Wash, hull, and quarter the strawberries. Place them in a medium saucepan.

Add the sugar and lemon juice to the berries. Stir to combine. (Optional: let sit for 10 minutes to macerate).

Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.

Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the berries break down and the sauce thickens and looks syrupy.

Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and lemon zest (if using).

Allow to cool slightly to thicken further before serving, or cool completely before storing in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.