Herbal Pairings Push Fresh Strawberries to New Heights
by RYAN MILEJCZAK
Looking for a way to put a new twist on strawberries? We have the perfect solution: strawberries and herbs.
While it might seem counterintuitive to mix fruit and herbs at first, in fact, they pair beautifully. The tart, sweet taste of a Florida strawberry goes perfectly with herbs like rosemary, basil, mint, and more. And not just in savory-sweet recipes like a salad: it’s also great in desserts, jams, and even drinks.
Here are some of our favorite strawberry and herb recipes to get you started.
Strawberry and Herb Salad
Adapted from Pinecones and Acorns
Ingredients
- 6 cups spring salad mix, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- ⅓ cup crumbled feta
- ⅓ cup pecan
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Combine salad mix, herbs, strawberries, and pecans in a large bowl and mix until well combined. Plate the salad and top with crumbled feta and a drizzle each of olive oil and balsamic. Enjoy.
Strawberry Thyme Jam
Adapted from The Kitchn
Ingredients
- 3 cups strawberries, chopped
- 1 cup honey
- 5-6 sprigs fresh thyme
- Juice of half a lemon
Instructions
Combine strawberries and honey in a bowl. Strip thyme and mix them in.
Transfer to a medium saucepan and cook over high until thick and sticky, around 10 minutes. Let cool before enjoying; store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Strawberry Basil Tiramisu
Adapted from The Adagio Blog
Ingredients
Macerated Strawberries
- ½ lb strawberries, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup sugar
- Juice of half a lemon
- 6 leaves fresh basil, torn
- ⅓ cup almond milk
Mascarpone Cream
- 2 eggs, whites and yoke separated
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 8 oz mascarpone
- 7 oz ladyfingers
- A few drops vanilla extract
Decoration
- Strawberries
- Basil leaves
Instructions
Combine macerated strawberry ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well. Cover and let rest for at least an hour, up to overnight.
Next, make mascarpone cream. Add a pinch of salt to egg whites and whip until they form soft peaks. Next, combine egg yolks with sugar and vanilla extract and whip until airy and almost white. Mix mascarpone into this mixture until fully incorporated, then gently fold in egg whites.
Finally, assemble your tiramisu. Strain macerated strawberries and save the juice. Add almond milk to strained juice. Use this mixture to wet the ladyfingers.
In the container of choice, layer mascarpone cream, ladyfingers, and macerated strawberries, finishing with mascarpone cream. Decorate with fresh strawberries and basil. Enjoy.
Strawberry Herb Lemonade
Adapted from The Kitchen Prep Blog
Ingredients
Herb Simple Syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup sugar
- 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary
Lemonade
- 8 oz strawberries, hulled and chopped
- ⅔ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 3 cups water
Begin by making the syrup: combine water and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil; continue to boil until sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and add herbs. Allow to steep for 10 minutes, then remove and discard herbs.
Next, blend strawberries, lemon juice, and 1 cup of water in a blender until completely smooth. Strain into a pitcher through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on solids to extract all the liquid. Discard remaining solids.
Stir in remaining water and simple syrup to taste. Refrigerate until cold and enjoy.
Pickled Strawberries with Fresh Herbs
Adapted from Farm Bureau of Virginia
Ingredients
- 2 lbs fresh strawberries, hulled
- 4-5 sprigs fresh thyme
- 4-5 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 4-5 sprigs fresh tarragon
- 2 tsp black peppercorns
- 1 tsp fresh grated ginger
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 ¾ cups white vinegar
- 1 ¼ cups white sugar
Instructions
Take two wide mouth canning jars. Divide peppercorns between the two jars, then layer in herbs and strawberries, adding layers until packed to the top.
In a saucepan, combine water, vinegar, sugar, and ginger. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar is dissolved. Reduce temperature and let simmer for 5 minutes.
Pour hot mixture over strawberries. Let cool to room temperature then cover and refrigerate for 12 hours before enjoying.