Try our refreshing Summer Berry Salad to finish off dinner on a hot day instead of a calorie-laden dessert. With only a few ingredients it is quick and easy to make but oh so delicious!
A mix of brightly coloured berries are perfumed with aromatic basil and drizzled with sticky balsamic glaze.
We served ours with a simple Madagascar vanilla ice-cream, but it would also pair well with whipped ricotta or fresh cream.
These miniature balls of sweetness are at their best during the summer months, but did you know that strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are not true berries but considered aggregate fruits?
What berries go well together for this Berry Salad?
You can use any combination of berries you like in this salad there are just so many to choose from – juicy strawberries, antioxidant-rich blueberries, sweet raspberries, or even luscious blackberries.
For this salad, I used a combination of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. It is entirely up to you what mix of berries you would like to use for this salad they are all just wonderful together.
Just keep in mind that blackberries and raspberries do not have a long shelf life, so you will want to use them within a day or two of purchasing.
Also, remember to look carefully in the packs to make sure that there aren’t any bad berries in there which will quickly spread to the other berries in the pack.
Can I use other herbs?
There are also several different herbs that will go well in this berry salad, I have used mint with its fresh clean aroma, menthol flavour and sweet overtones.
I have also used coriander (cilantro) with its mild clean, citrus flavour and replaced the balsamic glaze with 3 tablespoons of lime juice and ½ teaspoon of honey for another take on this berry salad.
How to make your Berry Salad…
1Start with clean berries.
First, place your strawberries in a colander and rinse well under gently running cold water, so as not to damage them. Strawberries absorb water easily so that is why it is best to wash and then hull them. Leave them in your colander to drain.
Place all the remaining berries in a separate colander and rinse well under gently running cold water. Again, leave them in your colander to drain.
2Prepare your basil.
While your berries are draining, rinse your basil under cold running water, pat dry with a towel and then cut chiffonade.
Chiffonade is a slicing technique where leafy green vegetables and herbs are cut into long, thin strips. To do this stack the leaves on top of each other, gently roll them into a cigar, and then use a sharp knife to slice them into thin ribbons.
3Putting your berry salad together.
Using some paper towel, gently pat dry your strawberries then hull them, remove any damaged parts and cut them in half. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Gently pat dry the rest of your berries discarding any damaged ones then add to your bowl.
Add the balsamic glaze and the basil chiffonade to your bowl and toss gently, being very careful not to damage them, until the berries, basil and balsamic glaze are mixed well together.
Arrange in a salad bowl and place in the fridge to chill until you are ready to serve.
How do I keep my fruit salad fresh?
This Berry Salad is best served fresh on the day it is served, but it will keep in the fridge for a day or two.
You can prepare the berries 12 hours in advance if you like, just wash them under gently cold running water, and dry them thoroughly with paper towels. It is important that the berries are as dry as possible otherwise they will spoil.
You can easily make a nice fresh berry compote with the leftovers, just place 1 cup of the berries and 1-2 teaspoons of sugar in a small saucepan and simmering gently on medium until the sugar dissolves and the fruit collapses (approximately 10 minutes).
This is just superb for breakfast with coconut yoghurt or Greek yoghurt with some nuts or seeds on top.
Another great way to use up any leftover berry salad would be in a summer berry pudding!
Try some more salad recipes using berries…
SUMMER BERRY SALAD WITH BALSAMIC
Ingredients
- 1,300 grams mixed berries (I used strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries)
- 2 large stems of basil
- 3 tbsps balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Wash your berries under gently running cold water, allow to drain and pat dry gently.
- Hull your strawberries and cut them in half. Transfer all your berries to a large mixing bowl.
- Shred your basil leaves chiffonade and add to your bowl.
- Add the balsamic glaze to your mixing bowl and gently toss your salad being careful not to damage your berries.
- Transfer to a salad bowl and chill in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
We have a tradition in our family of getting together once a week at Mum’s house for “Family Dinner Night”. Mum was always responsible for getting the meat and starch side of the dinner organised and it was always my responsibility to do the salads and vegetable sides. It was always a huge production with the dinner table groaning under the strain of the variety of dishes created.
