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Cranberries are undoubtedly one of the healthiest berries in Russia. But heat treatment, which is used to preserve berries for consumption in winter, can destroy many of the beneficial substances contained in them. Therefore, cranberries, mashed with sugar, are one of the most convenient and healing preparations for the winter from this valuable berry. Moreover, the preparation will not take much time and effort in preparation.
The classic recipe for cranberries with sugar for the winter
This recipe does not take much time and effort to preserve cranberries for the winter.
Ingredients
The ingredients that will be used in the classic recipe for mashed cranberries for the winter are the simplest: cranberries and sugar.
For those who hate sugar consumption, the advice is to use fructose or a special green sugar obtained from a plant called stevia.
The most healing substitute for sugar can be considered honey. Indeed, not only are they excellently combined with cranberries, they also complement and enhance the healing properties of each other.
Proportions: cranberries with sugar
The proportions that are used to make cranberries, mashed with sugar, depend not only on the taste preferences of the person who prepares this dish. Much is determined by the conditions in which the pureed berry is supposed to be stored in winter. Indications for health conditions are also important - some can use sugar, but in limited quantities.
So, the generally accepted proportions adopted in the classic recipe for cranberries, mashed with sugar are 1: 1. This means that, for example, 500 g of berries should be prepared with 500 g of sugar. To taste, the preparation turns out to be pleasant, not cloying, sweet and sour.
The proportions can be increased up to 1: 1.5 and even up to 1: 2. That is, for 500 g of cranberries, you can add 750 or even 1000 g of sugar. In the latter cases, cranberries, mashed with sugar, can be stored indoors throughout the winter - the berries will not deteriorate. But on the other hand, the taste, sweet and cloying, will resemble real jam.
It is recommended to store the workpiece prepared according to the usual proportions in cool conditions, preferably in the refrigerator.
Other types of sugar substitutes are usually added to cranberries in a 1: 1 ratio. It is enough to add 500 g of honey per 1 kg of berries. True, such blanks should be stored in a cold place.
Preparation of berries for processing
Since cranberries will not be heat-treated, special attention is paid to the selection and preparation of berries for processing for its successful storage.
It doesn't matter which berries are used, fresh or frozen, first of all, they must be rinsed under running water or washed, changing the water several times. Then they are sorted out to remove any damaged, spoiled or badly bruised berries.
After carefully sorting out all the berries, they are laid out to dry on a flat, clean surface, preferably in one row.
It is important to pay attention to the dishes in which the cranberries, ground with sugar, will be stored in winter. If glass jars are used for these purposes, then they must not only be washed, but also sterilized. Plastic lids dipped in boiling water for a couple of seconds. Metal lids are kept in boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes.
How to grate cranberries
According to the classic recipe, cranberries must be chopped or rubbed in any convenient way.Most often, a submersible or conventional blender or food processor is used for these purposes. This is really the fastest and most convenient way. Since when using a conventional meat grinder, the process can be complicated by the fact that the peel with the cake will clog the small holes of the device, and it will often have to be unscrewed and peeled.
But it should be remembered that cranberries contain a lot of various natural acids that can interact with the metal parts of a blender or meat grinder.
Therefore, for a long time, cranberries and other sour berries were ground exclusively with a wooden spoon or pusher in a wooden, ceramic or glass dish. Of course, this method will be more laborious than using kitchen appliances, but on the other hand, you can be 100% sure of the quality and healing properties of the resulting wiped workpiece.
For those who are used to achieving an ideal state in everything and are not afraid of difficulties, we can additionally recommend grinding the cranberries through a plastic sieve. In this case, the consistency of the resulting mashed product turns out to be surprisingly delicate and resembles jelly.
At the next stage, mashed cranberries are mixed with the required amount of sugar and left in a cool place for 8-12 hours. This is best done at night.
The next day, the berries are mixed again and distributed in small, sterilized jars. Covers are most conveniently used with ready-made threads. Depending on the amount of sugar used, mashed cranberries are stored in the winter either in the refrigerator or in an ordinary kitchen cabinet.
Cranberries, mashed with orange and sugar
Oranges, like lemons and other citrus fruits, go well with cranberries and complement them with their aroma and beneficial substances.
Moreover, not so much will be needed to prepare a tasty and at the same time healing preparation for the winter:
- 1 kg of cranberries;
- about 1 large sweet orange;
- 1.5 kg of granulated sugar.
Cooking method:
- Pour oranges over with boiling water and grind the zest with a fine grater.
- Then they remove the peel from them, remove the bones, which contain the main bitterness, and grind in the chosen way: with a blender or through a meat grinder.
- The sorted, washed and dried cranberries are also chopped in mashed potatoes.
- Powdered sugar is made from sugar using a coffee grinder or food processor.Comment! Sugar powder will dissolve in berry-fruit puree much easier and faster.
- In a non-metallic container, combine mashed potatoes from oranges and cranberries, add the required amount of powdered sugar and, after thoroughly mixing, leave for 3-4 hours at room conditions.
- Mix again, put on jars and screw with sterile lids.
A treat for the winter is ready.
Cranberry recipe without boiling
This method of harvesting cranberries for the winter is the easiest.
You will need:
- 1 kg of cranberries;
- 1 kg of granulated sugar.
According to this recipe for preserving cranberries for the winter without cooking, you do not even need to grind them. Prepared, thoroughly dried after washing, the berries, without rubbing, are laid out in sterile dry jars, abundantly sprinkling each centimeter layer with granulated sugar.
- Banks are filled with berries, not reaching two centimeters to the edge.
- The remaining sugar is poured into each jar almost to the very top.
- Each jar is immediately sealed with a sterile lid and stored in a cool place.
Cranberries in powdered sugar
According to this recipe, you can cook mashed cranberries for the winter with a lower sugar content than using the classic technology.Therefore, the recipe can be interesting for those who have to limit their intake of too much sugar. True, it is still advisable to store this workpiece in a cool place - in the refrigerator or on the balcony in winter.
For manufacturing, you will need all the same ingredients, only the proportions will be slightly different:
- 1 kg of cranberries;
- 600 g granulated sugar.
The cooking process, as before, is simple:
- First, you need to turn half of all the granulated sugar into powder using any convenient device: a coffee grinder, a blender, a food processor.
- The cranberries are prepared for processing in the usual way. Particular attention should be paid to drying the berries so that they do not have excess moisture on them.
- At the next stage, the berries are ground in a convenient way, turning them into puree, if possible.
- Add 300 g of the resulting icing sugar and mix the grated cranberries for some time, achieving a uniform consistency.
- Sterilize a small volume of jars (0.5-0.7 liters) and lids.
- The prepared berry puree is laid out in sterile jars, not reaching a little to their edges.
- Circles are cut out of parchment (baking paper) with a diameter exceeding the diameter of the opening of the cans by several centimeters.
- There should be exactly as many circles as there are jars of pureed berries prepared.
- Each circle is placed on top of the berry puree and covered with several tablespoons of granulated sugar on top.
- The jars are immediately sealed with sterile screw caps.
- The sugar cork formed on top will reliably protect the cranberry puree from souring.
Conclusion
Cranberries, mashed with sugar, are prepared very simply and quickly. But this simple dish has the properties of a real home doctor, and at the same time is very attractive to the taste.
