Winter is my favorite time of the year in Florida for a number of reasons, not least of which is strawberry season, which runs December through April. The plump red berries are nutritious and juicy and my family and I look forward to them every year. One of my favorite things to do is come up with different ways to serve strawberries throughout the season.
The two recipes below, one savory and the other is sweet, are easy to make, healthy and refreshing. They can be made in minutes, perfect for when that unexpected guest drops by, a flavorful super bowl party appetizer, delicious bites for an afternoon tea with the girls or simply enjoy as a healthy snack. You’re sure to enjoy strawberry salsa two ways. Did you know 8 medium strawberries equal your daily requirement of vitamin C? 
What are your favorite ways to serve Florida strawberries?
Recipe 1: Tropical Strawberry Salsa
Ingredients
- 2 pints of fresh strawberries, cleaned, diced small
- ¼ cup mango, diced small
- ¼ cup kiwi, diced small
- ¼ cup papaya, diced small
- ¼ cup chopped mint
- 1-tablespoon of honey
- Juice of ½ lime
- Plantain chips
Instructions: Combine diced strawberries, mango, kiwi, and papaya in a bowl. Lightly toss together with mint, honey, and lime. Serve with plantain chips.
Recipe 2: Savory Strawberry Balsamic Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 pint of fresh strawberries, cleaned, diced small
- ¼ cup chopped basil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic reduction
- ½ shallot minced fine
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
- Herbed Goat Cheese (room temperature)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- Loaf of French, Italian or Cuban bread
Instructions: Combine with a light toss, diced strawberries, basil, and the balsamic reduction in a bowl. Let mixture set for at least an hour or more so that flavors can meld together before serving. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.Slice bread into thin pieces and brush with coconut oil. Bake until lightly browned. Spread (cooled) bread slices with goat cheese, top with salsa and fresh ground pepper.
BREAKFAST BONUS: On a side note, I had about one cup of the tropical salsa left over. I put it in a blender with 1/4 cup of vanilla yogurt, 1/4 cup of plain coconut milk and a couple of ice cubes and Voila! It made an awesome smoothie!
I love strawberry salsa (obviously), but have never made one the way you shared – so now of course we know what needs to happen in my kitchen! Good thing we have fresh Florida strawberries for several more months!
Thank you Nichole!
Fresh Florida strawberries along with these delicious recipes is happiness waiting to happen in our kitchen!
Thank you for sharing these great recipes
Delicious!!
Great way to use those delicious berries! Something about Strawberries and Balsamic that just goes!
I LOVE strawberry salsa and even better you made it two ways AND you even made a smoothie out of it!! You are a genius! I’m so excited to have a new use for my leftover salsa! Thanks!!
What great salsas and I love the bonus one too. I never would have thought to use salsa in a smoothie.
This sounds so good I may actually try to make it! We get good Florida strawberries at the farmers market on Marco Island and this would be a yummy thing to do with them.
The smoothie sounds delicious. Printed it out and can’t wait to try it ! It has all my favorite taste bud tantalizers. Good luck on you contest. Two votes from our household.