Strawberry Season has arrived! Make the Most of Nature’s Sweet Treat

Strawberry Season has arrived!

It is officially strawberry season, when there is an abundance of the nation’s favourite fruit on shelves from local growers. Strawberries are nature’s treat, providing a naturally sweet zing to any dish throughout the day. Whether you’re meal-prepping your breakfasts for the week, hosting a summer soiree, or looking for a tasty and nutritious snack – strawberries are the perfect choice for any meal occasion.

Strawberries are tastiest when they are enjoyed in the natural growing season, which in Ireland is from May to October. Bord Bia is encouraging people to celebrate strawberry season and enjoy this naturally sweet and healthy fruit in their summer meals. Bord Bia Quality-Assured strawberries are grown by a network of local strawberry growers around the country and are widely available to purchase in supermarkets and many retail outlets nationwide.

The Nutritional Benefits of Strawberries 

Known for their distinctive and delicious taste, strawberries are also popular for its many nutritional benefits. By incorporating just one portion (approx. 80g) of strawberries in meals or as a snack, almost 100% of the daily requirement of Vitamin C is provided. Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system and helps to reduce tiredness and fatigue. Strawberries also have a high-water content, acting as a natural way to hydrate and while small, the berries are also a source of fibre, which contributes to the overall function of the digestive system.

Here are three quick, easy strawberry recipes to try this summer

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Poppy-Seed Dressing

A tasty balance of sweet and savoury, this salad is perfect to prepare for summer dinner parties with friends and family.

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

For the Salad:

• 300g fresh spinach
• 400g strawberries, washed, de-stemmed and quartered
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• 100g goat’s cheese, crumbled (optional)

For the Dressing:

• 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 3 tbsp cold-pressed Irish rapeseed oil
• 1½ tbsp poppy seeds
• 1½ tbsp honey
• ½ tsp Dijon mustard
• Salt and black pepper

For the croutons:

• 120g leftover bread or crusts, cut into 1cm cubes
• 2 tablesp. rapeseed or olive oil
• 2 teasp. dried basil
• Salt and black pepper
• Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 5, 190˚C (375˚F) for the croutons. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, drizzle olive oil over the pieces of bread, then sprinkle with the basil, and some salt and pepper.
• Toss gently until well combined, then spread the bread out in a single layer on the prepared baking tray.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown, turning once halfway through cooking in order to brown all sides of the croutons. Check them often to be sure that they do not burn.
• Once cooked, set aside to cool.
• In a small bowl, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients until well combined. (Alternatively, shake together in a jar with a tight-fitting lid). Season to taste.
• Place the spinach in a large serving bowl. Add the strawberries and scallions. Drizzle about half of the dressing over the salad and toss to coat the leaves.
• Top with the croutons and goat’s cheese, if desired. Serve immediately, with the remaining dressing in a jug on the side.

Strawberry Smoothie Bowl

The perfect way to get plenty of strawberries into an easy-to-make breakfast or lunch that everyone in the family will enjoy. 

Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 200-250g Bord Bia Quality Mark strawberries, fresh or from frozen.
• 2 small bananas
• 6 tablesp. Greek-style yoghurt
• 2 teasp. coconut flakes
• 4 tablesp. granola (shop-bought)
• 1 teasp. chia seeds
• Fresh mint sprigs, to decorate (optional)
• If using fresh strawberries, cut off the stalks and put into a blender, reserving a few of the berries for decoration.
• Peel the bananas and cut into slices, then add three-quarters into a blender (reserving the rest to decorate).
• Add the yoghurt and blitz to a smooth puree and using a spatula put into small serving bowls. Place in the freezer for a few hours at this point to firm up.
• Decorate the smoothie bowls with the rest of the banana, reserved strawberries, the coconut flakes and sprinkle over the granola and chia seeds.
• Finish off with with the mint sprigs and enjoy!

Overnight Strawberry Oats

The perfect meal prep-able breakfast, snack, or dessert for anyone on the go.

Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 50g porridge oats
• 2 tablesp. chia seeds
• 300ml milk (use any milk you like)
• 200-250g Bord Bia Quality Mark strawberries
• 120ml Greek style or natural yoghurt
• 2 tablesp. toasted flaked almonds
• 2 teasp. Honey (optional)
• Place the oats, chia seeds and milk in a bowl or Tupperware container and cover with clingfilm or a lid and chill overnight.
• Cut the stalks off the strawberries and place half of them in a jug and using a hand-held stick blender blitz until smooth.
• If you are warming the oats, heat them gently in a small pan. Divide into bowls or jars and swirl in the strawberry puree. Add the yoghurt and decorate with the remaining strawberries and almonds.
• You can finish it off with a drizzle of honey or enjoy the natural sweetness from the strawberries!

Celebrate Strawberry Season is part of Bord Bia’s annual Best in Season campaign. Organised by Bord Bia in cooperation with the Irish Soft Fruit Growers Association and the IFA. The campaign encourages people to enjoy more strawberries throughout the whole Irish season (May to October). Celebrate Strawberry Season is a promotional campaign which offers innovative and inspiring ways of including strawberries at all mealtimes throughout the day.