Strawberry Balsamic herb Salad

Strawberry salad is one of my favorite summer recipes, it is so flavorful and delicious, and might I add barely requires any work to make- just mixing things! This strawberry salad has everything, a touch of sweetness with tang from Balasamic vinegar freshness from the strawberries and herbs and the texture from the seeds and nuts. This salad is so versatile, it can be made into an appetizer, dessert, or had on its own! I learned to make the base of this recipe in pastry school but my paternal grandmom and I came up with our own version of this when I made her have it once. This salad is a must-try whenever you get fresh strawberries, it is going to be a game-changer. You can even make this salad with other fruits if you like mango and pineapple.

Happy Cooking!

Servings: 4-7 servings

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cooking Time: 5 mins

Chilling time: 2-3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours

Ingredients: 

• 453g/1 lb strawberry s

• 1.5 tbsp Balsamic vinegar

• 1.5 tbsp roasted sesame seeds

• 3 tsp castor sugar

• 2 tbsp chopped mixture of fresh basil, mint, and tarragon

• 4-5 tbsp thin sliced almonds, slightly roasted, optional

Directions: 

• Chop the strawberries in halves or quarters.

• Add the sugar, roasted sesame seeds, and herbs. Mix it all together making sure the strawberries are well coated. If you are adding almonds, add them now.

• Add the balsamic vinegar and mix it all together.

• Cover the bowl with cling wrap and keep it in the fridge for 1-2 hours. The bowl should have juices on the bottom. Toss it all together, making sure the strawberries are well coated.

• Cover it again and keep it in the fridge for 40-80 mins. Toss it again and use it.

• Serve it cold as it is or here are some serving suggestions:

• Top some feta cheese crumbles and place it on a bed of rocket leaves and arugula.

• Serve it with pancakes, waffles, crepes.

• It is also delicious just with ice cream or whipped cream.

• Even great as bruschetta on crispy bread.

Notes/Tips:

• The longer you let it sit, the more flavor it soaks up, ideally let it sit 3-4 hours up to overnight.

• It lasts well in the fridge for 2-3 days.

• Do not replace balsamic vinegar with any other kind of vinegar

• You can add in any other nuts or seeds like pumpkin seeds, pecans, walnuts, etc.

• You can even make this salad with other fruits if you like mango and pineapple.