21 Savory Berry Pairings You Need

A sweet-and-savory flavor pairing can be a thing of beauty. Think: a drizzle of good olive oil over vanilla soft-serve, or the dead-simple crunch of sea salt on a thick chocolate chip cookie. This summer, while berries are at their juiciest peak, try marrying them with savory notes for something unexpected and, yes, absolutely delicious.

Strawberries

The Italians know how to treat summer’s most popular berries, marinating them in balsamic to be scooped over gelato. We recommend you do the same, and finish it all off with a sprinkle of pistachios for extra texture. Strawberries are also a magical salad enhancement. Pair them with your go-to greens (we recommend peppery arugula), a sharp cheese like goat or blue and a simple vinaigrette: The combination of sweet, salty and earthy is good enough for a weekday lunch or a first course at your summer cookout.

Blueberries

Blueberries and port wine go together like chocolate and vanilla. Cook them down with some chicken stock and salt and pepper in your 1QT Hybrid Saucepan, then drizzle the sauce over roast chicken or pork. Craving that Thanksgiving-inspired pairing, a turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce? Swap in a blueberry chutney instead. Lastly, blueberries can also provide an extra sweet punch to grilled pizza: Make a caramelized onion white pie dotted with your favorite cheese; add the blueberries during the last couple minutes of cooking; and sprinkle with whatever fresh herbs you have on-hand when the pizza is done. 

Raspberries

Gazpacho, the classic Spanish cold tomato soup, is a hot-weather staple–and it can also be made with an even sweeter depth of flavor by adding in a handful of fresh raspberries. We also love a raspberry mostarda, which is a condiment that great to have on-hand for your next cheese board or to serve alongside chicken liver mousse with toasted bread. This version comes together in about 45 minutes and uses mustard powder and mustard seeds to give it some kick. 

Blackberries 

Doesn’t a blackberry grilled cheese sound delicious? (Yes.) Simply rough-chop or slice the hearty berries, then add them in the middle of your favorite bread-and-cheese combo while it sizzles on your 12-inch Hybrid Griddle Pan. Sprinkle some blackberries into a dish of burrata and torn prosciutto, then drizzle it all with good olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Lastly, a blackberry gastrique (a reduction of blackberries and red wine) can be drizzled onto roasted duck, grilled chicken or even tuna crudo for a finishing tart punch.

Cherries 

Cherries have never met a goat cheese they don't love. Fold both into salads, especially with arugula and mint. (Even radicchio, shockingly, can benefit from a cherry-based dressing.) They're also a classic French partner, with red wine, for duck. 

So there you have it: Summer berries are sweet, sure, but their savory prowess shouldn't be ignored.