North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Stephen Sadler" <Docshiva@Docshiva.org>]

Jostas are a complex cross, I understand, between two currants and a gooseberry.  Haven’t tasted it, but do understand it’s very black-curranty.  I agree with you about the use of black currants in baking – they’re very strongly flavored.  I use them as a substitute for raisins or cranberries; or for currants, when the recipe intended zantes. 

I like all your ideas, and I love your apple/currant juice idea.

 

As far as classic recipes, if one can’t find blackcurrant jelly and crème de cassis recipes online, I’m pretty sure I have them around.  I also love currant fondant in chocolates, and currant hard candies.  Not so much with the anthocyanins or the healthy. 

 

~ Stephen 

 

From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of M Stanton
Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 2:50 PM
To: 'North American Fruit Explorers'
Subject: [NAFEX] black currant recipes

 

I have black currants (jostaberries).  I don’t pick them until they are dead ripe, which is easy to do because they hold very well on the bush.

I freeze them, stem in,  in 2-3 c quantities and use them in lieu of recipes calling for blackberries, blueberries or raspberries, but with a couple of caveats.

First, I don’t use them in a dessert by themselves.  The flavor is strong enough that most people don’t care for them that way.  I made an apple-black currant cobbler today for dessert, using a recipe for an apple-berry cobbler, but made sure that there was 2-3x as many apples as jostaberries.  They substitute well for other berries or soft fruits, but usually in proportions where they are no more than 1/3 of the fruit.  Apples are a good partner.

Jostas are a terrific source of anthocyanins. 

One of my favorite ways to consume them is to simmer 2 cups’ fruit in a 48 or 64 oz container’s worth of apple juice, then put it in the blender, strain out the seeds and skins, and voila!  A great juice.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Michele in SW Ohio