refreshing drink made with strawberries, mint, lime juice and sparkling wine is perfect for summer days and can be put together in under 10 minutes. If you want to make the beverage for children or non-drinkers, you can substitute club soda instead of the wine. It looks amazing and tastes even better, leaving you cool and refreshed on a hot afternoon!

Ingredients:

  • Fresh Strawberries (Loosely Chopped) – 3 cups
  • Fresh Mint Leaves – ½ cup
  • Fresh Lime Juice – ½ cup
  • Water – ¼ cup
  • Sugar – 1 teaspoon
  • Sparkling Wine or Club Soda (Chilled) – 750 ml

Instructions:

Place all the ingredients except the wine in a food processor and blend until the mix is smooth. Pour out the mix into tall glasses, filling them about halfway to the top. Slowly pour an equal quantity of sparkling wine or club soda down the side of the glass (to avoid foaming). Stir gently, garnish with a slice of strawberry or a few mint leaves, and serve.

As you can see, there are many ways to use strawberries in the meals you create, as they are not just limited to desserts. Try creating your own variations with this delicious fruit, using it as an unusual ingredient in salads and sauces, or as a topping on pizzas!

Max has tried unusual combinations of pizza toppings from http://www.lafavoritadelivered.com/ and is a big fan of trying new flavours in food. He went so far as to experiment pizza with strawberries.

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