How To Make Strawberry Coulis

This super easy and delicious 3 ingredient strawberry coulis is the perfect complement to take your favorite desserts up a notch! It also goes really well with pancakes, waffles, smoothies, and mochi muffins, just to name a few!

If you have some fresh strawberries on hand, give this simple strawberry coulis recipe a try.

What is a Coulis?

The word coulis (pronounced koo-LEE) is a French fancy-sounding name for a slightly syrupy, thick sauce made from pureed and strained fruits or vegetables.

The strained part is one of the key differences between a purée vs a coulis. A purée is simply fruit or vegetables that have been blended, ground, or mashed into creamy paste or liquid.

A coulis must be strained through a chinois (sheen-wah) or fine-mesh sieve to remove any seeds or hard bits to create a smooth sauce. You can make a coulis out of so many different types of fruits or vegetables and for this recipe, I’ll be showing you how make a delicious homemade strawberry coulis with fresh strawberries. This sweet sauce is the perfect companion to many different desserts and breakfast dishes. Visually, it gives the dish a lovely pop of bright red color, while also adding a delightful strawberry flavor profile to the overall dish.

Next time strawberry season rolls around, make sure to save some for this easy strawberry coulis recipe!

What to pair with strawberry coulis

With an intense strawberry flavor, this strawberry coulis pairs really well with your favorite dessert or breakfast dishes to take it to the next level! You can drizzle this simple strawberry sauce over desserts like vanilla cake, chocolate cake, New York cheesecake, pound cake, or vanilla ice cream.

You can also serve it over pancakes, waffles, French toast or mochi muffins with some fresh berries on the side or use it in smoothies with other fresh fruit.

If you want to get really fancy and artsy, you can even use it simultaneously as a decorative garnish on a plate, while also complementing the flavor of the dessert, like a panna cotta. Wow your friends and family at your next get together with a phenomenal presentation!

Equipment

Immersion blender

Medium saucepan

Chinois or fine-mesh sieve

Ingredients

One of the best things about this recipe is that it only needs 3 ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen and if you don’t, can easily pick up at your local grocery store.

• 1 lb of strawberries (16 oz)
• 1/2 cup of granulated white sugar (4 oz)
• 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice

Pro tips for best results

Use an immersion blender

I’ve found that using an immersion blender (also known as a stick blender or hand blender) yields a more uniform and smoother strawberry mixture than a food processor. If you’re using a food processor, you may need to occasionally scrap the sides of the walls to get an even blend.

To strain or not to strain

Traditionally, a strawberry coulis is strained through a fine sieve for a smoother sauce consistency. If you prefer a thicker, chunky strawberry sauce, then omit the straining step.

Instructions

1. Hull strawberries (remove green top) and cut into slices.
2. Combine strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice into a medium saucepan over medium heat.
3. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon and bring to a light boil.
4. Reduce to low heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the strawberries start to break drown and soften.
   • You can reduce the mixture longer if you prefer a thicker, more concentrated coulis
5. Remove from heat and blend until smooth using an immersion blender.
6. Strain the mixture through a chinois or fine mesh sieve.
7. Allow the strawberry coulis to cool to room temperature or chill in the refrigerator before serving.

Storing

You can store the cooled strawberry coulis in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about a week.

If you want to keep it longer, pour the strawberry coulis into an ice cube tray and freeze. Once frozen, pop the coulis cubes into a container or Ziploc bag and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost as much as you need when the time comes.

FAQs

Can I use frozen strawberries?

Yes! Frozen strawberries are a very convenient option to use instead of fresh strawberries. I would recommend defrosting them prior to use, otherwise it would take longer to soften and reduce.

Can I use bottled lemon juice instead of fresh lemon juice?

I would advise against using bottled lemon juice as it has a duller citrus flavor profile than freshly squeezed lemon juice.

How thick should my coulis be?

It’s thought that the perfect consistency of a coulis is similar to a light tomato sauce or heavy cream. That said, everyone has their own preference to what their ideal consistency is and you can adjust the recipe as needed to achieve your preferred consistency. If you prefer a thicker consistency, you can continue reducing the strawberry mixture for a longer period of time. Reducing the mixture more will not only result in a thicker coulis, but also give it a more concentrated and intense strawberry flavor profile.

Can I use more or less sugar?

Similar to adjusting the recipe according to your preferred consistency, you can also adjust the sugar level to your preference.

Can I use something else besides sugar?

Although I have not personally tried this, I’ve read that you can use honey, agave syrup, or granulated stevia can be used instead of sugar.