A sweet and tangy ode to summer
Strawberries…and…vinegar? They dance together beautifully.
Is there anything that says summer is just around the corner like a container of bright red, juicy, fragrant strawberries from the farmers market? You can get strawberries year-round, but in their short peak season—when they are at their absolute best, we want to enjoy them as many ways as possible. And there are so many ways to enjoy them!
Strawberries and vinegar go together as well as wine and cheese or bread and olive oil…but it’s not always the most obvious pairing. Most of the time, you will see recipes for strawberries and balsamic vinegar, which is absolutely wonderful, but today, I want to show you a recipe featuring vinagre de Jerez—sherry vinegar.
You’ve heard about my love for vinegar and the many ways you can use it—beyond making vinaigrettes, you can add it to cocktails, you can cook with it, you can do so many things! In this recipe, the sherry vinegar is combined with sugar to bring out the juice of the strawberries, and the sweetness married with the acidity of the vinegar is a match made in heaven. The thyme adds just a little herbal aroma, and be sure to sip the leftover juice from the sugar, vinegar and strawberries—it’s just delicious.
And of course, this is a perfect opportunity to peel your strawberries. I love a peeled strawberry…it’s an entirely different fruit than what you think you know. While peeling strawberries may not be the first thing you feel like doing, I promise you it is worth it…or of course, you can make your kids or an annoying house guest do it for you! A peeled strawberry creates a silkier texture and allows the juice from the vinegar and sugar to get closer to the strawberry. Give it a try, and be sure to use a sharp paring knife, not a vegetable peeler.
Be sure not to waste those precious strawberry seeds—the peels can be dehydrated and eaten as a healthy snack, or you can use them in a smoothie or, better yet, plant them and see what happens!
Here’s a clip of me describing what a peeled strawberry is like…and another of all my friends getting in on the action!
Let me know how you like these simple, beautiful strawberries. You could serve it as a dessert on its own, or even as a palate cleanser on the way to dessert. I think you know what my preference would be!
Strawberries and vinegar
Serves 4