Macerated strawberries are a simple preparation made with fresh strawberries, sugar and lemon juice. You can optionally add mint leaves for extra flavor. That's it!
As a result you'll have more flavorful softer strawberries and delicious syrupy strawberry juice. This makes macerated strawberries perfect as and add-on or as a base for many recipes, including cocktails.
What does "macerated" mean?
"Macerated" means that the fruit was submerged in a liquid to soften and infuse it with flavor.
Maceration technique can be applied to raw or cooked fruits, vegetables, or herbs. Maceration liquid can also vary: water, juice, wine, strong alcohol vinegar, or a syrup, often with added sugar, spices, or other flavorings.
The purpose of maceration is to enhance the texture and flavor of the ingredient being soaked (or infuse the liquid). For fruits like berries or stone fruits, maceration helps to draw out their natural juices, making them softer and more succulent. The addition of sugar in the maceration process not only sweetens the fruit but also helps to extract moisture, creating a syrupy liquid infused with the fruit's flavor.
Table Of Contents
11 Ways To Use Macerated Strawberries
- enjoy on their own or add to Italian fruit salad
- gelato or yogurt topping
- top sweet ricotta crostini
- top pancakes or poundcakes
- Top this Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake or your favorite cheesecake
- panna cotta topping
- spoon over velvety vanilla pastry cream
- use them to make strawberry tiramisu
- make delicious and bubble strawberry prosecco cocktail
- blend, freeze and use to make strawberry lemon tea or as a sauce for your fruit salad
- Add it to Italian Lemonade for a flavorful strawberry twist.
Ingredients
- Fresh Strawberries - ideally from the farmer's market as they have the most flavor. But this recipe is also perfect to use with those sometime under-ripe or not super sweet berries as you can adjust sweetness yourself. The maceration brings the best flavor out of them.
- Sugar - white sugar has the most neutral flavor but feel free to experiment.
- Lemon - juice only so it doesn't have to be organic.
- Fresh mint leaves - optional but highly recommended.
See recipe card for quantities.
See How I Make It
Step #1: Juice lemon.
Step #2: Wash and pat dry strawberries with paper towel. Remove the hull and cut each in halves or quarters.
Step #3: Add sugar and mint leaves slight rubbed with your hands to extract more aroma.
Step #4: Let macerate for 15-30 minutes then serve.
TRY THIS: Add sliced banana to macerated strawberries and you'll have a fruit salad ready to serve!
How To Store
Macerated strawberries will keep in an air-tight container in the fridge for 1 day. Alternatively you can blend them, freeze in ice-cube trays and store in the freezer in zip-lock bags.
Top tip
Blend any leftover macerated strawberries and freeze in ice-cube trays. When frozen transfer in zip-lock bags. They are great to add to smoothies and even to make hot strawberry tea!
More Recipes Using Strawberries
Looking for other ways to enjoy fresh strawberries? Try these:
Love Italian Food?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter to receive tips, tricks and new recipes delivered straight to your inbox!
Full Recipe
Macerated Strawberries (Recipe and Ways to Use Them)
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb fresh strawberries , 700 grams
- ⅓ cup sugar , 70 grams - can go up to ½ cup (110 g) for extra sweetness
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1-2 fresh mint sprigs (optional)
Instructions
Make Strawberry Puree
- Wash and pat dry strawberries with a paper towel. Cut in halves or quarters.1.5 lb fresh strawberries
- Mix strawberries with sugar and lemon juice.¼ cup lemon juice, ⅓ cup sugar
- Add fresh mint leaves slightly rubbed between your fingers (optional).Give everything a nice stir and let the mix macerate for 15-30 minutes before serving.1-2 fresh mint sprigs
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Leave a Reply