Market District Fresh Berry Recipes
Summer officially begins today! If you're looking for a way to celebrate the changing of the seasons, here's some great recipes from the Giant Eagle Market District that show off what you can do with fresh berries!
Strawberry Lemonade with Agave Nectar
Compliments of Market District Chef Benjamin D'Amico
Makes: 1 gallon
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: N/A
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups Lemon Juice, Fresh
1 cup Agave Nectar
12 cups Water
1 cup Fresh Strawberries, Pureed or Rough Cut
Directions:
Whisk together all ingredients except strawberries in a 1 gallon pitcher. Once the agave nectar is dissolved add in the strawberries & mix with a long spoon. Allow the mixture to sit before serving. Pour over ice & garnish with fresh mint, lemon slices, & a fresh strawberry.
Raspberry-Lime Spritzer
Compliments of Market District Chef Benjamin D'Amico
Makes: 1 glass
Prep Time: 1 min
Cook Time: N/A
Ingredients:
6 oz Soda Water
1 shot Chambord
Juice from ½ a lime
Ice
Fresh Raspberries
Lime Slice
Directions:
Pour 1 shot of Chambord over ice & a handful of fresh raspberries. Squeeze in half a lime & top with soda water. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Whipped Cream
Compliments of Market District Chef Benjamin D'Amico
Makes: 3 cups
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: N/A
Ingredients:
1 Pint Heavy Cream
1 tbsp Powdered Sugar
½ tsp Vanilla Extract
Directions:
By hand: Place heavy cream, sugar & vanilla into a large mixing bowl. Use a whisk to whip the ingredients together by making a figure "8". Continue this motion until the whipped cream starts to "peak" & start to hold its shape. This may take 4-6 minutes of continuous whisking to achieve the perfect consistency.
Mixer: place all ingredients into an electric mixer. Blend on medium for 2-3 minutes until whipped cream starts to hold its shape. Turn off the mixer once the cream is at a desired consistency. Do not over mix or your cream will turn to butter.
Flavored Whipped Creams: This is easy to do & takes your ordinary whipped cream to an entire new level. Just add a dry spice (ginger, cinnamon, cocoa powder), flavoring extract (almond, orange), or the zest of citrus (lime, grapefruit) with the other ingredients & follow the steps above.
My favorite whipped cream flavors are: chocolate-grapefruit, lime, & pumpkin spice.
Baby Arugula with Pears, Parmesan & Blackberry Vinaigrette
Compliments of Market District Chef Benjamin D'Amico
Serves: 4-6
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: N/A
Ingredients:
12 oz Baby Arugula
10-12 pieces Parmesan Cheese, shaved
6-8 slices Prosciutto, shaved
1 cup Sun Dried Tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 ½ cups Bosc Pears, thinly sliced
¼ cup Pistachios, rough chopped
½ cup Fresh Blackberries
TT Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
Directions:
Place arugula onto a large salad platter. Top with the parmesan, pears, & sun dried tomatoes. Place a few mounded pieces of prosciutto around the arugula. Garnish the salad with pistachios, blackberries, a few cracks of black pepper, & the blackberry vinaigrette.
Blackberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
Compliments of Market District Chef Benjamin D'Amico
Makes: approx 2 cups
Prep Time: 2 min
Cook Time: N/A
Ingredients:
½ cup Balsamic Vinegar
¼ cup EVOO
1 ½ cups Fresh Blackberries
¼ tsp Black Pepper
¼ tsp Kosher Salt
Directions:
Mix all ingredients into a food processor & blend for 30 seconds or until smooth.
Field Greens with Peaches, Point Reyes Blue Cheese & Blueberry Vinaigrette
Compliments of Market District Chef Benjamin D'Amico
Serves: 4-6
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: N/A
Ingredients:
12 oz Baby Spring Mix Greens
1 cup Point Reyes Blue Cheese, Sliced
2 each Fresh Peaches, thinly sliced
¼ cup Walnuts, crushed, toasted
1 cup Fresh Blueberries
½ each Cucumber, shaved
TT Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
Directions:
Place field greens onto a large salad platter. Top with the sliced peaches, shaved cucumbers, & blue cheese. Garnish the salad with walnuts, blueberries a few cracks of black pepper, & the blueberry vinaigrette.
Blueberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
Compliments of Market District Chef Benjamin D'Amico
Makes: approx 2 cups
Prep Time: 2 min
Cook Time: N/A
Ingredients:
½ cup Peach infused White Balsamic Vinegar
¼ cup EVOO
1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 ½ cups Fresh Blueberries
¼ tsp Black Pepper
¼ tsp Kosher Salt
Directions:
Mix all ingredients into a food processor & blend for 30 seconds or until smooth.
