Salad in a Jar

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6-Minute Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce

Try this 6-Minute Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce over some yogurt or ice cream. Made with fresh or frozen strawberries and balsamic vinegar using the microwave so it can be done in 6 minutes.

6-Minute Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce over yogurt

It can be difficult to find flavorful and reasonably priced strawberries in the wintertime.

So how’s a person to get their strawberry fix?

Try this strawberry balsamic sauce with frozen strawberries.

Frankly, if I can’t get good, fresh strawberries, frozen ones are not an option for me unless I’m making a smoothie– until now. When cooked in the microwave, frozen strawberries are transformed into a thick and richly flavored sauce.

Some would call it a reduction but I call it perfect for pouring over yogurt and ice cream. I can’t stop thinking of other possibilities such as pound cake or waffles.

What led me to this discovery was an assignment by the California Strawberry Commission to come up with a healthy recipe using frozen strawberries. Since smoothies and ice cream have already been done a few zillion times, I decided to try making a healthy strawberry dressing using strawberries prepared in a similar way.

How to make 6-Minute Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce in three easy steps:

6-Minute Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce

#1

Chop 1-1/2 cup frozen berries–a little smaller than seen here.

6-Minute Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce

#2

Place into nothing smaller than a 1-quart Pyrex bowl. Add 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar to uncooked strawberries or leave it out if you prefer.

microwave strawberry reduction - thickened strawberries

#3

Cook in the microwave for 6 minutes, UNCOVERED, no stirring necessary. Sauce thickens as it cools.

This will remind you of strawberry preserves. However, it’s a little thinner and not as sweet unless you add sugar or sweetener. If I want it sweeter, depending on what I’m serving it with, I  start with 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey or 2 packets of Splenda and go from there.

Shopping tip:  Frozen strawberries are significantly more economical in the big box stores.  Worth a trip.

6-Minute Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce

6-Minute Strawberry-Balsamic Sauce

Yield: 1 cup
Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 14 minutes
A strawberry-balsamic reduction made quickly and easily in the microwave in 6 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 cup frozen strawberries
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar or 1 pkg sweetener, optional

Instructions

  1. Chop 1-1/2 cup frozen berries.
  2. Place into nothing smaller than a 1-quart Pyrex bowl. Add 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar to uncooked strawberries or leave it out if you prefer.
  3. Cook in the microwave for 6 minutes, UNCOVERED, no stirring necessary. Sauce thickens as it cools.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 26 Total Fat: 0g Saturated Fat: 0g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 3mg Carbohydrates: 6g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 4g Protein: 0g
© Paula of saladinajar.com
Cuisine: American / Category: Dessert
Make this quick sauce from frozen strawberries in your microwave. Try it on ice cream, yogurt, cheesecake, or poundcake.

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  1. All I know, is I’m on WW, and I had most of these ingredients. Hubby is getting the ice cream / Greek yogurt at the store. Choosing to use a pan, and pure raw honey instead of sugar, which I will ad at the end. Bet it’ll be wonderful!!! Thanks!

    Reply

  2. I couldn’t cut my frozen strawberries when I made this on Saturday, so I put them (an entire bag of frozen strawberries mind you) and 1/2 cup balasmic in my 1 quart pyrex and cooked it on high for six minutes. After six minutes the berries were thawed and the sauce was hot. Then I pureed in my food processor and strained through a fine mesh sieve. I served this sauce with my no-baked white chocolate cheesecake at brunch on Sunday and everyone loved it. Thank you! Mine may have been a 9 minute sauce, but I sincerely appreciate the initial direction!

    Reply

    • Hi Tom, Your freezer must be colder than mine. If you plan to puree anyway, no need to chop, as you already figured out. Your cheesecake sounds fabulous and I can only imagine how good it was with the strawberry sauce. Glad you wrote back. pr

      Reply

  3. I made this with frozen blackberries last night, added a little sugar, and it was an amazing add on to my morning waffles! thanks for the great and quick recipe! 😀

    Reply

  5. Paula, just reporting back….

    made it yesterday and LOVED IT! In my microwave it took just one minute longer to get the right texture. The flavor is amazing, I am enjoying it with yogurt and a little cereal – what a great breakfast item!

    If my pictures turned out bearable, I will blog about it and of course give you all the credit!

    Reply

  6. Fun idea… you know how much I like using stuff I have on hand, and I almost always have frozen strawberries in the freezer!!
    Normally, I am not the biggest balsamic fan, but with sweet strawberries it actually sounds good. I mostly object to the sweetness of balsamic on savory items like salads, but this SOUNDS NICE!

    Reply

  8. Yum Paula, this sauce sounds great and simple, it could go on so many things. I always enjoy your simple tips that make a big difference 🙂 have a wonderful weekend.

    Reply

  10. Your post over at California Strawberry was wonderful! I love all your salad ingredients you keep stocked at your workplace and the dressing looks delicious.

    Reply

  11. What an interesting recipe, loved it, and intend to try it soon.

    Plus, the microwave trick is intriguing, I almost never use mine, just for the eventual warming up of leftover

    Loved the first photo, mouthwatering… 😉

    Reply

  13. I’m definitely going to make this. I think I would puree it as well. I think this would make a great gift sieved into a mason jar with a pretty label and a ribbon.

    Reply