Click here for some Strawberry recipes…
Nothing says “Hello Summer” quite like a bowl of juicy strawberries ripened to perfection. Although strawberries are increasingly available year-round, they are at their peak in Ireland in June, July and August, when they are most abundant and most delicious.
Luckily Ireland has a climate that’s suited to growing soft fruits. When you buy freshly grown fruit, you’ll be getting berries that are picked when approaching their peak of ripeness. Fruits and 
vegetables contain their highest level of nutrients when they are harvested and eaten as soon as possible, with minimal processing. Just like our best-in-season strawberries.
We are all encouraged to ‘eat 5 a day‘ but there’s no law to say when it comes to eating your favourite fruit, that it can’t be pleasurable or even downright indulgent! So if you find it hard to chop a banana over your cereal or to eat that apple at break-time, the good news is just eight to ten strawberries (depending on their size) counts as one serving of your 5 a day.
The strawberry has earned its place as a key ingredient in classic summer desserts like strawberry pavlova, summer berry pudding or simply served with cream or a drop of Balsamic vinegar. It’s an absolute shame however to limit strawberries to the dessert bowl. They are so versatile and have so much more to offer.
The fragrantly sweet juiciness and deep red colour of strawberries can brighten up both the taste and appearance of any meal. It’s no wonder they are the most popular berry fruit in the world . To enjoy them at their very best always bring them to room temperature before serving.
Here are some suggestions to help ensure day-long enjoyment of strawberries while they are in season:
At Breakfast Time
- Liven up a wholegrain cereal by topping it with sliced strawberries
- Serve strawberries with skinny pancakes, ricotta and a drizzle of honey for a decadent Sunday morning brunch
- Whiz strawberries with a dessert spoon of oats, low-fat probiotic yoghurt and ice-cubes for a refreshing smoothie
- Stew some rhubarb with a little orange juice and serve with chopped strawberries and low-fat natural probiotic yoghurt
- Layer sliced strawberries, whole raspberries, blueberries and natural probiotic yoghurt in a wineglass to make a parfait treat
At Lunch Time
- Top some wholegrain seeded crackers with some low-fat cream cheese or ricotta and sliced strawberries
- Try a salad of mustardy rocket leaves, chopped strawberries and some strong-flavoured feta or goat’s cheese, with a balsamic or lemon dressing
- Finish your lunch with a scoop of low-fat natural probiotic yoghurt and some sliced strawberries, topped with a dessert spoon of toasted almonds
At Dinner Time
- Have a refreshing starter with a slice of ripe melon with strawberries and mint leaves
- Add finely chopped strawberries to a tomato salsa for natural sweetness and enjoy with grilled chicken or homemade burgers from the BBQ
- Make a delicious crumble with strawberries, rhubarb and an oat topping scattered with chopped nuts and seeds
- Blend raspberries with a little bit of orange juice and use as a refreshing marinade for BBQ chicken and prawns
And also perfect for a quick snack
- Sprinkle halved strawberries with a little balsamic vinegar to bring out their natural sweetness