Berry bonanza

Good Food Blog

What is RSS?

Posted at 10:28AM, 05 October 2009 by Carol Wilson - Food writer

I think elderberries are one of our most neglected native fruits. At this time of year the small purplish-black ripe berries hang prolifically in clusters in the hedgerows and are not grown commercially, so picking them in the wild is the only option.

Elderberries have lots of culinary uses. The easiest way to remove the berries from the stalks is to strip them using the prongs of a fork. It's a messy business though - the inky juices will stain clothes and hands; in fact in the past, the berries were used to make a purple dye.

In the Abruzzo region of Italy, elderberries are an ingredient of an unusual juniper cordial.

The berries are quite rich so I find they're best mixed with other autumn fruits such as apples, pears and plums. Add a handful of elderberries to a fruit crumble, cobbler, pie or a summer pudding made with autumn fruits. I make them into jams and chutneys, which have a wonderful fruity flavour, although the berries are low in pectin so need the addition of jam sugar or lemon juice to ensure a set.

The famous German Black Forest ham is salted and seasoned with spices, elderberries and juniper berries, then left to mature and produce its distinctive flavour. In the Abruzzo region of Italy, elderberries are an ingredient of an unusual juniper cordial.

Elderberry syrup, made by cooking the berries with water and sugar, straining, then boiling the liquid until reduced and syrupy, is delicious drizzled over ice cream or plain yoghurt or added to a glass of sparkling water or white wine.

Elderberries can be used to make a liqueur in the same way as sloe gin. Steep 225g elderberries and 115g sugar in 600ml gin or vodka, with a twist of lemon peel. Seal tightly and leave for about 3-4 months before drinking. If you make it now it will be ready for Christmas.

The Food Standards Agency recommends cooking elderberries to destroy toxins present in the raw berries - some people find that eating raw elderberries makes them feel nauseous, while others suffer no ill effects. Personally I don't eat raw elderberries, as I think they taste much nicer after cooking. Have you tried cooking with elderberries?

Comments

MsVanDeKamp

6 October, 9:08AM
MsVanDeKamp

My Nan used to make an Elderberry Syrup which she used to ward off coughs and colds in the winter months. There was always a jar of it in her fridge and the fridge of anyone who knew her! And I have made Elderberry Wine myself. An underutilised fruit.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Nicola

6 October, 11:49AM
Nicola

Ech - i tried to make Pontack sauce TWICE this year. The recipe said to leave the elderberries and vinegar in a low oven for 4 hours, or overnight, so I left them overnight and got up to find them totally dried out, with no juice - hence no sauce! The second time I took them out after 4 hours, extracted all the juice, continued with the recipe and only ended up with half a jar of sauce! Im sure it tastes great, but I haven't wanted to try it yet - it took so long for such a small amount! Perhaps I'd fare better making jam!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
miniminx

6 October, 1:31PM
miniminx

@Nicola - same thing happened to me last year (are you using the River Cottage Jams and Preserves recipe?). I just added water to the berries that I had in the oven, to make up the stated amount of juice. Then I just followed the recipe from there. The Pontack is AMAZING, well worth it. I almost never use Worcestorshire sauce now!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Nicola

6 October, 4:05PM
Nicola

@miniminx. Interesting! Yes it was the river cottage book. I shall have to taste it and see how mine is, but I cant bring myself to make a third batch this year - it will have to wait till next year! Perhaps I could water mine down a little...

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
smitty

10 October, 11:35AM
smitty

I scatter a few elderberries over the apples in a pie before baking. Delicious!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
aimathews

15 October, 9:09PM
aimathews

I don't think I've ever tasted elderberries. I love elderflowers in cordials and icecreams though. Where can you pick elderberries from?

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Molly

16 October, 2:23PM
Molly

Is Elderberry jam easy to make? The hedgerows around our place our literally heaving with them and would like to use them.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Molly

16 October, 2:24PM
Molly

Also, has anyone attempted to make rosehip syrup, woudl like to have a go but it looks a bit tricky, all my jelly/syrup making has ended in disaster..!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Viv

16 October, 4:52PM
Viv

To Molly - I made rosehip syrup. There was a recipe in one of the last couple of delicious magazines. I have 4 lovely jars of it but I do not have a clue what I am supposed to do with it!!

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
swediebird

18 October, 6:07PM
swediebird

I live in London and would love to get some tip on where I can find Eldeberries? Where do you buy it.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Mrs Chutney

1 November, 7:34AM
Mrs Chutney

The best way to use elderberries is to freeze them first, it is a lot easier to remove the stalks as they just break off. Then place in a pan, cover with water and simmer until fruit breaks easily when squashed. Strain it all overnight through muslin ( or an old stocking) and you can then use the resulting juice in anything you fancy. I freeze the juice in ice tray cubes and pop one into all sorts of things for colour & taste.It also gives you the taste without the pips.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:

Your binder

Here are three other great reasons to sign up:

You get an online binder, where you can store all your favourite recipes and create menus.
You can add your own recipes to this site for others to try; plus, rate and make comments on recipes, and share your views on our blog.
You can sign up for our weekly newsletter (sent out on Wednesdays) - it's packed with recipes, special offers and competitions.