Here's an easy 5-minute recipe that takes a dish of strawberries from sensational to superb! This post describes how to make balsamic strawberries and includes other delicious ways to use strawberries with balsamic vinegar glaze.
Strawberries and balsamic vinegar make a beautiful pairing! Drizzling sweet strawberries with a rich, smooth and aromatic balsamic glaze enhances the flavour of summer strawberries. Strawberries with balsamic glaze make an irresistible dessert!
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❤️ Why you'll love this dessert recipe
- It's quick and easy to make, but it has gourmet flavours.
- Sweet berries and tangy balsamic vinegar glaze make an incredible combo.
- Balsamic glaze can be made well ahead of time, ready to use in a variety of ways, both sweet and savory.
- This strawberry balsamic dessert is dairy-free, gluten-free, egg-free and nut-free for your friends with allergies or sensitivities.
- It's a vegan dessert, too.
🛒 Ingredients
You'll find a complete list of ingredients with amounts in the recipe card below. But before we get to the full recipe, here are a few notes.
- strawberries: While nothing can really compare to freshly picked sun-ripened strawberries, it's now easier to find quality strawberries in the early spring in grocery stores. Look for those with fresh green tops and no signs of mold or soft spots.
- balsamic glaze: find my easy recipe for how to make balsamic glaze.
- black pepper: a grind or two of black pepper surprisingly heightens the flavour of strawberries. Try it!
- herbs: fresh basil or mint are my favourite choices for herbs to add to balsamic strawberry desserts.
🔪 Instructions
Here's what you'll do to make this balsamic strawberry recipe perfectly. You'll find complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- First, make the balsamic glaze. It takes about 20 minutes to make, but the results are worth it. You'll find step-by-step directions in How to Make Balsamic Glaze.
- If you're in a hurry, you can take a shortcut and simply combine balsamic vinegar with sweetener and toss it with strawberries. However, I'm sure you'll agree if you make the balsamic glaze that the flavour is far superior. You can make this glaze well in advance (up to 2 - 3 months) and store it in the fridge.
- Next, prep the berries. Wash the strawberries, pat them dry, then remove the hull and leaves. Slice them in halves or quarters from stem to tip.
- When you're ready to serve, "chiffonade" cut basil leaves. Stack a few leaves on top of each other, roll them tightly into a "cigar" shape, then slice the roll thinly. The basil will look like very thin ribbons. You'll want to slice the basil just before serving, as it bruises easily and it tends to blacken.
- Spoon sliced strawberries into dessert dishes and top with a sprinkle of basil leaves and a grind or two of black pepper. Drizzle with a teaspoon or so of balsamic glaze and serve.
🔁 Possible Variations
Use different herbs. Pairing balsamic strawberries with basil is my favourite combo, but the fusion of balsamic strawberries with fresh mint runs a very close second! Try adding a little fresh rosemary, instead! Be sure to use fresh herbs with this dessert, not dried ones.
👍🏼 Helpful Tips
A little goes a long way! More is not always better. It may be tempting to add a generous spoonful, but a teaspoon or so is all that's needed to make an amazing strawberry dessert.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Make a Strawberry Balsamic Fool! Layer strawberries tossed with a little balsamic glaze with whipped cream in dessert glasses. Replace the basil with mint if you'd like.
Balsamic Strawberries with Vanilla Ice Cream. Prepare the strawberries as described above, but serve over vanilla ice cream or lightly sweetened yogurt.
Make Strawberry Whipped Feta Crostini: top a slice of toasted baguette with whipped feta cheese and balsamic strawberries.
Serve with cake: Strawberries with balsamic glaze are particularly delicious on top of this one-bowl Flourless Lemon Almond Cake.
⏰ Storage Instructions
To store: Balsamic strawberries are best eaten right away. They don't keep well.
The balsamic glaze, however, will last for two months or more. Store in a glass jar in the fridge and use on berries, crostini, or roasted vegetables. It's particularly good on roasted Brussels sprouts and on grilled salmon!
When you make this recipe, please leave a comment and a star rating below. I love hearing from you! Thanks in advance. Subscribe to my newsletter and receive new recipes delivered straight to your inbox once a week.
🗒More Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes
📖 Recipe
Balsamic Strawberries
Ingredients
- 16 oz. fresh strawberries
- 1 teaspoon balsamic glaze
- 1 pinch black pepper freshly ground
- fresh herbs, like basil or mint, for garnish
Instructions
- First, make the balsamic glaze. It takes about 20 minutes to make it, but the results are worth it. You'll find step-by-step directions in How to Make Balsamic Glaze.
- Next, prepare the berries. Wash the strawberries, pat them dry, then remove the hull and leaves. Slice them in halves or quarters from stem to tip.
- When you're ready to serve, "chiffonade" cut basil leaves. Stack a few leaves on top of each other, roll them tightly into a "cigar" shape, then slice the roll thinly. The basil will look like very thin ribbons. You'll want to slice the basil just before serving, as it bruises easily and it tends to blacken.
- Spoon sliced strawberries into dessert dishes and top with a sprinkle of basil leaves and a grind or two of black pepper. Drizzle with a teaspoon or so of balsamic glaze and serve.
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