CELEBRITY MASTER CHEF DR KAVIRAJ KHIALANI
The very first glance of strawberries is a feast for the eyes and the senses—vibrant red, fresh, and irresistibly inviting. This impressive seasonal fruit has long been a favourite for many, and experimenting with its delicate texture, bright flavour and burst of mouthfeel has always been a joyful culinary experience.
Strawberries are among the most economical and important fruits from the berry family, cherished for their high nutrient content and pleasant personality. Globally celebrated by food lovers, they remain one of the most voted and well-liked fruits, standing apart as the only fruit with its seeds proudly displayed on the outside.
What makes strawberries truly special is their remarkable versatility. They blend effortlessly into a variety of recipes—starting the day in a breakfast cereal bowl, adding freshness to salads, or transforming into jams, marmalades and preserves that allow their goodness to be enjoyed all year round. Their natural balance of sweetness and acidity makes them equally suitable for everyday meals and gourmet creations.
- Seasonal Star: Winter’s most loved berry dazzles with flavour and nutrition
- Power of the Super Fruit: Packed with nutrients, light on the pocket
- Culinary Chameleon: From breakfasts to gourmet delights, strawberries fit everywhere
- Chef’s Creation: A refreshing strawberry–watermelon gazpacho for detox living
Sharing a recent culinary experiment, Celebrity Master Chef Dr Kaviraj Khialani highlights a refreshing winter innovation. One of my latest trials with strawberry has been with watermelon and minted strawberry gazpacho shots refreshing and nutritious they are a must for detox diet!
As winter unfolds, strawberries emerge not just as a seasonal indulgence but as a powerful super fruit that supports health, creativity and mindful eating—inviting everyone to make the most of this ruby-red delight while it is at its freshest.
Health Benefits of Strawberries
- Packed with antioxidants, excellent source of Vitamin –C and also helps us lower cholesterol.
- Improves health of hair, skin, good for the eyes too.
- Strawberries reduces inflammation & lowers blood pressure, rich in fiber, cholesterol free.
- It helps loose fat and in weight management.
- Strawberries are considered good for the heart.
- It is also considered anti- aging ingredient.
- Strawberries are a good immunity boosting fruit.
- They are considered to be good for the bones as well.
- Strawberries are high in omega-3s fatty acids.
- They contain good amount of folate, prevents anemia.
Uses of Strawberries in our Kitchen & Bakery-Confectionary
- A fresh strawberry milkshake of course remains on top of the charts for most of us and we just love the taste and flavor of the tall glass!
- Strawberries taste amazing fresh, just the way they are tossed into various combinations as salads with mild dressings work well, combine them with greens, herbs, cheese & honey-ginger flavors taste awesome.
- Health shakes, smoothies and frozen yogurts with strawberries are yum to have too, do try having them accompanied to your French Toasts.
- Some of us freeze strawberries as well in order to store them for a few more days and enjoy them a little after season too.
- A strawberry mousse, cheesecake, jelly with custard with a combination of fresh fruits.
- Strawberries coated with chocolate for a nice dessert platter works well, appeals to a lot of people and the dark or white chocolate too compliment them well.
- A nice strawberry coulis or a sauce to use for plating desserts add a totally different dimension to the final product.
- A breakfast/brunch counter usually has toppings with strawberry to go with freshly made pancakes, waffles, or being flambéed with some brandy/rum etc.
- A great ingredient for a garnish for a salad, a chilled soup, a set dessert, toppings for decorating cupcakes, iced muffins etc.
- Fresh strawberry salsa too is a good way to use it in dips and accompaniments to go with cold starters to desserts.
- Strawberry sorbet, ice-cream, strawberry cream, to me fusion works wonders with seviyan payassam with bits of fresh strawberries, sago strawberry pudding, kulfis & how about trying a strawberry tiramisu?
Here are a couple of easy to make recipes with Strawberries:
SEASONAL SHAKE
Ingredients
Fresh strawberries- 8-10 no- cut into pieces.
Warm milk- 2 cups- options of using regular/oats/soy/almond milk.
Oats- ½ cup simmered & cooked in 1 cup milk for 10 mins with 1 tbsp. jaggery/brown sugar could be used, allow to cool.
Honey- 1 tbsp.
Sliced cashews- 1 tbsp.
Raisins- 1 tsp.
Sunflower seeds/melon seeds- 1 tsp.
Banana- 1 ripe.
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the shake.
- In a blender jar combine together all the ingredients.
- Churn up the contents into a nice smooth shake.
- Check for sweetness and adjust accordingly.
- Pour into glasses serve immediately.
- Garnish with fresh mint, fresh sliced strawberries, kiwi fruit/ seeds of your choice.
Chefs Variations
- We can also use healthy cookies/biscuits as well to add to our shake in place of oats cooked in milk.
- Try using variety ingredients like fresh pomegranate seeds as well to be a part of the garnish.
- Assorted berries can also be used to make varietals.
NUTTY STRAWBERRY CHIA PUDDING
Ingredients
Fresh strawberries- 10-12 no.
For the Pudding
Milk- 2 cups- options of regular/soy/oats/cashew/almond milk.
Sugar/honey/dates/jaggery- sweeteners to choose as per taste
Chia seeds-1/4 cup soaked in 2 cups water for 20 mins.
Chopped assorted nuts- apricots/ sultanas/ almonds/pista etc
Milk chocolate/white chocolate- 2-3 tbsp. grated
Crumbs of digestive biscuits- ½ cup
Fresh fruits like banana/ chickoo etc- ½ cup
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the dessert.
- In a saucepan combine together the milk, soaked chia seeds and sweeteners to taste, cook on low flame for 6-8 mins.
- Divide the mixture into two parts, to the first part add the crushed powdered digestive biscuits, fruits, nuts and mix well, pour into a glass/dessert cup.
- To the second mixture add the white or milk chocolate and nuts and mix well, pour this mixture in the same glass or bowl and allow to set in the fridge for an hour, garnish with fresh berries and serve.
Chefs Variations:
- Try the pudding with vanilla custard, chocolate sauce and some cake crumbs as well for a varied flavor.
- Fresh strawberries layered in between date and walnut brownies topped with a nice saffron rabdi tastes yum!
- Use fresh strawberry puree blend it into low fat cream cheese and greek yogurt layer it with oatmeal cookies/ ragi cookies and serve it like a chilled dessert.
STRAWBERRY POWER PACK SALAD
Ingredients
For the base of the salad
Assorted lettuce leaves- 2 cups- iceberg/ romaine/ cos/ Lollorosso.
For the body of the salad
Fresh strawberries- 1 cup cut
Sliced green cucumber- 1 cup
Feta cheese- ¼ cup crumbled
Cherry tomatoes- ½ cup cut
Sliced pink onions/ red radish- ¼ cup
For the dressing of the salad
Olive oil- 1 tbsp.
Lime juice- 2 tbsp.
Mint leaves- 8-10 nos.
Mustard paste- 1 tsp
Rock salt/chaat masala- ½ tsp
Honey- 1 tsp.
For the garnish of the salad
Assorted fresh herbs/ choice of seeds like melon/sunflower/pumpkin or assorted nuts like slivers of roasted almonds/pista etc.
Method
- Prepare all the ingredients for the salad.
- Assemble the dressing elements into a mixing bowl and stir well or shake in a jar format.
- Arrange the base of the salad on a serving plate.
- Drizzle the dressing over just before serving.
- Garnish appropriately as per choice of options and serve.
Chefs Variations
- Try the same salad with elements like boiled cubes of eggs, chicken cubes- roasted/grilled/boiled, sliced grilled prawns/fish, use shredded white/purple cabbage as a base.
- I also like to add a little date puree at times into a dressing with berries in a salad since they balance the flavors well.
- Can also have this salad only with a combination of fruits like papaya, kiwi, mango, pineapple, pears, grapes etc and the feta cheese.
