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A berry tasty start to summer

Summer is here and with the warmer, brighter season, we welcome one of Ireland’s favourite summer fruits, the delicious strawberry

Bord Bia is encouraging people to ‘Celebrate Strawberry Season’ and enjoy the naturally sweet and healthy fruit in their summer meals.
Bord Bia is encouraging people to ‘Celebrate Strawberry Season’ and enjoy the naturally sweet and healthy fruit in their summer meals.
Wed Jun 09 2021 - 09:00

For many, the availability of locally grown, fresh strawberries mark the beginning of summer.

Strawberries are tastiest when in season from May to November in Ireland. They are a delicious fruit to enjoy as a snack or as a great central ingredient to many dishes – strawberries are the breakfast time hero; add punch and sweetness to a fresh salad recipe; and elevate summer desserts with an explosion of flavour.

Bord Bia is encouraging people to ‘Celebrate Strawberry Season’ and enjoy the naturally sweet and healthy fruit in their summer meals. Quality-assured strawberries are grown by a network of Irish strawberry growers and are widely available to purchase in supermarkets nationwide.

The healthy treat

Not only are strawberries loved for their unique, sweet taste, but the fruit is also popular for its nutritional benefits. Including just one portion (approx. 80g) of strawberries in meals or as a snack provides almost 100 per cent of the daily requirement of vitamin C, which contributes to the normal function of the immune system and reduces tiredness and fatigue. Eating strawberries is a fantastic way to hydrate naturally and they also contain fibre, contributing to the overall function of the digestive system.

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Strawberry storage tips

To best enjoy your fresh strawberries this summer:

  1. Store in the fridge.
  2. Do not remove the stalks until you are ready to use.
  3. When ready to eat or cook with, remove their stalks, wash them in water and serve.

Strawberry inspiration

Try these quick, easy strawberry recipes for a delicious taste of summer, packed full of nutritional goodness.

Strawberry yoghurt bark

This simple strawberry bark recipe is quick to prepare and a sweet snack that the kids will love.

Time: 5 minutes preparation, cool overnight

Ingredients

  • 300g fresh strawberries chopped
  • 500g yoghurt
  • 2 tsp. honey
  • 100g granola
  • 2 tbsp. pumpkin seeds
  • 1½ tbsp. coconut flakes

Method

  1. Mix the yoghurt and honey together in a large bowl.
  2. Line a rectangular-shaped tin with parchment paper.
  3. Transfer the mixture from the bowl and spread evenly along the bottom of the tin.
  4. Press the fresh strawberries into the yogurt mixture and spread the granola, pumpkin seeds and coconut flakes over the top.
  5. Place in a freezer for 1 hour, or until completely frozen.
  6. When frozen, remove the tin from the freezer, and cut into even slices.
  7. Serve strawberry yogurt back immediately or keep in a freezer for up to 30 days.

Strawberry smoothie bowl

Quick and easy to prepare, strawberry smoothie bowls are the perfect brunch or breakfast dish this summer.

Time: 5 minutes preparation (serves 2)

Ingredients

  • 250g fresh strawberries
  • 200ml milk
  • 1½ bananas
  • 1 tsp. vanilla essence
  • 1 tbsp. almonds
  • 1 tbsp. coconut flakes
  • 1 tbsp. pumpkin seeds

Method

  1. Chop 200g of fresh strawberries and 1 banana and leave in the freezer until frozen.
  2. In a high-powered blender, add the frozen strawberries, frozen banana, vanilla essence, and milk. Blend the ingredients on the high setting until smooth.
  3. When blended and smooth, transfer the mixture to a serving bowl.
  4. Top the smoothie bowl mixture with 50g of fresh strawberries sliced, ½ banana, almonds, coconut flakes and pumpkin seeds. Feel free to add other toppings of choice like chia seeds, granola, etc.

Three-ingredient strawberry ice-cream

Nothing quite says summer like strawberry ice-cream – try this healthy recipe using only three ingredients.

Time: 10 minutes (serves 4)

Ingredients

  • 20 strawberries, hulled and chopped
  • 2 bananas, sliced
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Method

  1. In a sealable freezer bag, combine three-quarters of the chopped strawberries with the banana slices. Seal and place in the freezer for 3-4 hours. Place the remaining chopped strawberries in the fridge.
  2. Transfer the frozen fruit to the bowl of a food processor. Whizz for five minutes or until creamy. Stir in the vanilla extract and reserved strawberries.
  3. Serve immediately as soft serve ice cream, or freeze in an airtight container for 2-3 hours. Allow to sit at room temperature for 2-3 minutes before scooping and serving.

[ bordbia.ie ]

The #CelebrateStrawberrySeason campaign is organised by Bord Bia and promoted by Irish Soft Fruit Growers Association, in partnership with the IFA.