Our visit to our local farm to pick-our-own strawberries has always been a traditional way for us to kick-start summer. Ontario’s berries aren’t the biggest, but they are certainly among the most delicious. We’ve rounded up our favourite simple Strawberry Recipes to Enjoy All Summer long, including a new salad recipe we just devoured this weekend. They’re all BERRY good, if I do say so myself ;), and most no-cook ideas to give you a summer stove/oven sabbatical! Some of my most beloved meals are made in the summer – nothing beats fresh Canadian farm hauls colliding with Italian-inspired recipes! Buon appetito!
Messy Strawberry Caprese Salad Recipe
One of my favourite ways to enjoy salads all summer is swapping the usual tomato suspects with in-season berries and fruit. This Messy Strawberry Caprese is my new addiction! Combining a Spring Mix-Arugula blend, ripe strawberries, fresh mozzarella cheese & basil, sprinkled with salt and pepper and drizzled with a balsamic glaze – no exact portions required for this one, as much as you like, as much as you need! (quanto basta!)
Another fancy without the fuss recipe – try our Messy Strawberry Caprese Salad
Messy Strawberry Caprese Salad | La Cucina di Kerrs
Ingredients
- 2 handfuls EACH, Spring Mix Lettuce & Arugla If making a family portion, increase amount of lettuce/arugula. You can make the salad with either/or also. I just prefer the blend of Spring Mix-Arugula
- 1/2 ball Mozzarella Fresca rip into small pieces
- 1 handful Fresh Strawberries sliced length-wise in half
- coarse salt & ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Balsamic reduction to taste
- Fresh basil chopped, for garnish - to taste
Instructions
- Add your lettuce/arugula to your salad bowl. Increase amount if serving a bigger crowd.
- Take your portion for Mozzarella Fresca and tear into smaller pieces. Add over top of the lettuce blend.
- Add your sliced strawberries to the salad. Add olive oil to the salad, sprinkle salt & pepper over top, and drizzle your balsamic glaze to taste. Garnish with freshly chopped basil. Enjoy immediately. Serve with fresh baguette or homemade crostini. Delish! Tag us on @House_of_Kerrs #LaCucinadiKerrs if you enjoy this recipe with your family!
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Strawberry Bruschetta Recipe – Two Delish Ways
One of our most shared recipes from La Cucina di Kerrs, and I completely get why – it’s yum-aze and such a simple appetizer or aperitivo to enjoy with company outdoors. We make ours two ways – one with goat cheese, the other with ricotta for our friends who don’t like pungent cheese. You can lay the strawberry bruschetta on freshly sliced baguette, or overtop our homemade crostini.
Strawberry Bruschetta Recipe below! ©House of Kerrs – All Rights Reserved
Strawberry Bruschetta - Two Ways
Equipment
- Large baking sheet
Ingredients
- 113 g soft fresh goat cheese *any from your grocer's specialty cheese section*
- 475 g fresh Ricotta cheese *we use Tre Stelle's reduced fat version*
- handful very ripe strawberries sliced
- 1 fresh loaf of Artisan/Italian Bread or Baguette make 3/4 inch slices on an angle
- Balsamic Glaze *the best ones are "Made in Modena, Italy*
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil enough to brush on top of sliced bread
- coarse salt enough to sprinkle a pinch on top of each toast
- fresh basil & arugula chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Wash & remove green tops of the berries. Slice length-wise.
- Slice bread into ¾ inch slices on an angle & lay out on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Drizzle or brush the tops of each bread slice with olive oil & sprinkle with a pinch of coarse salt and bake until tops are lightly golden (~6-8 mins depending on strength of your oven).
- Spread each toast with a generous amount of cheese (goat, ricotta or mix of both). Top each with 2-3 slices of the strawberries. Add chopped arugula to the ricotta-topped toast, and basil to the goat-cheese version. Place on a serving tray & drizzle balsamic glaze over each slice. That's it! Makes about 12 slices & 6 portions (*depending on the size of baguette you start with*) Buon appetito! Tag us at @House_of_Kerrs on Instagram or comment below if you try!
Strawberry Pizza Bianca with Herbed Ricotta Recipe
An original recipe by La Cucina di Kerrs, and one of my berry favourites! Slice this strawberry zah up and lay out for all day nibbling at the cottage or by the pool. Make it a meal and pair with our Messy Strawberry Caprese Salad, or another from our “Salads That Don’t Suck” series! So fragola delish!
Strawberry Pizza Bianca with Herbed Ricotta | La Cucina di Kerrs
Equipment
- Sheet pan
Ingredients
- 1 ball of fresh pizza dough *we use a bagged store-bought version - approx. 650 grams*
- 6 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil *approx. 4 tbsp to grease your sheet pan, 2 tbsp to brush on top of your dough*
- 1 handful ripe strawberries *wash & slice length-wise*
- 1 tbsp dried, crushed basil to sprinkle on top of the dough and blend with the olive oil - you can also use fresh basil here.
- Fresh basil leaves *for garnish - as much as you like*
- Balsamic Glaze *optional - to drizzle on top before serving*
Herbed Ricotta
- 1¼ cups Ricotta *we use a light version*
- 4 leaves fresh basil *chopped - for the herbed ricotta*
- 2 cloves fresh garlic minced
- flake salt & ground black pepper *to taste - we used about pinch each*
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil *a splash to mix in - optional*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease your sheet pan with olive oil & spread out your pizza dough.
- Drizzle some olive oil on top of the spread dough, sprinkle some basil over top & brush to evenly coat. Using your finger, add dimples to the dough where you want to lay your sliced strawberries & lay out your berries accordingly.
- In a small mixing bowl, add the garlic, basil, salt + pepper and splash of olive oil to your ricotta cheese and mix well. Add a dollop of the herbed ricotta sporadically on top of your strawberry adorned dough (about 6-7 spoonfuls).
- Bake your pizza on the middle rack of your oven approx. 15-20 minutes (+/- depending on the strength of your oven). The pizza is done when the bottom is crisp and golden (*check at the 10 minute mark*). If you want to cook the ricotta on top a bit more, set your oven to BROIL, and cook until desired doneness (watch closely so as to not burn the top!).
- Remove the pizza from the oven and let cool approx. 5 minutes before slicing with a pizza cutter. Serve on your favourite food board, garnish with fresh basil leaves! Optional: add a drizzle of balsamic glaze! Enjoy with your favourite Summer salad for a meal, or as an al fresco dining appetizer! This Strawberry Pizza Bianca with Herbed Ricotta pairs wonderfully with your favourite Vino Bianco or Prosecco! Buon appetito! Tag us on social @House_of_Kerrs if you try this original family recipe!
Notes
Your unique Strawberry laden Summer appy solved! Try our Strawberry Pizza Bianca with Herbed Ricotta recipe!
Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream Cake
Easy Ice Cream Cake Alert, made with crumbled cookies, fresh strawberries & ice cream sandwiches!
We hope we’ve inspired you to try one of these strawberry recipes with your family this season. If you do, tag us on social @House_of_Kerrs – we love seeing you create in your Cucinas together!
Strawberry Creek Farm – sweet pitstop to pick-your-own Strawberries in Ontario
More posts you may enjoy:
Where to Pick-Your-Own-Strawberries in Ontario
No-Cooking Required Family Recipes and Food Plates
Keep well, eat well & buon appetito!
What delicious recipes to have a fun and tasty summer.
Thank you 🙂 The Messy Strawberry Caprese Salad is my latest way to love on farm fresh berries!