Healthy Strawberry Sauce with Agave Nectar – Simple Recipe
A quick and healthy strawberry sauce lightly sweetened with agave. This versatile topping is ready in minutes and great for breakfast or dessert.
This healthy strawberry sauce recipe is the perfect way to use up fresh summer berries. Sweetened with agave nectar and ready in minutes, it makes a delicious topping for breakfast or dessert.
Summer Farmers Market Finds
Happy second day of summer!
Along with 2 1/2 months off from work, I have been eagerly anticipating the return of farmers’ markets. This time of year, various locations throughout Boston showcase vibrant, fresh, and aromatic produce ripe for the picking.
Last Friday, I walked to Copley Square with visions of lush fruit, sweet corn, and perfectly ripe tomatoes growing more vivid with each step. Along with other farm-fresh goodies, I arrived home with a carton of ruby-hued strawberries, picked just that morning. I wasted no time gently rinsing the still-warm berries in preparation for that first blissful bite.
Why Make Homemade Strawberry Sauce?
Oh boy, was I disappointed. The deceivingly gorgeous strawberries were watery and seriously lacking in the flavor department. Not to be deterred from enjoying these rather expensive berries, I brainstormed an easy way to “dress them up”.
I initially thought of making strawberry jam, but a) didn’t have pectin on hand and b) didn’t want to add a ton of sugar to the lackluster berries. A simple strawberry sauce lightly kissed with agave nectar came to mind, and it came together in little time with minimal effort.
How to Serve This Sauce
Use this luscious sauce as a…
- Breakfast Topping: Topping for waffles, pancakes, or French toast
- Yogurt Mix-in: Mix-in for plain yogurt (think homemade “fruit on the bottom” yogurt):
- Parfait Layer: Layer in a fruit/yogurt/granola parfait
- Dessert Topping: Topping for vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt
- Dipping sauce for a peanut butter & banana sandwich/panini
- Layer in a whipped cottage cheese & graham cracker crumb “strawberry cheesecake” parfait
- Treat straight from the container!
Strawberry Sauce
Ingredients:
- 1 lb freshly picked strawberries, preferably organic (even better if local!), washed, hulled & sliced in half
- 1-2 Tbsp agave nectar (I used Madhava Pure Organic Vanilla Agave Nectar), or more or less, depending on the sweetness of the berries
Directions:
- Combine prepared strawberries and agave nectar in a medium saucepan over high heat.
- When the agave begins to bubble, decrease the heat to low and simmer until the strawberries break down and the mixture thickens slightly – about 40 minutes – stirring often.
- Allow to cool before coarsely mashing with a spoon.
- Store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen strawberries?
Yes, just simmer them a little longer to reduce the excess water.
How long does it last?
Store it in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to a week.
Can I substitute the agave?
Honey or maple syrup works great as an alternative!
