This is a much lighter version of the old standby, with all the flavor and beauty.
Strawberries are our first fruit of the season, and we wait all year for these beautiful little gems. Sweet, sometimes with a tart edge, red through and through, there is something magical about the aroma of macerated strawberries when they are local and at the peak of ripeness. They need only a touch of sugar to enhance their flavor, and we use them in everything, beginning with the traditional strawberry shortcake.
Once you leave the strawberry patch
Let’s celebrate Tuesday’s strawberry moon with something special. While the absolute best way to eat them is fresh-picked, warm, in the patch, they will find their way in muffins and pies, crisps and crumbles. They are eaten straight-up, or tossed in the morning smoothie or bowl of cereal. We freeze them for the rest of the year, and preserve them as jam or sauce. Pick your own is absolutely the best; a strawberry does not continue to ripen once picked, so choosing your berries at the perfect state of ripe is important. Also, remember that strawberries are high on the “dirty dozen” list of produce that are most contaminated with pesticides, so always go for the organic here.
An elegant but simple dessert
One of our favorite desserts is the simple Strawberries Romanoff. This elegant dish requires few ingredients – strawberries, sugar, orange liquor, and whipping cream. I used a lovely local non-fat plain yoghurt here rather than the cream. It is naturally very sweet, so I added nothing else to it. However, you can add a touch of sugar to the yoghurt as well if it needs it, or a touch more liquor. You can most certainly use a coconut or soy yoghurt as well if you need to avoid dairy, and it is just as delicious that way.
Oh, the possibilities!
The sugar is to your own taste. I like it barely sweetened unless the strawberries are quite tart, but make this how you like it.
And if you want a non-alcohol version, simply substitute fresh orange juice for the liquor. It will still be delicious, and you can call it healthful breakfast!
No matter how you make it, you’ll be delighted with these clean and refreshing flavors that only June can bring!
A Lighter Strawberries Romanoff
- 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 to 2 tbsp. powdered sugar
- 1 to 2 tbsp. Grand Marnier or other orange liquor
- 1 cup non-fat plain yoghurt, dairy or plant based
- Zest of a small orange
Slice the strawberries and taste them. Add sugar accordingly, along with the liquor. Gently mix this up well, and set aside for at least an hour to macerate, allowing the juices from the berries to flow and everything to meld together beautifully. It will have the aroma of strawberry season!
Layer the strawberries and yoghurt in your favorite dessert glasses, or a variety so folks can choose, then top with a perfect berry and a little orange zest.
A few other strawberry delights
Strawberry and Rose Fool:
Strawberries are the best of late spring offerings and the first fruit in our area. But take care to look for organic, as strawberries conventionally grown are on the “dirty dozen” of produce that is the most highly contaminated.
For more information, go to the Environmental Working Group website which contains valuable information and safety ratings on food, personal care items, and even drinking water.
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Looks luscious!
Thank you so much! It was delightful!
So Anita and I will plan a visit to the New England area in late spring one of these years to taste the best of the strawberries! ❤️&🙏, c.a.
You won’t be disappointed! And there’s always blueberry season, and cherry season, and blackberry season. Peach season, and don’t forget apple season!
According to a doctor, I am allergic to strawberries, if I eat more than 2 pounds in one session. (We went to the strawberry fields when I was a child and I ate more than I collected, broke out in hives a few hours later.) I love strawberries.
So, you just have to stick to your two pound limit! My son used to be allergic to strawberries as well, but like you, only if he ate a lot. I’m pretty sure he might have eaten two pounds while we were picking…
You’ve made the most out of summer strawberries. I love your collection of strawberry recipes for the season. The Strawberries Romanoff and Strawberries and Cream Scones are really tempting me! Yum!
Thank you Jan! The scones are among our favorites! The season is so short, so we must celebrate while we can!
Delicious recipe and so easy too! Can’t wait to make it!
Thank you! My husband is not a fan of yoghurt, but he loved this!
I was just thinking about strawberries Romanoff a few days ago! These are beautiful–I like the idea of using yogurt instead of whipped cream for a lighter version.
My mind always goes there when I see the first strawberries! I first had the classic years ago in a fancy restaurant, and I remember thinking how wonderful that something so simple could be so delicious!
This is a classic for a good reason. So simple yet so delicious! 🙂
And so many possibilities Ronit!
This sounds wonderful Dorothy. I am always looking for new recipes to try with seasonal strawberries.
It’s like finding a treasure when they first appear at the farm stands!
Yes, this way of serving is suitable for most summer fruits. So fresh and tasty. 🙂
Nice. I’d totally forgotten about this perfect summer dessert. Nothing like a little orange liqueur….
Oh, I know. Just taking the cap off the bottle and enjoying a beautiful whiff is a lovely experience! Like vanilla!
Mercy. I need this now! 🍃🍓
Breakfast, or dessert, it is all good!
That’s right. Add a cuppa joe, it’s Breakfast. ☕️🍃🍓
Or two! Gotta have my coffee in the morning!
How stunning! I’d never heard of Strawberries Romanoff but what a simple yet beautiful dessert idea, I will definitely give it a go!
Thank you Nigella! It is absolutely delicious, and one of the easiest recipes to make, extra bonus!
Refreshing! I’ll be making this!
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
So beautiful and luscious looking! I love your pictures of food.
Why thank you Julia! Tempting is the first step!
It may be simple but looks very delicious!
Simple is often the best when the ingredient is perfect to begin with!
Truly it is luscious.
The flavor of June!
This is how we often eat strawberries. A bit of freshly ground black pepper on the marinated strawberries is divine, btw.
Yes, I’ve had pepper on strawberries and it’s remarkably delicious! Simple pleasures!
Sounds perfect, and I love the idea of having it for breakfast with yogurt and orange juice!
Guess what I had for breakfast today?
What a terrific adaptation this is! Thanks for the reminder about choosing organic strawberries, it’s so important. I’m sitting here thinking, there are few things sweeter than the aroma of macerating strawberries. YUM!
Thank you Terrie. I agree with you wholeheartedly about that aroma of strawberries macerating. One of life’s wonders.
A serving of this recipe could make me a very happy camper. 🙂
Or two!
Hi Dorothy, this looks like a delicious and yet simple pudding.
Thank you! So easy, so fresh, and so delicious!
Strawberry season has finished at home but luckily it has just started here …nice easy recipes to celebrate we love strawberries Romanoff 🙂
I think I’ve been eating strawberries at every meal!
YUM! And here we just bought a big container of strawberries from Costco 😀
You’re all set!
Yum! Sounds like a wonderful dessert, and since it’s lighter, that’s even better! 🙂
Thank you Nancy! I’m always looking for a swap here and there, for just about anything but flavor!
I love strawberries 🍓 especially fresh-picked, warm, in the patch 😋🥰 This is a luscious delight indeed!
Thank you! That’s the best way to eat them!
I have never sweetened them with powdered sugar, i always use granulated sugar (same thing I know Lol). However, I bet it gives it a different texture.
The powdered sugar just dissolves so much faster, and still does the job!
Thanks for the reminder to only buy organic strawberries! Pesticides, yikes! Your dessert looks divine!
Thank you! I was surprised that strawberries are so high on the Dirty Dozen list!