We picked almost 100 pounds of Strawberries in the past week! We had lots of helping hands and bellies to help us harvest them and we were brainstorming what to make with them.

As the gentle breeze of spring whispers through the fields, nature unveils one of its most delightful gifts: the arrival of strawberry season. Every year, this time brings joy to countless families and food enthusiasts alike, as they embark on a quest to capture the essence of these vibrant, ruby-red gems. With baskets in hand, families venture to local farms, eager to pluck the ripest strawberries, cherishing the tradition of a time-honored ritual.

Among the many ways to celebrate this fruitful season, one stands out as an unexpected but delicious marriage of flavors and textures. Imagine a warm, crispy pizza crust, adorned with tender chunks of succulent chicken, and crowned with the unexpected brilliance of balsamic strawberries. It’s a culinary masterpiece that harmonizes the sweet, tangy notes of the berries with savory chicken and the umami goodness of melted cheese. Allow us to introduce you to the Balsamic Strawberry and Chicken Pizza.

Gather your loved ones, summon your creativity, and let the kitchen become the center stage for this delightful experiment. Engage your children, partner, or friends in the joy of cooking, and together, craft a dish that celebrates the artistry of the strawberry season. With a pizza dough as your canvas, brush on the richness of balsamic glaze, creating a symphony of flavors that will leave your taste buds dancing in delight.

Ingredients

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup strawberry preserves/jam

Sriracha to taste

1 cup cooked chicken, shredded or cut into bite sized pieces

1 1/2 cups mozzarella, shredded

1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated

1 pizza dough

4 slices smoked bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces and cooked (optional)

1/4 cup sweet onion, sliced

3/4 cup strawberries, sliced

1/4 cup cilantro, torn

Directions

Bring the balsamic vinegar to a boil in a small sauce pan, reduce the heat and simmer until it reduces by half, about 4-5 minutes.

Mix in the strawberry preserves and sriracha to taste.

Mix 2 tablespoons of the balsamic strawberry sauce into the chicken.

Roll out the pizza dough and spread the remaining balsamic strawberry sauce onto it.

Sprinkle on 3/4 of the cheese, the chicken, bacon and onion followed by the remaining cheese and finally 1/2 cup the strawberries.

Bake in a preheated 500 F oven until golden brown on top, about 5-10 minutes.

Sprinkle the remaining strawberries and the cilantro onto the pizza.