So – how much have you been loving Florida strawberry season this year? Florida Strawberries have been so incredibly wonderful the past few months – and there is still time to enjoy them (FYI – Florida Strawberry season runs from December to April)! I don’t know about you, but I’ll be making a lot of my favorites. Because we are nearing the end of the season, this week the Sunday Supper family is coming together to talk about preserving these beautiful berries so you can stock up and save them in a delicious way to use later! Today I’m serving up a quick pickled strawberry salad.
One thing a lot of people automatically assume about me is that I must eat a lot of salads because I’m a vegetarian. Ok – I’ll be honest: I DO eat a ton of salads. I LOVE them. There are so many different vegetables, fruits, grains, and more that you can put together in a creative and delicious way. I could eat a salad every single day and be a happy camper. And guess what – I probably ate the same amount of salads before I became a vegetarian as well.
Anyway – moving on to today’s quick pickled strawberry salad.
There’s just something wonderful about the tang of a pickle. And making a pickled strawberry? Oh my oh my. I was slightly skeptical at first because I had never pickled fruit before I made this recipe. But you guys: it works. You’ve got sweetness from the strawberries, but the sourness and the acidity from the white wine vinegar used to pickle them. It’s a great combination in my opinion, and makes for a really delicious salad ingredient! But what is even better is using some of the pickling liquid to create the vinaigrette that tops this salad. It makes the flavor pop even more!
I wanted to put together a lot of different flavors and textures for this salad. To me, it doesn’t get much better than the peppery bite of arugula as the base of a salad. I almost always have quinoa on hand in my fridge: I usually make a large batch at the beginning of the week and then use it to top my salads, use as a side dish, or implement in some other way! Goat cheese brings the tang, and the walnuts bring a buttery (and nutty!) flavor. Of course, the star of the salad is 100% the quick pickled strawberries. I mean – who doesn’t want their salad topped with these gorgeous berries?!?!
Of course, pickled strawberries aren’t the only way I’ll be preserving my beautiful berries. I am going to take some time to freeze some Florida Strawberries in the coming weeks so I can have them on hand when Justin and I are craving strawberries in a smoothie, on top of pancakes, or in some other form! There are so many options available to help you keep Florida Strawberry season happen in your home year-round!
And now…I’m going to get back to this salad.
- For the quick pickled strawberries:
- 1 pound Florida Strawberries
- 1½ cups white wine vinegar
- ¼ cup sugar
- ⅔ cup water
- 2 tablespoons coarse salt
- For each salad:
- Baby arugula (or other greens of choice)
- ⅓ cup cooked and cooled quinoa
- ¼ cup goat cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup walnuts, chopped
- For the vinaigrette:
- 4 tablespoons pickling liquid
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ shallot, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- First, make the quick pickled strawberries. Wash the strawberries, remove the tops, and place in a 1 quart heat proof jar. In a sauce pan, bring the remaining ingredients (white wine vinegar, sugar, water, salt) to a boil. Cook and stir until the salt and sugar are dissolved into the mixture. Pour the liquid over the strawberries. Let cool, then cover and refrigerate. ***Note: pickled strawberries can be prepared up to 5 days in advance***
- To create the vinaigrette, whisk together the pickling liquid, extra virgin olive oil, and the minced shallot. Season with salt and pepper to taste. ***Note: you may have extra vinaigrette depending on how many salads are being made. This amount was for 3-4 salads***
- To assemble the salad: place the arugula, quinoa, walnuts, and goat cheese in a bowl or on a plate. Top with sliced pickled strawberries, and drizzle with the vinaigrette. Enjoy!
Do you have favorite ways to incorporate strawberries into dishes? You can get inspired with so many diverse recipes on the Florida Strawberry Pinterest Board!
In addition, make sure you become a fan of Florida Strawberry on Facebook, chat with them on Twitter, see their snaps on Instagram, and see what inspires them on Pinterest. Strawberry Sue is also on YouTube!
This post is sponsored by Florida Strawberry in conjunction with a social media campaign through Sunday Supper LLC. All opinions are my own.
Make sure you check out ALL of the creative ways the Sunday Supper Family is serving up their preserved Florida Strawberries today!
How to Preserve Strawberries
Canning
- Chocolate Strawberry Cream Whoopie Pies by Soulfully Made
- Homemade Strawberry Pie Filling by Flour On My Face
- Strawberry Kiwi Crumb Bars by Pies and Plots
- Strawberry Mint Shrub Drink by My Life Cookbook
- Strawberry-Banana Jam French Toast with Strawberry Butter by Authentically Candace
Dehydrating
- Make-Ahead Quick Oatmeal with Dehydrated Strawberries by Simple and Savory
- Strawberry Basil Chocolate Discs by Desserts Required
- Strawberry Cacao Crunch by Wholistic Woman
- Strawberry Coconut Granola using Dehydrated Strawberries by My Sweet Savings
- Strawberry Marshmallows using Dehydrated Strawberries by Recipes Food and Cooking
Freezing
- Strawberry Banana Acai Bowls by Family Foodie
- Strawberry Chutney Baked Brie by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Strawberry Lemonade Blondies by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Strawberry, Thyme, and Goat Cheese Hand Pies by Casa de Crews
Pickling
- Cod Tacos with Pickled Strawberry Slaw by Caroline’s Cooking
- Herbed Goat Cheese Crostini with Vanilla Pickled Strawberries by Books n’ Cooks
- Pickled Strawberry Cocktail by Sunday Supper Movement
- Quick Pickled Strawberry Salad by Helpful Homemade
- Strawberry Fizz Cocktail by Hardly A Goddess
- Yogurt Parfait with Pickled Strawberries by Renee’s Kitchen Adventures
The Sunday Supper Movement is committed to bringing our readers delicious recipes that encourage them to gather and eat together around the family table. Search for your favorite ingredients on our Sunday Supper website. Also check out the Sunday Supper Pinterest boards for plenty more ideas and inspiration.
Strawberries in salad are a winner for sure. Pickled ones push this over the top. Tart, sweet goodness!
I am not a vegetarian, but I still eat a salad of some kind almost every single day. I always top them with some kind of fruit as well and love the flavor combination you created here.
I love the tart, sweet pickled berries with peppery arugula. I am seriously making this soon at home!
I just love this recipe- I love how the pickling liquid is the dressing- yum!
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