This time of the year means two things: lawn tennis and strawberries. British strawberries are at their best and this year at least, the weather is celebrating too. Strawberries will likely be on offer at your local market or supermarket so take advantage. A strawberry doesn’t come to mind when we think of nutritious fruits but they are rich in Vitamin C, K and dietary fibre. The vibrant shade of red strawberries is due to the anthocyanidin content, which means they also contain antioxidants.
I do have one confession to make: I don’t like cooked strawberries. For me, it’s sacrilege. When something is near enough perfect as it is, why mess with it? That’s not to say you can’t be adventurous in what you pair with them or how you serve them. Here are a few suggestions for enjoying your strawberries this summer.
1. Accompanying a cream tea
There’s nothing quite like a batch of warm freshly-baked scones, clotted cream and British strawberries. When they’re at their best the fruit itself is so sweet, you wont even need jam. Find my go-to recipe here
2. Add them to a salad
It might sound bizarre but it seems we Brits are the ones missing out. Across the pond, summer is synonymous with berries and peaches in green leafy salads – think baby spinach, goat cheese and almonds or walnuts. Balsamic and strawberries are already acknowledged to be a great pair, so I don’t need to recommend a dressing.
3. Make a tartine
A tartine is really just a fancy word for an open sandwich. When you’re using special, seasonal ingredients, tartines are the way to go. Using just one piece of bread means that the flavours of the topping don’t get drowned out. Creamy goats cheese and ricotta work particularly well with strawberries. For the bread, sourdough and walnut raisin are winners. You could also drizzle honey on top for extra sweetness or dust with black pepper.
4. Freeze them for future smoothies.
If you have a glut of strawberries, you can freeze them now to use in smoothies in the coming months. They wont retain their natural texture so smoothies are really the only thing you can do with them once frozen. The method below will ensure the fruit doesn’t clump together, so you can pull out just as much as you need.
How to freeze strawberries:
- Wash the strawberries and dry them thoroughly.
- Remove the tops and stems.
- Lay the strawberries on a baking sheet that will fit in your freezer.
- Place the tray in the freezer for 20 minutes.
- Remove and scoop strawberries into freezer bags.
- Remove as much air as possible before freezing.
Kumud Gandhi is a Nutritional Food Scientist bestselling Author, Broadcaster, and Keynote Speaker on the subject of nutritional health for productivity & performance in the workplace. In 2010 Kumud founded ‘The Cooking Academy’ a cookery school that focusses on cooking for nutritional health and wellbeing. Kumud regularly presents to international audiences on a variety of topics such as ‘Eating for Immunity and a Lifetime of Wellness’. She is an expert in the field of Wellness in the Workplace and works with organizations to create transformational change in employee health & well-being through nutrition and health coaching.
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