What Goes With Strawberry? 25 Best Flavour Pairings

Strawberry goes best with creamy dairy like cream and ricotta, bright acids like balsamic and lemon, fresh herbs like basil and mint, and a surprising pinch of black pepper. Its fragrant, gently tart sweetness loves contrast, so richness, acid and a little spice all make it taste more like itself.

Herbs

• Basil — shares sweet, clove-like aromas with strawberry and lifts its fruitiness.
• Mint — cool, fresh contrast for strawberry salads and drinks.
• Rosemary — piney resin gives strawberry jam and shortcake a grown-up twist.

Spices

• Black pepper — a light grind adds warmth that makes the berries taste sweeter.
• Vanilla — creamy perfume that rounds out strawberry's tartness in desserts.
• Salt — a tiny pinch sharpens sweetness and makes the aroma pop.

Acids & Citrus

• Balsamic vinegar — sweet, syrupy acid that makes strawberries taste extra intense.
• Lemon — brightens macerated berries and helps strawberry jam set.
• Lime — zingy and tropical-feeling with berries in salsas and drinks.

Dairy & Cheese

• Cream — rich fat softens strawberry's acidity; the strawberries-and-cream classic.
• Ricotta — floral, tart berries cut mild, creamy ricotta on toast or in tarts.
• Yogurt — tangy yogurt topped with sliced strawberries is an easy breakfast.
• Milk — creamy milk softens tart berries in milkshakes and smoothies.
• Mozzarella — fresh mozzarella or burrata with berries, basil and balsamic is a summer salad star.

Nuts & Seeds

• Pistachio — grassy, buttery pistachio rounds out bright, floral berries.
• Almond — sweet almond flavour for strawberry tarts and frangipane.

Fruit

• Rhubarb — sharp rhubarb and sweet strawberry are a classic crumble and pie pair.
• Banana — creamy banana mellows tart berries in smoothies.
• Peach — two summer fruits that make a juicy, floral fruit salad or cobbler.

Sweet Things

• Cocoa — chocolate-dipped strawberries are a classic for a reason.
• Honey — floral sweetness to drizzle over berries and yogurt.
• Sugar — a spoonful draws out juice and turns berries syrupy.

Vegetables & Sides

• Spinach — baby spinach, strawberries and a nutty vinaigrette make a sweet-savoury salad.
• Cucumber — crisp, cool and refreshing with berries in salads and summer drinks.

Drinks

• Red wine — red wine's berry notes echo strawberry, so macerated berries taste even fruitier.

Classic combos

• Strawberry + cream + sugar — strawberries and cream, the taste of summer.
• Strawberry + balsamic + black pepper — a sweet, tangy, slightly spicy Italian dessert.
• Strawberry + basil + mozzarella — a fresh twist on the caprese salad.
• Strawberry + rhubarb + vanilla — the classic crumble and pie filling.
• Strawberry + cocoa — chocolate-dipped berries for any occasion.

Pairings to avoid

• Fish sauce — salty, funky fish sauce and gentle sweet strawberry flatten each other.
• Raw onion — onion's sharp bite overpowers the berry's delicate sweetness; if you use onion in a salsa, keep it to a little, soaked in lime first.
• Palm oil — earthy, savoury palm oil clashes with fresh berries.
• Too much cinnamon — warm spice can mask strawberry's fresh aroma; use only a pinch, if any.