A summer staple, and one of the only fruits children willingly eat – berries hardly need an introduction!
And while we cannot argue that they are perhaps best when freshly picked and ripe from the garden, the best thing about these bite-sized fruits is their versatility.
Summer may only last for a few months, but there’s a ton of ways you can enjoy berries through every season. With a little thought and planning, fresh and frozen berries will brighten dishes all year round – it’s as easy as pie!
Strawberries
Aptly named the ‘queen of fruits’, strawberries are famed for their deliciousness as well as their health benefits – they’re jam-packed (excuse the pun!) with antioxidants and Vitamin C.
We’ve no doubt you have used strawberries time and again in desserts, salads and sauces, but with a little love you can make them even more delicious.
Tips & Tricks:
- A dash of pepper, balsamic vinegar, lemon or orange juice helps to bring out their flavour. Also, sugar or lemon or orange juice can help to preserve the strawberry’s ruby red colour.
- Strawberries are porous, a little like an (edible) sponge. If you have to clean them, avoid soaking in water – this can cause them to become waterlogged and lose flavour.
- Be wary when freezing strawberries, as it does affect their texture – however, they remain great for baking into pies, desserts and making sauces.
To get started, opt for a Classic Strawberry Pie – or, if you’re feeling fancy, try this mouth-watering Strawberry Frozen Yoghurt. Dessert, anyone?
Raspberries
If strawberries are the queen of the castle, then we have no doubt that their smaller, slightly tangier cousin is an unquestionable second. Although raspberries are (like most things) better when fresh, they do freeze very well – making them perfect for baking.
Tips & Tricks:
- When shopping for raspberries, select berries with the hulls removed – this is a good indication the berries were picked ripe.
- If you need to wash raspberries, ensure you do so right before eating – otherwise it’s possible the cavities may fill with water, and you could lose some of that beautiful flavour.
Need we even mention the versatility of raspberries again? Try our Raspberry White Chocolate Tart to kick the ball off, or if you’re after something slightly more savoury, opt for our flavoursome Mint & Raspberry Marinated Chicken.
Blueberries
Proof that good things really do come in small packages, Mother Nature’s bluest fruit is another firm favourite with cooks in the El Gusto Test Kitchen.
Obviously a staple in baking (muffins spring instantly to mind), blueberries punch above their weight in terms of flavour – making them a great addition to a range of sweet and savoury dishes.
Tips & Tricks:
- To avoid your baked goods turning that infamous purple-blue hue, rinse frozen blueberries several times in cold water and dry on paper towel, before folding into the batter. Alternatively, prevent the colour of the berries from bleeding by adding frozen blueberries to your batter right at the last moment before they have a chance to thaw.
- To really bring out the ‘blue’ in blueberry, add a little lemon juice to your mixture – it will brighten the colour of the berries.
- Another common pitfall when baking with blueberries is that they can sink like the Titanic, right to the bottom of your dish… To get a consistent spread of the berries through your pan, try coating the blueberries with flour or cornflour before stirring them into the batter. Also, avoid over-blending your mixture, as this can lead to sinking berries.
Blueberries in baking – the ideal place to start. Try our Blueberry & Lemon Loaf for a scrumptious take on a traditional citrus loaf.
…and that’s only the beginning! Currants, cranberries, gooseberries, blackberries, or boysenberries – there are so many more versions of delicious available.
Berries are a vibrant, delectable and easy ingredient to get you out of a jam!
Happy cooking.
