Strawberry
The strawberry holds a place of honour in the kitchens and gardens of Quebec.
The incomparable taste of the strawberry
has always fascinated us. Its name comes from the Latin fragrare
which means 'to smell good' which says it all!
The wild strawberry is the ancestor of the
strawberry that we know today. Since then, over 600 varieties have
been cultivated around the world.
Botanically speaking, the strawberry is not a
fruit. The flesh or pulp that we eat with such pleasure is the
swelling of the stalk once the flower has fertilized. The real
fruits are the small yellow seeds scattered on the surface called
achenes.
- Choose firm, shiny and brightly-coloured strawberries. Discard those showing signs of mould or humidity.
- Always wash the strawberries before removing the stalk. Taking off the stalk injures the strawberry and its juice will run out.
- Only wash strawberries just before use. Cleaned strawberries will deteriorate more rapidly.
- Do not soak as they quickly absorb water and lose their taste.
- Strawberries can be prepared in various ways. They can be eaten plain, whole, sliced or crushed.
- They pair well with yogurt, ice cream, chocolate fondue and alcohol.
- Strawberries are often used to make pastries,
pies, cookies, mousses, soufflés and puddings.
 French Toast Filled with Canadian Cream Cheese |
 Gouda Canapés with Strawberry Salsa |
 Strawberry and Parmesan arugula salad |
 Fresh Strawberry-Mint Sorbet |
 Whipped Yogurt Dessert |
 Strawberry Passion |
 Strawberry Crêpes |
 Strawberry Rhubarb Compote |
 Strawberry and Bocconcini Salad |
 Strawberry Bran Muffins |
Discover all our recipes involving strawberries!
Strawberries are available year-round in your
METRO supermarket. They are most plentiful from April to July. Our
savoury Quebec strawberries are available
throughout the summer months.
The strawberry is an excellent source of vitamin C
and it provides potassium, folic acid and magnesium. It has tonic,
diuretic and astringent properties.
Strawberries are very fragile and highly
perishable; they should not be left at room temperature or exposed
to the sun for any length of time. They will keep for two to three
days stored in the refrigerator.
To store a little longer, do not wash, remove stems or stack strawberries and discard any damaged fruit immediately. Once washed, add a little sugar before storing in the refrigerator.
Strawberries freeze well whole, sliced, in quarters, crushed, with or without sugar. They should not be thawed completely to preserve their natural shape.
To store a little longer, do not wash, remove stems or stack strawberries and discard any damaged fruit immediately. Once washed, add a little sugar before storing in the refrigerator.
Strawberries freeze well whole, sliced, in quarters, crushed, with or without sugar. They should not be thawed completely to preserve their natural shape.