Content
- 1 What can you make from red currants?
- 2 How long does it take to cook red currants?
- 3 Homemade redcurrant recipes
Red currants are known for their high content of ascorbic acid. It is rich in coumarins and natural pectins, which make the berry suitable for making jams, jellies, and compotes for the winter. Nutrients remain in the fruits even after heat treatment. The best recipes for red currant preparations for the winter are based on the use of ripe, undamaged berries.
What can you make from red currants?
The recognizable taste of the fruit is distinguished by a noticeable sourness. It is mixed with currant aroma and sweetness of the pulp. This characteristic forces cooks to experiment, combining red currants with different products. The berries are used to prepare sauces for desserts or baked meats, make refreshing drinks, and add to alcoholic cocktails.
The best recipes for red currants are preparations for the winter. This is explained by the content of natural pectin in the fruits, which contributes to the natural compaction of the consistency of jams, making the jelly silky and homogeneous without adding additional thickeners.
It is customary to process the berries for the winter without additional cooking. Raw fruits, ground with sugar, retain their beneficial properties and can be stored in the refrigerator for a long time.
For the winter, preserves, jams and jellies from red fruits are prepared in the traditional way and stored in cellars or cellars.
How long does it take to cook red currants?
There are several options for making jam for the winter. One of the most popular recipes remains a five-minute preparation. This method allows you to boil the berries to a boil and immediately remove them from the stove. The whole process takes from 5 to 7 minutes. The resulting hot mass begins to gel as it cools.
Some recipes involve boiling the berries with sugar. In this way, a denser consistency is achieved. According to this recipe, red currants are simmered over low heat for no more than 25 minutes.
Homemade redcurrant recipes
Homemade jams and jellies are no match for store-bought products. Housewives themselves choose the method of preparation for the winter, fully control the process and know everything about the composition of their preparation. Jams and preserves from stores often contain increased amounts of thickeners and special preservatives that increase shelf life.
If red currant preparations for the winter have stood the test of time and are liked by family members, they are included in the collection of homemade recipes used annually.
Recipe for red currants with sugar
Berries for the winter are prepared according to different recipes, but the underlying technology remains the same for all options. The fruits are sorted, removing small branches and debris, then poured into a basin of warm water and washed. Afterwards, take out the fruits in portions; for convenience, use a colander or a small sieve.
When the excess water has drained, the red currants are processed using one of the following methods:
- twist using a meat grinder;
- crush the berries with a masher;
- beat with a blender.
1.3 kg of sugar is added to 1 kg of processed berries. The sweet mass is left for 1 hour to release the juice. After this, the composition is mixed and placed on the stove. Bring the jam to a boil, remove the foam and heat for another 10 - 15 minutes, constantly stirring from bottom to top.
For further storage for the winter, the finished dessert is poured hot into prepared containers, then covered with lids.
Recipes for red currant jam for the winter
Red currants can be prepared for the winter in the form of jelly. It is used as jam for tea parties, as well as for preparing baked goods and decorating desserts.
Redcurrant jelly for the winter
For red currant jelly for the winter you will need:
- berry – 1 kg;
- sugar – 1 kg;
- water – 200 ml.
Red currants are poured with water and boiled until completely softened. Grind the hot fruits through a fine sieve using a spoon or silicone spatula. The cake is removed, and sugar is added to the resulting thick liquid and boiled over low heat for about 30 minutes. Hot jelly is poured into sterilized glass jars, sealed with lids and put away until it cools at room temperature.
Video recipe on how to make berry jelly:
Redcurrant jam with oranges
Additional ingredients emphasize the sweet and sour taste of currants and make it richer. For 1 kg of berries take 1.2 kg of sugar and 1 kg of oranges. The currants and oranges are crushed and sprinkled with sugar. The mixture is left for 1 - 2 hours until the crystals are completely dissolved. Then the composition is mixed, processed again with a blender and boiled until boiling. Hot jam is poured into prepared jars and closed.
Currant-gooseberry jam
These types of fruits ripen at approximately the same time, so adding gooseberries to currants is not surprising. The taste of the preparation for the winter has unusual shades; the color of the jam becomes amber as it is prepared.
The fruits are taken in equal portions. To a total weight of 2 kg of fruit add 1.8 kg of sugar. The berries are ground individually through a sieve, then the resulting puree is combined. Add sugar and cook over low heat until boiling. Then remove the foam and put it away to cool. The cooking process is repeated.
Recipes for red currant sweets
In addition to preparing red currants for the winter, there are recipes for making sweets. They use fresh fruits, as well as pre-prepared jellies, jams, and preserves.
Homemade marmalade
To prepare dessert take:
- 1 kg of fruits;
- 100 ml water;
- 450 g sugar or powder.
The fruits are boiled until soft with a small amount of water, then ground through a fine sieve.
The resulting puree is seasoned with sugar, mixed, and boiled until thickened.The mixture is cooled and poured into prepared molds: silicone or ice. Leave to harden for 6 hours. Then the marmalade is removed from the molds and rolled in powdered sugar.
Berry sorbet
This delicacy is prepared in portions:
- 150 g berries;
- powdered sugar – 2 tbsp. l.;
- water – 0.5 tbsp.
The fruits are filled with water and pureed with a submersible blender. Add powdered sugar and mix. The resulting mass is poured into a wide mold with low sides and placed in the freezer. The puree is stirred every hour, changing its solidified structure. The dessert is ready to eat in 4 - 5 hours.
Berry Kurd
Red currants have a slight sour taste. The combination of acidity and sweetness makes the product suitable for making curd cream, which is considered one of the most interesting berry-based desserts. Required ingredients:
- berries – 600 g;
- sugar – 400 g;
- lemon juice – 2 tbsp. l.;
- vanillin, vanilla sugar;
- 1 egg;
- 6 yolks;
- 100 g butter.
The juice is squeezed out of the boiled fruits by grinding through a medium-sized sieve. Add sugar to the mixture. Melt the butter over low heat, add lemon juice, vanillin, and cooled currant syrup. The composition is boiled, then cooled. Beat the eggs separately and add them to the berry preparation with constant stirring. Place the resulting mass on the stove and cook until thickened, avoiding boiling. The resulting curd is poured into small containers, cooled and put in the refrigerator.
Redcurrant drinks
You can make drinks for the winter from red currants, following the step-by-step instructions. It is not recommended to change the traditional recipe for making compote in order to get a classic drink that everyone loves.
Compote
For 1 jar of 3 liters take 300 g of berries.
Cooking sequence:
- The jars are filled by filling with water up to the neck.
- Leave for 30 minutes. for insisting.
- The water is drained, sugar is added to it at the rate of 500 g per jar.
- The syrup is boiled for 5 minutes, the resulting hot liquid is poured over the currants.
- Roll up the jars and turn them over until they cool completely.
Refreshing fruit drink
To prepare fruit juice, add 100 g of sugar to 100 g of fruit, pressing with a spoon until the berries soften. The mass is left to infuse for 20 - 25 minutes. Then pour in 400 ml of sparkling water, add mint leaves and stir. The drink is served with ice and a circle of orange or lemon.
Terms and conditions of storage of red currant preparations for the winter
The preparations are stored in sterilized jars for about 2 - 3 years. Closed hermetically with metal lids, they prevent possible fermentation or molding of the finished product.
When storing, follow the basic rules:
- remove canned food away from direct sunlight;
- do not leave cans near heating appliances;
- do not store products in the freezer compartments.
For preparations for the winter, it is important to maintain optimal temperature conditions, avoiding noticeable fluctuations. The thermometer reading should be between +2 and +10 °C. The basement storage room is ventilated or provided with constant air circulation using a fan.
Raw jams are stored in the refrigerator to prevent fermentation inside the product.
Conclusion
The best recipes for red currant preparations for the winter involve the use of whole berries of full ripeness. Short heat treatment allows you to preserve the beneficial properties of the fruit.And the content of natural pectins in the berry makes the preparations jelly-like and pleasant to taste.
