One Fruit, Many Uses – Strawberry Mint & Lemon Drink + Strawberry & Goat’s Cheese Salad

The weather has definitely turned warm and we’re having something of a strawberry summer. So if you see an onslaught of strawberry recipes here, please bear with me! I keep thinking of novel ways to use up the fruit before another batch appears. Today we’re making strawberry icecream – perfect for a sunny day. Earlier this week, I made a refreshing strawberry mint drink with a dash of lemon and alcohol to cool us down after a long day outdoors.

I’ve never made a salad using strawberries but have come across quite a few recipes for it, so I gave it a go myself. Turns out this is one versatile fruit that can be put to many uses. And that’s good news because there are plenty more ripe strawberries waiting to be picked in the garden!

So even if you don’t have a bounty of fruit in the backyard, go ahead and try these simple recipes with store or market bought strawberries. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Strawberry & Mint Drink with Lemon & White Wine

Add about 500g strawberries (rinsed and hulled), a handful of fresh mint leaves roughly chopped, juice of half a lemon, half a cup of white wine and a dash of liquer such as kirsch or creme de cassis to the blender jar. Throw in some sugar – about 100g or according to taste. Blend it all until nice and smooth.

Pour the liquid into a jug and refrigerate until ready to serve. I added the alcohol to give it a boozy kick but you can leave it out to keep it child friendly.

It is truly a refreshing summer cooler. Go on, try it out!

Strawberry & Goat’s Cheese Salad – serves 4

about 300g lettuce or other salad greens

about 300g strawberries – rinsed and hulled

200g crumbly goat’s cheese

For the dressing

2tsp olive oil

1tsp balsamic vinegar

1tsp mustard – I used Maille mustard flavoured with raspberries and basil that gave the dressing a lovely dark shade

1tsp runny honey – or how muchever is required to tone down the sharpness of the dressing

a dash of salt and pepper

Place the salad leaves and strawberries in a large salad bowl. Crumble the goat’s cheese on top. Mix all the ingredients for the dressing together in a small bowl and add a little of it to the salad. Mix the salad together and add more dressing if required.