Happy Wednesday! Thank you all so much for your kind words and congratulations about my 5K PR! You guys are so wonderful and supportive!
Last week when I first heard about Whole Food’s sale on organic strawberries via Twitter, I marked it on my work calendar and set two reminders. $1.99 for organic strawberries just can’t be beat.
And then, the lovely folks at my local Whole Foods contacted me and offered to give me two pounds of strawberries for free! Even though they were selling for dirt cheap, I’m rarely one to turn down free food – especially when it’s organic produce.
The strawberries were awesome plain, but I was most excited to make one of my favorite strawberry desserts. It’s simple but unique. I stumbled upon the combination about 5 years ago – I don’t even remember where – but it’s been a favorite ever since.
Balsamic Strawberries with Cracked Black Pepper
It might sound really weird if you’ve never tried the combo but trust me, it’s a winner. I just toss it all together without measuring, but it’s close to these proportions for one serving:
- 8 strawberries, sliced
- 1-2 T good-quality balsamic vinegar
- 3-4 “turns” of freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 t honey
First, slice the strawberries, place in a bowl and pour the vinegar over the strawberries. Drizzle the honey on top and gently toss to combine. Let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Just before serving, grind some peppercorns on top. The black pepper is what takes this combination over the top.
I usually dig in with a fork and maybe a small piece of super-dark chocolate on the side. Over ice cream or angel food cake, it’s an impressive “you are just so gourmet!” dessert to serve at a dinner party. You can make a large batch a day ahead and just store it in the fridge before bringing to room temperature to serve, which makes this dessert a breeze.
What’s your favorite strawberry dessert? I love homemade strawberry ice cream (it always reminds me of my dad!) and I love any sort of white cake with strawberries and whipped cream.
36 Comments
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
atMy mother in law makes this gooey pound cake topped with straberries and whipped cream – it is so good!
The Teenage Taste
atThis sounds like a pretty odd combination, but I’ve heard balsamic + strawberries is fabulous! Thanks for sharing!
Blog is the New Black
atCannot wait to make this- I’m intrigued!
Heather (Heather's Dish)
atthis sounds so authentic…maybe to italy? who knows…i want it!
Lauren
atOo I love strawberries! My favorite is strawberry shortcake with homemade whipped cream!
Katie
atI love fruit and balsamic – such good stuff! Also, I love strawberry shortcake, especially with homemade whip cream…mmm, lick.
Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles
atWhoever thought of combining balsamic and strawberries is a pure genius. Such a lovely combination! 🙂
Chase @ The Chase Project
atOOh this is so gourmet! I must try! I love strawberry shortcake and my mom makes a mean strawberry rhubarb pie that’s to die for! But I love strawberries straight up or dipped in whipped cream. Can’t go wrong.
Katie
atI’m going to have to keep my eye out for strawberry sales so I can try this… I’m a balsamic junkie!
Trisha
atI think strawberry banana combo is killer. so pretty much…anything strawberry banana. homemade ice cream? i think yes!
Lauren
atI never would have come up with such a combo but I have to admit it sounds pretty darn good.
P.S. I’m so jealous that you got free strawberries!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife
atI LOOVVEE balsamic+strawbs+pepper spinach salads….so this should be good, eh??? 🙂 I love angel food cake with strawbs-sooo delish!
Alaina
atMy mom used to make me strawberry cheesecake for my birthday. 😛 Yum!
Shauna
atDoesn’t sound weird to me at all. I have this minus the black pepper plus cottage cheese almost evey day for breakfast in the warm weather months. It isn’t pretty to look at but so yummy. Sometimes I top it with some Fiber One cereal.
Teri
atooooh, I have got to try that! I might like cottage cheese that way!
Ashley
atOh, I totally get this!! You know what would be amazing on top…the salt + pepper cashew butter!! Can’t wait for the organic strawbs to start popping up around here!
Teri
atoh my heck…that would be amazing! I have got to make that cashew butter ASAP!
Katie G.
atI love pepper, I love strawberries, I’m in! We are JUST getting strawberries here in MD (the fresh, local, not extremely overpriced ones). I can’t wait to make strawberry smoothies, topping on cereal, and a strawberry bread that I saw on another blog. Yum yum!
pawsitivelife
atI love those cakes you can make when you buy the bottom from a store, cut up strawberries and place on top with a glaze. But I love FRESH strawberries in smoothies, they are the best
Elizabeth @ RunWithSneakers
atStrawberries with Balsamic looks great, can’t wait to try it. I was planning to make vegan chocolate fondue with strawberries this weekend (for company), I may add a dish of those balsamic strawberries just for variety (or in case someone doesn’t like chocolate, gasp!)
Teri
atif someone doesn’t like chocolate, they probably shouldn’t be invited to your dinner party. j/k 😉 let me know if you try it and what people think!
brandi
atfree strawberries? sweet!
i love balsamic with berries – they’re great together on salads. we made sundae’s one time with vanilla ice cream and strawberries, toasted pine nuts, and a reduced-balsamic drizzle. yum.
Teri
atoh.my.goodness. that sundae sounds amazing.
Jackie @ Baking Charms
atOh that combo sounds interesting and super tasty! I love strawberries but had to cut back on eating them because they hurt my belly… they are divine with chocolate though 🙂
Teri
atthat is so sad that strawberries hurt your belly! 🙁
Kate @ NaturaStride
atHmmm – will definitely need to try this. Like you said, it “sounds” strange – but that’s also what I thought before I actually tried melon wrapped with prosciutto (amazing).
Thanks for the idea!
I’d have to agree with you: favorite strawberry dessert is good ol’ chunky strawberry ice cream (with rainbow sprinkles!). My favorite since I was a little girl.
Teri
ati still have never tried melon wrapped with proscuitto! I’ve got to! i’m totally craving homemade ice cream now!
Liz @ IHeartVegetables
atI’d have to go with chocolate covered strawberries 😉 YUM!
Clare @ Fitting It All In
atI never knew a seemingly gourmet dish like that was so simple! I’ll have to try it.
janetha @ meals & moves
atOOOOOOOOOHHH how i love strawberries and balsamic together!!!!!!!!!
Sarah @ The Pajama Chef
atsounds odd but i’d be up for trying it!
natalie (the sweets life)
atthis sounds so interesting, i’ll have to try it! last summer i made strawberry shortcakes (http://www.thesweetslife.com/2010/07/strawberry-amaretto-shortcakes.html) and strawberry cream puff cake (http://www.thesweetslife.com/2010/06/strawberry-cream-puff-cake.html). Both were pretty fabulous but I can’t wait to try more strawberry desserts this spring/summer!
Teri
atthose both sound amazing!!!! i could really go for the strawberry cream puff cake right now!
[email protected]
atI got in on that sale too and bought 2 lbs! =) My favorite strawberry dessert is mochi with nutella and strawberries on the inside.
Pure2raw twins
atoh yum, I have always wanted to try this combo!
Jessica @ Stylish Stealthy & Healthy
atYum have to try this. I love strawberries in my salad and I usually use balsamic in my dressing so no doubt this would be ah mazing.