23 Surprising Recipes Using Fresh Strawberries

Strawberries are such delicious fruit and surprisingly versatile. They are packed with nutrition and when they are in season, it’s hard to beat. So when you want to do more than simply eat a bowl of berries, check out these unique strawberry recipes and start to incorporate them into a variety of dishes that the whole family will love.

There is a lot to love about strawberries but even more than their sweet states, we appreciate that, according to WebMD, strawberries protect your heart, increase good cholesterol, lower your blood pressure, and guard against cancer. Strawberries are full of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.

So making strawberry recipes is not only fun and delicious but you are enjoying a very healthy ingredient.

How To Keep Strawberries Fresh

Strawberries spoil even faster than bananas, which may cause you to panic once a day or two has gone by and you still haven’t used up your expensive bushel of fresh berries, but don’t worry!

White vinegar is a fresh berry’s best friend. It not only kills spores but also helps keep them fresh!

How To Clean and Keep Strawberries Fresh

Step 1: so place them in a large bowl and wash with 1 cup of white vinegar and 8 cups of water.

Step 2: Let the berries sit in the bath, moving them around gently to dislodge any dirt, and allowing the vinegar to kill spores and bacteria.

Step 3: Drain the strawberries in a colander and rinse well.

Step 4: Dry by wrapping gently in a paper towel.

Step 5: Store in a sealed container lined with dry paper towels.

Related: 9 Hacks To Keep Your Food Fresh

23 Unique Strawberry Recipes

Strawberry Bruschetta

Tomatoes are typically the shining star of this Italian appetizer, but substituting strawberries will add a whole new refreshing tangy sweetness that simply screams summer.

Strawberry Shortcake Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a breakfast favorite no matter the time of year, but given summer’s abundance of strawberries, it’s the perfect time to sweeten up your morning meal with this innovative, dessert-like recipe.

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Chicken

Fruit in salads is a wonderful wake-up call for your palate when you’re simply getting bored of veggies-on-veggies.

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Muffins

Are you a fan of chocolate-covered strawberries? Then you’ll love these healthy muffins featuring whole grains, fresh strawberries, and mini chocolate chips.

Roasted Strawberry, Avocado, and Mozzarella Grilled Cheese

An elevated version of your favorite childhood comfort food, this recipe utilizes strawberries in an innovative way by roasting them. You’ll scarf this baby down before you have time for an Instagram picture.

Strawberry Basil Lemonade

Grab yourself some lemons, strawberries, and a handful of fresh basil and make this refreshing beverage—or turn it into a cocktail for the weekend!

Strawberry Smoothie Popsicles

Skip the store-bought stuff ridden with chemicals and dyes and opt for REAL strawberries in your popsicles to cool off this summer.

Creamy Strawberry Coconut Fruit Dip

Finger foods are all the rage come sunny weather when you just want to pack up and hit the beach all day. But most dips you find for your veggies or fruit are laden with unnecessary calories. Opt for this healthy and delicious version instead!

Strawberry Mint Dressing

Sometimes it’s the dressing that makes all the difference to salads, but if you’re loading up your greens with dressings from the grocery store, you’re probably piling on more fat and calories than you should be. Try this strawberry mint dressing to liven up your lunchtime treat without weighing you down.

Chocolate-Strawberry Truffle Pie

There’s no better feeling than diving into a rich dessert that’s actually very healthy. This pie features agave, cashew cream, and strawberries. If you want it any time of year, opt for frozen berries as this recipe suggests.

Homemade Cliff Bars

When you’re on the go, a healthy Cliff Bar may be your go-to for fueling up. But if you have time and some tasty strawberries that need to be used up, try making this homemade version.

Strawberry Coconut Chia Seed Banana Bread

Find a reason to jump out of bed early in the morning to make this deliciously healthy recipe. Featuring a fantastic list of ingredients like banana, dark brown sugar, nonfat plain Greek yogurt, almond milk, strawberries, raspberries, coconut and chia seeds, each slice only has 160 calories.

Spinach and Strawberry Protein Smoothie

Whether you want to cool off midday from the summer’s heat or simply power up with some protein and energy in the morning or before a workout, this spinach, almond butter, and hemp protein powder smoothie featuring strawberries is a healthy choice. Opt for fresh berries if you can—there will be plenty of time to use the frozen stuff come fall!

Strawberry Salsa

Salsa is the perfect topping or simple snack no matter what time of year it is, but when it comes to summer, this is your time to switch it up by incorporating strawberries. This specific recipe features five sensationally-delicious ingredients: strawberries, jalapeño, red onion, fresh cilantro, and lime.

Lentil and Strawberry Salad with Pepper-Crusted Tuna

This meal just screams summer. Swap out your typical salad greens for hearty lentils, but keep it light with the sweetness from the strawberries. A simple layer of pepper-crusted tuna tops it all off.

Summer Berry Crostini

Make a gourmet snack that’s just as pleasing to the eyes as it is to the tastebuds. This crostini is topped with lemon ricotta, berries and honey.

 Strawberry and Watermelon Gazpacho

Gazpacho just screams summer. And this beautifully pink bowl of refreshing soup featuring strawberries and watermelon may just be your new favorite recipe.

Probiotic Jello Snacks Recipe

Jello can be for adults, too, especially this simple and healthy recipe that will keep your digestion on track. Have some fresh strawberries? Throw ‘em in the mix!

Strawberry Shortcake

Fresh is always best, so top your delectable dessert with nature’s candy. These particular shortcakes are packed with fiber but are still deliciously light and tender.

No-Bake Strawberry Bars

Perfect for a light summer snack, these healthy bars feature fresh summer strawberries, hearty oats and no refined sugars or artificial flavors.

Rainbow Fruit Kabobs

Whether it’s your sweet tooth that’s calling or just a desire to make a kabob, this is the perfect healthy and refreshing combo.

Strawberry Zucchini Noodles

Tossed with balsamic cashew cream, this is a healthy no-cook dinner that’s vegan friendly and under 300 calories!

Strawberry Balsamic Flatbread

We love finding healthy recipes for pizza. Add some tartness to your pie by topping it with delectable strawberries.

The post 23 Surprising Recipes Using Fresh Strawberries appeared first on Get Healthy U | Chris Freytag.