Five weirdly delicious ways to use strawberries in savoury dishes

Anybody can use strawberries in a dessert. But it takes a special kind of culinary courage to add strawberry to a savoury dish.

In a rather unusual effort to alert citizens to just how well strawberries work with cheese, balsamic vinegar and Mediterranean herbs, Germany's Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE) is recommending five savoury-strawberry combos that are weirdly... not weird.

Strawberries with balsamic vinegar

A sweet and sour vinegar is the perfect match for strawberries because its acidity brings out the fruity sweetness. Here's an idea for a starter:

・Quarter your strawberries and place them in small bowls
・Season some dark balsamic vinegar with pepper, gently warm it and mix in a splash of honey
・Pour over the berries, garnish with basil or thyme, and serve with fresh baguette

Strawberry ketchup

This fruity ketchup elevates grilled foods and homemade burgers to an unusual flavour level. Here's a recipe:

・Chop strawberries and caramelize them with a bit of sugar
・Add a finely chopped onion and briefly sauté with some tomato paste
・Simmer with diced tomatoes and a splash of apple juice for half an hour
・Season with apple cider vinegar and spices like paprika, ginger and cayenne pepper, then purée
・Pour hot into screw-top jars; the ketchup will keep in the fridge for one to two weeks

Strawberry balsamic pizza

Juicy strawberries taste oddly good on bruschetta with garlic and tomatoes - or as a pizza topping. Here's how to make a strawberry-balsamic pizza:

・Top pizza dough with mozzarella or goat cheese and strawberry slices, then bake in the oven
・Meanwhile, reduce balsamic vinegar with a bit of honey over medium heat and drizzle over the finished pizza
・Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with fresh basil

Strawberry-tomato gazpacho

This cold soup is a perfect refreshment on hot days. Here's how to make it:

・Chop some strawberries, shallots, tomatoes, cucumber and basil leaves
・Add some olive oil and tomato paste, then purée until smooth
・Gradually add ice-cold water while blending until the soup reaches the desired consistency
・Season with honey, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper - done

Strawberries in savoury salads

In summer salads, strawberries pair excellently with rocket and spinach, green asparagus, cherry tomatoes and toasted walnuts or pine nuts. They also harmonize well with feta, goat cheese, and oranges. A simple vinegar-oil dressing complements these combinations.