Vanilla-Kissed Summer Berry Medley with Fresh Mint

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 6 oz fresh blueberries
• 6 oz fresh raspberries
• 6 oz fresh blackberries
• 1/4 cup high-quality honey
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced into ribbons (chiffonade)
• 3 cups whole milk Greek yogurt or fresh ricotta (to serve as the main base)
• 1–2 tsp Salted Perfection French Vanilla Finishing Salt, for finishing

Instructions

1. In a large glass bowl, combine the strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Glass is non-reactive, which is essential when dealing with the natural acids in berries that can pick up metallic off-flavors from stainless steel.
2. Drizzle the honey and lemon juice over the fruit. Gently toss with a silicone spatula. The lemon juice provides the necessary acidity to balance the sugar, but it also helps prevent the fruit from oxidizing and losing its vibrant color.
3. Allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for about 15 to 20 minutes. This is the maceration phase. You'll see a beautiful, thin syrup begin to pool at the bottom of the bowl as the honey draws the moisture out of the fruit cells.
4. Just before serving, fold in the fresh mint ribbons. We wait until the end because mint is highly volatile; once cut, its aromatic oils begin to dissipate and the leaves will bruise and turn black if left in the acidic syrup for too long.
5. Divide the Greek yogurt or ricotta among four bowls, creating a well in the center of each.
6. Spoon a generous portion of the berry medley and its accumulated syrup over the yogurt.
7. Finish each bowl by lightly sprinkling the Salted Perfection French Vanilla Finishing Salt over the top. The salt doesn't just add a savory note; it suppresses any bitterness in the seeds and highlights the vanilla esters in the berries. DUNZO!