Strawberry Balsamic Salsa is a sweet, tangy, refreshing summer fruit salsa that’s perfect for utilizing your farmer’s market haul of berries and herbs!
I’ve become such a fan of fresh fruit salsas the past few years. Don’t get me wrong: I love a good bowl of traditional garden salsa, or a tangy salsa verde. But, sweet, ripe summer fruits make incredible salsas that are perfect for dipping and using in a multitude of recipes from breakfast to dessert.
One of my favorite fruit salsa recipes is this Strawberry Balsamic Salsa. I combine juicy diced berries with a splash of balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, cracked black pepper, and fresh herbs. The berries macerate in the sugar and vinegar and produce a rich, sweet-tangy elixir. It’s a refreshing combination of savory and sweet on a hot summer day.
Making Strawberry Balsamic Salsa – Quick and Easy!
This recipe doesn’t take long to make and is perfect for busy summer schedules. It’s best served shortly after it’s made, as the berries will continue to release their juices the longer the salsa sits.
For best results, you’ll want to find the sweetest summer strawberries available. If you end up with a basket that’s more to the tart side, you can always add additional brown sugar, to taste, to balance out the flavors.
Bear in mind that balsamic vinegar introduces another layer of tang to the salsa, so if you’re starting with especially tart berries, you’ll want to reduce the vinegar slightly and/or add more sugar. Play around with the proportions to find the balance that works best for your particular strawberry haul.
Serve it up!
The uses for Strawberry Balsamic Salsa are pretty much endless. It’s great on waffles, in lunch wraps, and even on top of ice cream. But, when serving this recipe, I most often turn to what I’ve come to call the “4-C’s” of Strawberry Balsamic Salsa: Chips, Chicken, Crostini, and (Short)Cake.
Chips: Lightly-salted or cinnamon-sugar pita chips are great for dipping.
Chicken: Use the salsa to top grilled chicken breasts.
Crostini: Spread toasted baguette slices with mascarpone cheese (sweetened with honey, if desired), and top with dollops of the strawberry balsamic salsa.
(Short)Cake: Fill layers of buttermilk biscuits with lightly-sweetened whipped cream and spoonfuls of strawberry salsa.
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Strawberry Balsamic Salsa
The amount of brown sugar you use in this salsa will depend on how sweet your strawberries are. I've had to go up to 3 tablespoons of sugar when I've gotten tart berries. Taste your berries before preparing the salsa and adjust as needed.
Ingredients
- 1 pound strawberries, trimmed and cut into 1/4-inch dice
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1-3 tablespoons light brown sugar, depending on how sweet your berries are
- 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper, plus additional, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
Instructions
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Stir together strawberries, balsamic vinegar, light brown sugar, and black pepper. Let stand 15 minutes. Stir in basil and mint. Season to taste with additional black pepper. Serve!
Serving ideas
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Dip with your favorite crackers or pita chips.
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Top grilled chicken, steak, or fish.
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Make crostini: spread slices of toasted baguette with mascarpone cheese and top with a dollop of strawberry balsamic salsa. If desired, sweeten mascarpone with a bit of honey (stir in about 1 tablespoon to a cup of cheese, to taste).
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Make shortcakes: Layer lightly-sweetened whipped cream and strawberry balsamic salsa onto your favorite biscuits!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Wow this looks fantastic. I cannot wait till the fresh berries are ready here. Love the use of balsamic here….such a great pairing. I would eat this for dessert no problem.
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes says
I absolutely LOVE strawberry salsa (especially with cinnamon pita chips!). I never thought about adding balsamic to the salsa though- this sounds fantastic!!!
Donna says
OH yum, this sounds like the perfect way to use up seasonal strawberries, we always buy way too many at the markets, but I never tjink to use them in savory dishes.