Why strawberries are useful, how to choose delicious and what to cook from this berry
Strawberries are one of the most popular and favorite berries from childhood. Strawberry season has already started: you can buy delicious berries at fairs and in supermarkets and cook different dishes with them – from healthy salads to unusual soups. We tell you why you should include strawberries in your diet and what you can make with them.
What are strawberries good for?
Bright berries not only look good in pictures – strawberries bring real benefits to our body. This berry is rich in antioxidants that prevent the development of inflammatory processes and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, strawberries contain potassium. Regular consumption of this berry normalizes blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke.
Strawberries can be eaten by those who watch their weight and seek to get rid of extra pounds: the berries contain only 40 kcal per 100 grams.
How to choose a delicious strawberry
It is believed that the brighter the strawberries, the more delicious they are. Choose dark, ripe, evenly colored berries. If the berries are only colored on the side, they may not taste good. Natural strawberries should be aromatic. Take a sniff: if the berry does not smell anything, it is likely to taste bland.
To tell you how fresh the strawberries are, look at the stalks: if they have wilted, they’ve been lying there for several days. It is better to choose strawberries with a green stalk rather than a dried one.
Who should not eat strawberries
Strawberries can cause allergic reactions. If after eating strawberries you feel tingling and itching in the mouth, red rashes and blisters on the skin, vomiting and diarrhea occur, refrain from eating the berry for a while and consult a specialist. This can manifest itself as a food allergy to strawberries.
What to cook with strawberries
With the addition of strawberries you can prepare smoothies, salads, soups and, of course, desserts. You’ll find some ideas for inspiration in this Challenger selection.
Strawberry and goat cheese salad
Strawberries make a great addition to healthy dishes. Light vitamin salad with strawberries and goat cheese will diversify the holiday table and the whole family will love it.
Ingredients
Lettuce (green) 100 г
Strawberries 8 berries
Cheese (goat cheese) 70 г
Nuts (pine nuts) 20 г
Olive oil to taste
Vinegar (balsamic) to taste
Method
Slice the green lettuce into sticks, slice the cheese, and cut each berry into four pieces.
Mix all ingredients in a salad bowl, sprinkle with pine nuts.
Dress the salad with balsamic and olive oil and divide into portions.
Strawberry Soup
Not the most popular soup in the world, but the closer summer gets, the more you want to try it. Great for refreshing in the heat!
Ingredients
Strawberries 300 г
Peppermint 1 twig
Lemon ½ pcs.
Sugar (cane) 2 tbsp.
Cream (33%) 100 ml
Method
Wash the strawberries and allow to drain. Place the berries in a deep bowl. Add sugar, lemon juice and mint.
Whisk all the ingredients with an immersion blender or mixer. Taste: you may need to add sugar or lemon juice.
Whisk the cream in a separate bowl.
Pour the strawberry soup into plates, top with whipped cream and garnish with mint. Serve the soup chilled.
Dessert with strawberry mousse
Massimiliano Montiroli, head chef at Café Milano, told Challenger how to make a delicious dessert with strawberries.
Ingredients
For the biscuit:
Flour (wheat) 100 г
Eggs (chicken) 200 г
Sugar 100 г
For the mousse with strawberries:
Puree (strawberry) 460 г
Cheese (cremetto, 65%) 420 г
Cream (35%) 160 ml
Chocolate (white) 210 г
Gelatin (sheet) 17 г
Sugar 110 г
Food coloring (red) 2 г
For the strawberry jelly:
Puree (strawberry) 300 г
Syrup (glucose) 60 ml
Vanilla (stick) 1 г
Gelatin (leaf) 10 г
Method
First, prepare the biscuit: take 4 eggs, 100 grams of sugar and beat until homogeneous, then add the flour and beat again. Then pour the resulting mass into a mold and send it to the oven, heated to 180 degrees, for 5-6 minutes. Allow to cool.
For the mousse mix strawberry puree and sugar in a saucepan and put it on the fire. Soak the gelatin and add to the strawberry puree. Then whisk the cremetto cheese and cream with a blender. Melt white chocolate in a water bath and add to the cheese and cream mixture. Combine the ingredients, add food coloring and mix. Leave in fridge to cool the mousse.
For the jelly, mix the strawberry puree and glucose heated over a fire in a saucepan. Soak the gelatin and mix with the puree, adding the vanilla. Stir, pass through a sieve.
Pour strawberry mousse (400g) into the mould, let it cool, then pour strawberry jelly, cover with biscuit on top. Place a layer of strawberry mousse on top again, then biscuit, let cool. Place strawberry jelly on top. Allow entire dessert to cool, top with fresh strawberries and place in fridge overnight.
Pomegranate Strawberry Smoothie
Strawberries are a popular smoothie ingredient. Here’s how to make a healthy and colorful drink.
Ingredients
Banana (frozen) 1.5 pcs.
Strawberries 1 cup
Coconut milk 3/4 cup
Spinach 1 cup
Pomegranate (pomegranate seeds) 1/4 cup
Cooking Process
This smoothie can be blended all at once, or you can make two layers.
For the first, blend 1 banana, strawberries and 1/2 cup coconut milk in a blender.
For the second, the green one, mix fresh spinach, the remaining half banana, pomegranate seeds and the remaining coconut milk.
You can pour them one at a time, or you can leave two layers.
Matcha latte with strawberries
The taste of matcha tea is complemented by the sour aftertaste of strawberries and the flavor of coconut.
Ingredients
Tea (matcha) 2 г
Lime (zest) 1 г
Water (80 deg) 20 ml
Strawberries (freeze-dried) 2 г
Syrup (Jerusalem artichoke) 10 ml
Coconut milk 130 ml
Method
Mix matcha tea with hot water in a wide mug using a whisk.
Add the zest, freeze-dried strawberries, Jerusalem artichoke syrup and coconut milk and whisk until frothy.
Pour the finished drink into a glass and sprinkle over the freeze-dried strawberries.