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Strawberries are one of the first berries that delight gardeners with a harvest in the new season. They eat it not only fresh. This is a suitable "raw material" for creating desserts, baking fillings. You can also prepare it for future use - cook jam, jam, confiture. The strawberry and lemon compote for the winter is very tasty and aromatic.
Features and secrets of cooking
The principles of preparing compotes for the winter are similar for strawberries and other berries. But some nuances still need to be considered:
- This is a fairly "profitable" workpiece. Few berries are required - a maximum of half a kilo per three-liter jar.
- It is impossible to overly delay the preparation of compote. Strawberries quickly deteriorate, soften, and lose their presentable appearance. It is best to start right after harvest.
- It is best to put berries in one jar that are approximately the same in size and degree of ripeness.
- Strawberries are very "tender", so you need to wash them carefully. A strong jet of water can turn the berries into gruel. Therefore, it is better to fill them with water in a large basin and let them stand for a while or wash them in a colander under the "shower" in small portions.
Each recipe contains the required amount of sugar. But it can be varied at your discretion. If you put more sugar, you get a kind of "concentrate". In winter, they drink it with water (regular drinking or carbonated).
Selection and preparation of ingredients
The most suitable option for compote for the winter is a crop from your own garden. But not everyone has orchards, so they have to buy "raw materials". It's better to go to the market for berries. What is on the shelves in stores and supermarkets is almost always processed with preservatives and chemicals, this allows you to extend the shelf life.
What you need to pay attention to when choosing:
- The most suitable berries are medium in size. Excessively large ones inevitably "fall apart" during heat treatment. Small ones just don't look very aesthetically pleasing.
- A necessary condition is the richness of the color and the density of the pulp. Only in this case, the berries will not turn into an unappetizing gruel and retain their characteristic shade. Of course, the taste and aroma of strawberries should not suffer.
- Berries for compote for the winter are taken ripe, but not overripe. The latter are very soft, this negatively affects the aesthetics of the workpiece. Unripe is also not the best option. When it is poured with boiling water, it "gives off" almost all the color, it becomes unpleasantly whitish.
- Strawberries must be sorted out, rejecting berries even with minor mechanical damage. Also, those that have stains that look like mold or rot are not suitable.
Be sure to wash the strawberries first. The berries are put in a basin and poured with cool water. After about a quarter of an hour, they are taken out of there in small portions, transferred to a colander and allowed to drain. Finally, "dry up" on paper or plain towels. Only then can the stalks be removed along with the sepals.
Lemons are also washed. You can even rub the zest with the stiffer side of the dishwashing sponge.
Recipes for making strawberry and lemon compote for the winter
Strawberries in compotes for the winter can be combined with almost any fruit and berries. One of the most successful symbiosis is with lemon.All ingredients in recipes are per 3L can.
When you combine strawberries and lemon, you get a homemade version of strawberry Fanta or non-alcoholic mojito.
The classic recipe for strawberry compote with lemon for the winter
This drink will require:
- strawberries - 400-500 g;
- lemon - 2-3 thin circles;
- sugar - 300-400 g.
It is prepared simply and quickly:
- Put slices of citrus at the bottom of the jar (the peel is not removed, only the seeds are removed) and pour the berries. The last "layer" is sugar.
- Boil water (2-2.5 l). "To the eyeballs" pour boiling water into the jars. Shake lightly, roll up the lids immediately.
Recipe for strawberry compote with lemon and orange
Required Ingredients:
- strawberries - about 500 g;
- orange - 2-3 circles;
- lemon - 1 circle (can be replaced with a pinch of citric acid);
- sugar - 350-400 g.
How to prepare a drink:
- Put orange circles, lemon and berries on the bottom of the jar. Cover with sugar, shake gently so that it is distributed more evenly.
- Pour boiling water into a jar, let stand for 10-15 minutes, covering with a lid. During this time, the contents of the container will settle slightly.
- Add water under the neck. Roll up the jar with a lid.
Strawberry compote with lemon and lemon balm
This compote stands out for the winter with a very refreshing taste. To prepare it you will need:
- strawberries - 500 g;
- lemon - 2-3 circles;
- sugar - 350-400 g;
- fresh lemon balm - to taste (1-2 branches).
Step-by-step instruction:
- Put citrus, berries and lemon balm leaves in a jar.
- Boil the syrup from 2.5 liters of water and sugar. The liquid must be brought to a boil so that all the crystals are completely dissolved.
- Pour syrup into the jars under the neck. Let stand for about ten minutes.
- Pour the liquid back into the pan, bring to a boil, pour it back into the jars. Roll up their lids immediately.
Strawberry compote with lemon and mint
To prepare a drink for the winter you will need:
- strawberries - 500 g;
- lemon - 2-3 circles;
- sugar - 400 g;
- fresh mint is a small sprig.
It is very simple to make such a blank for the winter:
- Put lemon, strawberry and mint in a jar.
- Pour boiling water to the top. To cover with a lid. Let stand for 10-15 minutes.
- Drain the water into a saucepan, add sugar to it, bring to a boil.
- Pour syrup into jars, roll up immediately.
Strawberry and lemon compote without sterilization
Required Ingredients:
- strawberries - 450-500 g;
- lemon - about a quarter;
- liquid honey - 3 tbsp. l.
How to prepare strawberry compote for the winter according to this recipe:
- Put strawberries, thinly sliced lemon and honey in a jar.
- Pour boiling water over, leave for an hour. Drain the liquid into a saucepan and bring it to a boil.
- Pour the syrup over the berries, roll up the jars.
Terms and conditions of storage
Fresh strawberry compote with lemon for the winter is stored for a long time - three years. At the same time, it is not necessary to keep the drink in the refrigerator, a cellar, a basement, a glazed balcony, even a storage room in an apartment will do. Prerequisites are the absence of high humidity (otherwise the covers may rust) and the presence of protection from direct sunlight.
The drink will quickly deteriorate, not even "living" to winter, if you do not ensure the sterility of containers and lids. Banks are washed first with dishwashing detergent, then with baking soda.After that, they are sterilized by holding over steam (over a boiling kettle) or "roasting" in the oven. If they are not very large, a microwave oven, double boiler, multicooker, or airfryer are suitable for sterilization.
It is equally important to properly cool the strawberry compote with lemon for the winter. Having rolled up the lids, the cans are immediately turned upside down and allowed to cool completely, wrapped in a blanket. If this is not done, drops of condensation will appear on the lid, and mold may develop later.
Conclusion
Strawberry and lemon compote for the winter is an extremely easy homemade preparation. The drink has excellent refreshing and tonic properties, is rich in vitamins, has an amazing taste and aroma. Such preparation for the winter is a great way to regain your summer mood even in cold weather. The ingredients for the compote require a minimum, it will not take a lot of time to prepare it.
