10+ Savory Strawberry Recipes

The Best Savory Strawberry Recipes

I love using strawberries in desserts, sweet treats, and smoothies, but have you ever used strawberries in savory dishes? The natural sweetness of this beautiful berry is wonderful in unexpected dishes like spring rolls, hummus wraps, salads, as a garnish for salmon, and almost anything else you can think of.

If you’ve never tried strawberries on top of pizza, you’re in for a treat! Or, throw a handful of sliced strawberries into a salad along with candied walnuts or sliced almonds. You can also swirl strawberries into dressings (I’ve included a few recipes in the collection below) to infuse your salad or vegetables with juicy sweetness. I love adding a little fruity sweetness to dishes that would otherwise be savory.

What Savory Flavors Pair Well With Strawberries?

A classic pairing with strawberries is spinach, and you probably have enjoyed a strawberry spinach salad at least once in your life. I love to pair strawberries with salty, sharp cheeses like blue cheese, briny feta, and pungent goat cheese. Soft, mellow cheeses are also nice complements – you could make a strawberry bruschetta with fresh mozzarella, for example. Or top a wedge of warm, creamy brie cheese with fresh slices of strawberry.

Vegetables like cucumber add a nice flavor contrast to strawberries, as well as a little juicy crunch. I love serving strawberries and avocado together, topped with a splash of lemony vinaigrette. Tuck strawberries into a cold tomato gazpacho where the acidic fresh tomatoes benefit from a little strawberry sweetness. Or make a salsa with tomatoes, strawberries, and a kick of spice from jalapenos.

Sweet strawberries also go wonderfully with meats, especially with crisp, smoky bacon! I love strawberries with grilled chicken or salmon, or roasted and drizzled with a little balsamic vinegar. Scatter a few sliced strawberries over the top of pizza for a flavor twist. You can see some of my favorite savory ways to use strawberries lower down!

How To Properly Clean & Store Strawberries

Strawberries can be cleaned and stored like most other fruit, but a tip to remember is that you should always leave them whole – don’t slice them! – before you place them in the fridge. Always store fresh strawberries in the fridge, or freeze them if you don’t think you’ll eat them within five days (strawberries are best fresh, but should last between 3-5 days in the fridge).

The easiest way to store strawberries is to keep them in their original container in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat them, wash them with tap water and eat. If you wish to wash your strawberries right after you bring them home, a way to pre-wash and make them last longer is to soak them in a vinegar-water bath. Make a soak of 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar, then soak the strawberries for 10 minutes. Remove them, rinse them under running water, and then place them on a paper towel to dry. If you wash your strawberries before storing them, be sure to store them in a paper-towel lined airtight container to remove any moisture.

To freeze strawberries, you can freeze the whole strawberries: wash and pat dry the strawberries, then cut off their tops. Place the strawberries on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place it in the freezer until the strawberries freeze. Then transfer the strawberries to a freezer-safe, sealable bag or freezer-safe container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 months.

Or, wash, dry, and slice the strawberries. Place the strawberry slices in an airtight, freezer-safe container or sealable bag and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months.