10 Top Summer Strawberry Ideas for Picnics and Parties

There’s nothing that says spring is nearly here quite like the arrival of the summer strawberry.  Sure, you can get strawberries all year round these days and they are good quality products.  But here in the UK, there’s something a little special about the arrival of the first strawberries of the summer.  It means that the sunshine should be coming and we can start to think about picnics and outdoor parties.  So here are a range of recipes and ideas that mix the two.

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Strawberry health benefits

Because they are so tasty and such a bright red shade, it is easy to forget that strawberries are also very good for you in a range of different ways, as are many other berries such as blueberries and cranberries.  This is because they have plenty of antioxidants in them as well as vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to remain healthy.

For example, strawberries contain around 150% of the daily recommended allowance of Vitamin C in a single portion.  This helps to boost the immune system and lets it fight back everything from summer colds and flu to infections, toxins and other foreign bodies.  It is also an antioxidant that helps combat the damage caused by free radicals.

Vitamin C is one of a number of substances in strawberries that have been linked to having anti-carcinogen properties – in other words, fight against cancer.  These include folate, anthocyanins and quercetin.  These free radicals and others in the little berries have also shown signs of helping combat the ageing process including helping with brain function, arthritis and eye condition.  While strawberries aren’t going to cure these problems, they can help the body fight against them.

Strawberry smoothies

While just eating strawberries is the easiest way to get the benefits, smoothies are a fun way to get additional benefits, hydration and a great tasting drink.  Plus you can pop them in a flask to keep them cool and take them with you.

Summer strawberry smoothie ideas include:

Banana strawberry Smoothie

This is always the starting point when trying smoothies – the combination of strawberries and bananas with either a favourite milk, ice cream or yoghurt is simple, takes almost no work and is so tasty. 

If you want to double the flavour, use some best strawberry ice cream in place of vanilla.  You can use cow’s milk or something like soy milk while the yoghurt can be any type you like.  You can also add a spoonful of honey to sweeten it further.

Strawberry and Peach Smoothie

For a tropical alternative, take a cup of strawberries and half a cup of peaches with one cup plain yoghurt and half a cup of coconut water.  You can blend the mixture and split between two glasses then garnish with a half strawberry each.

Avocado Strawberry Layered Smoothie

Strawberries work well with avocado in a smoothie to add flavour while building on the goodness.

• 1/2 avocado, stoned, peeled and cut into chunks
• 3/4 cup strawberries
• 4 tbsp natural yoghurt
• 7 ounces milk
• Lemon or lime juice 
• Honey

Add the ingredients to the blender and mix until smooth then add lemon or lime juice and honey to taste.  If the mixture is a little thin, add a touch more strawberries or if too thick, add a little water.

You can also cut down on the milk content to make a smoothie bowl and enjoy eating it with a spoon. Add a few nuts on top with a sliced strawberry and a couple of pieces of avocado to decorate for this option.

Strawberry salads

Summer is definitely the time when salads make a big place on our menu planners and while strawberries definitely fall into the sweet category, they can also be used in these dishes.  Summer salads with strawberries are fresh, tasty and easy to make.

Strawberry and Spinach Salad

One simple example is to mix a salad with spinach as the greens and strawberries for flavour. You can top with almonds or swap for something like walnuts.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon minced onion
• 10 ounces fresh spinach – rinsed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces
• 1 quart strawberries – cleaned, hulled and sliced
• 1/4 cup almonds, blanched and slivered

Directions

1. Use a medium-size bowl stir together the poppy seeds, sesame seeds, olive oil, vinegar, paprika, sugar Worcestershire sauce and onion.
2. Cover, and refrigerate for an hour.
3. Combine the spinach, strawberries and almonds. Pour dressing over salad, and toss.

Strawberry & Fennel Salad

Another variation is to combine strawberries and fennel in a salad with a simple homemade vinaigrette. It takes just 15 minutes to prepare and will serve four.

Dressing Ingredients:

• ¼ c. extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 T. rice wine vinegar
• 1 t. Dijon mustard
• ½ t. Italian seasoning
• Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Salad Ingredients:

• 2 c. baby spinach, rinsed and patted dry
• 2 c. baby arugula, rinsed and patted dry
• 1 medium fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced
• 1 c. strawberries, sliced
• 4 oz. Feta cheese, crumbled
• Optional: Sprigs of fresh basil, for garnish

Directions:

1. Prepare dressing by whisking together all ingredients in a glass or other non-reactive bowl. Taste and adjust seasonings, as desired. Transfer to a serving container and set aside.
2. Arrange the spinach and arugula on a serving platter and top with sliced fennel, strawberries, and Feta cheese.
3. Serve immediately with chilled salad plates and dressing on the side.

Tip: If preferred, toss the spinach and arugula with the salad dressing prior to arranging on the platter.

Strawberry cakes

Ask anyone who likes homemade cakes what the best strawberry cake recipe is and they will all have their favourites.  For some it is a classic cheesecake decorated with strawberries while others like a nice cake with buttercream icing.  I’m a cupcake person and there’s nothing nicer than a strawberry flavoured cupcake with creamy icing and a touch of strawberry flavouring.  If you are cooking for adults, you can always use a little strawberry liqueur in place of the flavouring.

Triple Berry Layer Cake

• 1 strawberry cake mix
• 1 cup strawberry jam
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, halved
• 1 cup fresh blackberryies
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 container whipped topping (8 oz)

Set aside 3-4 fresh berries from each kind

Directions:

1. Using two round cake pans, bake the cake according to package directions.
2. Once cooled, place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread half of the strawberry jam over the top.
3. Arrange half of the fresh berries on the jam and cover with half of the whipped topping.
4. Carefully add the second cake layer on top of the first layer and repeat the process with the remaining jam, fruit and whipped topping.
5. Garnish with reserved berries.
6. Refrigerate until ready to serve

Alcoholic strawberry drinks

Talking of strawberry liqueur, that other staple of the outdoor party is the cocktail and there are loads of different ways you can incorporate the summer strawberry into them.

Bacardi strawberry daiquiri

You can use any white rum for the daiquiri but there’s no going past that Bacardi is one of the best.  For this you need 35ml rum, 1 tbsp. strawberry liqueur, 25ml lime juice, 4 fresh strawberries and 2 teaspoons of sugar.  Add them to a cocktail shaker and use a muddler to mix together.  Strain through the top of the shaker and garnish with half a strawberry.

Strawberry margarita

Another classic cocktail reborn into a strawberry form is the margarita.  To make four glasses of the mixture, take 2 cups of crushed ice, ½ cup of pureed strawberries, 1 cup tequila and the juice of two limes.  Add a splash of Triple Sec of Cointreau and the same amount of simple sugar syrup.  Blend until smooth and serve.

Strawberry Rose Sangria

Sangria is the perfect help-yourself drink for an outdoor party and this recipe makes use of strawberries and sparkling rose wine.  To make it you need:

• 2 cups strawberries
• 1 orange
• 1 lemon
• 1 bottle sparkling rose wine
• ¼ cup brandy or cognac
• 2 tablespoons simple syrup
• 2 cups sparkling water

Combine the fruit in a pitcher and muddle with a spoon or muddler.  Separately add the syrup to the brandy then add this and the wine to the pitcher.  Chill for around an hour then add the water as you serve.

Strawberry Dream

For a non-alcoholic cocktail that you can even give to the kids then this recipe is perfect.  All you need are four whole strawberries, 2 basil leaves, 2 parts vanilla ice cream and 2 parts cream.  Muddle the fruit and basil in a shaker then add the ice cream and cream.  Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.

Summer fun

The arrival of the summer strawberry always inspires me to start finding ways to eat or drink them with smoothies being a first choice.  My Ninja Blender cuts through them nicely to make a smooth consistency and they are a great way to getting all the health benefits of these bright red berries.  And it always seems impolite not to try a cocktail or two with them!

What’s your favourite summer strawberry recipe?  And what do you enjoy eating in the summer that just isn’t the same at other times of the year?