55 Fresh Ways to Use This Season's Strawberries

April 19, 2010
Credit: Photo: Christopher Testani
From salsa to salads, smoothies to shortcake, we have dozens of ideas to help you make the most of strawberry's short season. You know spring is here when you take that first bite into a plump, juicy strawberry. Enjoy the berries in a variety of ways while they're at their peak from April until June.
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Rosé-Glazed Strawberry Tart

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Rosé-Glazed Strawberry Tart

The rectangular tart pan makes for a striking presentation, but if you don't have one, you can use a 9-inch tart pan or pie plate.

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Roasted Strawberry Margaritas With Aquafaba Whip

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Roasted Strawberry Margaritas With Aquafaba Whip

Aquafaba, the viscous fluid from canned chickpeas, is the surprising key to making a plant-based whipped topping. The process is pretty miraculous: The liquid whips up to a thick, fluffy foam that mimics whipped cream. Just be sure to use the liquid from unsalted chickpeas for the best results (we like Eden brand).

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Strawberry-Shallot Salsa

Credit: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Strawberry-Shallot Salsa

Sweet strawberries mingle with lime and nutty coriander in this fresh take on salsa. Try this vibrant sauce spooned over pan-seared halibut or sprinkled with feta over grilled pork-and-zucchini kabobs.

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Strawberry, Basil, and Balsamic “Slablova”

Credit: Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Strawberry, Basil, and Balsamic “Slablova”

Inspired by a pavlova-for-a-crowd “slablova” recipe on Food52, we created our own Passover version of the fruit-topped dessert. The meringue slowly bakes to achieve a crackly crust and an irresistibly soft, melt-in-your-mouth interior texture somewhere between a marshmallow and angel food cake. We like the look of white balsamic in the berry topping, but red balsamic will taste just as delicious (it will just have a darker color). Though potato starch is a common go-to for Passover baked goods, we did not have good success with it here; tapioca starch works better. For a non-Passover occasion, cornstarch or arrowroot starch makes a beautiful pavlova

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Golden Beet and Roasted Strawberry Salad

Credit: Victor Protasio
View recipe: Golden Beet and Roasted Strawberry Salad

Earthy beets and sweet berries are a lovely match. Roasting the berries softens them and concentrates their flavor, so they taste like strawberries intensified by a factor of 10.

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Strawberry and Cucumber Tabbouleh

Credit: Caitlin Bensel
View recipe: Strawberry and Cucumber Tabbouleh

Strawberries stand in for tomatoes in this fresh salad. Add rinsed chickpeas to transform this spring side into a satisfying meatless supper.

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Blueberry-Strawberry Smoothie Bowl

Credit: Photo: Jamie Vespa
View Recipe: Blueberry-Strawberry Smoothie Bowl

A study published a couple of years ago suggests that the thicker your smoothie, the more satiating it is (i.e., the more staying power it has, helping you feel satisfied for hours). So a smoothie that’s thick enough to eat with a spoon is bound to keep you fuller longer. This one gets its richness and creaminess from avocado, which also provides fiber and heart-healthy fats to keep you full.

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Crumble

Credit: Alison Miksch
View Recipe: Strawberry-Rhubarb Crumble

A crumble is a great alternative to pie: Making it is straightforward and simple, but the result is every bit as delicious. Strawberry and rhubarb are a classic combo—the tartness of rhubarb is tamed by sweet strawberries and the whole thing evokes the best of spring foods. Serve warm but be sure to let the crumble sit for a few minutes before cutting, to let the fruit set.

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Strawberry-Basil Eton Mess

Credit: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Strawberry-Basil Eton Mess

If you’ve never heard of Eton Mess, you’ll be thankful we’re introducing you to it. This traditional English dessert is essentially a pavlova parfait—crunchy, slightly sweet meringue, creamy whipped cream, and fresh and bright berries. And our version is much lower in sugar, but equally delicious. The key to a meringue is to let it dehydrate fully. For this recipe, spreading it out in a thin layer helps it cook faster and because you’re breaking it up, the shapes and sizes don’t matter.

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Strawberry-Lime Rickey

Credit: Photo: Greg Dupree
View Recipe: Strawberry-Lime Rickey

We give the gin rickey—a classic warm-weather cocktail—a seasonal twist with an infusion of ripe strawberries. Full fruit flavor balanced by bracing gin and spritzy soda water is a tasty way to ring in spring.

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Berry and Walnut Salad

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Berry and Walnut Salad

Best enjoyed at the height of summer, this blueberry, strawberry, and walnut salad is a delicious way to use up fresh produce in your fridge. The use of honey and buttermilk makes for a creamy dressing you won't soon forget.

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Dutch Baby With Strawberries and Pistachios

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Dutch Baby With Strawberries and Pistachios

The key to the dish's dramatic puff comes from oven spring—the jolt of steam and heat the batter gets when it's poured into the sizzling-hot pan and then goes straight into a cranked-up oven. Make the strawberry mixture first so the fruit has time to macerate and get even juicier.

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Strawberry-Chicken Salad With Pecans

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Strawberry-Chicken Salad With Pecans

This main-dish salad features juicy strawberries at their seasonal peak.

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Strawberry and Watermelon Punch With Lime and Tarragon

Credit: Photo: Christopher Testani
View Recipe: Strawberry and Watermelon Punch With Lime and Tarragon

You can buy strawberry puree or make it yourself: Blend 16 ounces thawed frozen strawberries in a food processor. Strain through a fine sieve; discard seeds. Serve Mike DeCamp's (executive chef at Monello and Constantine) refreshing punch with or without alcohol.

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Strawberry-Blueberry Cheesecake

Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Strawberry-Blueberry Cheesecake

This luscious cheesecake is a showcase for the season's freshest, sweetest berries. With all its red, white, and blue, it's perfect for your next patriotic party or summer gathering.

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Strawberry-Almond Cake Roll

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Strawberry-Almond Cake Roll

Don't panic—this strawberry and whipped cream-filled cake is surprisingly easy to roll.

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Grilled Chicken Salad With Strawberries and Feta

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grilled Chicken Salad With Strawberries and Feta

Simple, beautiful, fast. The oil and vinegar in the marinade double as the base for a simple vinaigrette. Tame the bite of fresh red onion slices by soaking them in ice cold water for 10 minutes.

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Strawberry Rhubarb Trifle

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Strawberry Rhubarb Trifle

The combination of tart strawberries and rhubarb balance out the sweetness from the custard and create one wow-worthy presentation that will impress your guests.

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Chicken Cutlets With Strawberry-Avocado Salsa

Credit: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Chicken Cutlets With Strawberry-Avocado Salsa

This colorful, flavor-forward dish makes the most of peak-season produce with a sweet and tangy fruit salsa that would be equally delicious served over pork chops or with whole-grain tortilla chips. The heat from the seeded jalapeño is mild, but it can be omitted. To round out your plate, try serving the chicken and salsa over a bed of rice or with a simple side salad.

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Strawberry-Orange Tart

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Strawberry-Orange Tart

This berry and citrus combination makes for an intense burst of flavor that dances on the taste buds. It's as wonderful to look at as it is to serve and eat.

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Strawberry Cheesecake Pops

Credit: Photo: Gentl & Hyers
View Recipe: Strawberry Cheesecake Pops

Perfect for kids and adults, we love this frosty twist on a classic treat—strawberry cheesecake on a stick, complete with a dip in graham cracker crumbs.

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Chamomile-Strawberry-Orange Cold-Brewed Tea

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Chamomile-Strawberry-Orange Cold-Brewed Tea

Fruit adds sweetness to this refreshing drink. If you wish, substitute raspberries for the strawberries, or drop in a sprig of lemon verbena to boost the aromatic citrus.

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Strawberry Gazpacho

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Strawberry Gazpacho

While tomato season is at bay, turn to strawberries to make this refreshing version of the classic Spanish chilled vegetable soup.

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Fresh Strawberry Shortcakes With Yogurt Cream

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Shortcakes With Yogurt Cream

If you have a minute to spare, swap the vanilla extract for a vanilla bean. Split the bean lengthwise, scrape half of the seeds into the shortcake recipe, and whip the remaining half into the yogurt cream. It will add an extra level of flavor-packed intensity to the recipe.

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Sunflower, Strawberry, and Butterscotch Bars

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Sunflower, Strawberry, and Butterscotch Bars

Quick and easy to prepare, these treats make excellent after-school snacks. 

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Wheat Berry, Spinach, and Strawberry Salad

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Wheat Berry, Spinach, and Strawberry Salad

This super spinach salad is topped with strawberries, wheat berry mixture, feta cheese, balsamic vinegar, and more.

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Strawberry and Rhubarb Lemonade

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Strawberry and Rhubarb Lemonade

For a refreshing summertime sipper, serve your guests glasses of Strawberry and Rhubarb Lemonade. Tangy rhubarb enhances the puckery punch of this cool cup.

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Grilled Lamb Chops With Wheat Berry, Strawberry, and Lacinato Kale Salad

Credit: Photo: Jason Varney
View Recipe: Grilled Lamb Chops With Wheat Berry, Strawberry, and Lacinato Kale Salad

Lacinato kale, often called dinosaur kale because of its crinkled, bumpy texture, grows year-round in the Pacific Northwest. Massaging the leaves with your hands tenderizes them and tones down their bitter edge, which is a little more pronounced with summer harvests.

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Deep-Dish Strawberry Ice Dream Pie

Credit: Photo: Johnny Miller
View Recipe: Deep-Dish Strawberry Ice Dream Pie

The filling for our killer pie is somewhere between ice cream and mousse—a creamy concoction that's ridiculously easy to make.

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Pound Cake With Strawberry Glaze

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Pound Cake With Strawberry Glaze

Look for whole-wheat pastry flour in the baking aisle at major supermarkets. Garnish with additional strawberries and fresh mint leaves.

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Strawberry-Riesling Jam

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Strawberry-Riesling Jam

Make peak-of-the-season preserves without even stirring. A slow cooker makes it possible. Another great use: Brush on grilled chicken or pork for a sweet finish.

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Quinoa With Strawberries and Buttermilk

Credit: Photo: Brian Woodcock
View Recipe: Quinoa With Strawberries and Buttermilk

Cook quinoa for dinner, save leftovers for breakfast, and start the day with 46g whole grains per serving. Creamy, crunchy, nutty, and fruity all come together in this morning bowl.

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Strawberry-Banana Crepes

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Strawberry-Banana Crepes

Craving crepes? This classic flavor combo won’t disappoint. Bananas and strawberries are soaked in orange juice before being spooned on top of paper-thin crepes. Finish them off with a dollop of Greek yogurt, then let each bite melt in your mouth. 

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Toasted Coconut-Strawberry Pancakes

Credit: Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Toasted Coconut-Strawberry Pancakes

Diced strawberries are folded into a creamy coconut-milk batter in this delightful pancake, which gets topped with sugared strawberries and coconut flakes. Toasting the coconut brings out its nutty, caramel flavor, which perfectly complements the berry-dotted pancakes. 

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Strawberry-Almond Cream Tart

Credit: Photo: Lauren Rubinstein
View Recipe: Strawberry-Almond Cream Tart

Nestled in a creamy filling and crumbly graham cracker crust, strawberries shine in this delectable tart.

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Strawberry-Mint Sparkling Limeade

Credit: Photo: Romulo Yanes
View Recipe: Strawberry-Mint Sparkling Limeade

For a kid-friendly version, substitute 3 cups chilled club soda for the wine. When adding the wine or soda, pour slowly down the edge of the glass to tame the foam.