What to make from gooseberries for winter: 4 recipes for delicious jam

Gooseberries are not only delicious, but also useful berries, which are known for their rich composition of vitamins and nutrients. It is often used to prepare various preparations for the winter, including jams, jams and compotes.

Selection and preparation of gooseberries for preparations

The success of future preparations largely depends on the quality of the raw material. To make jam, it is necessary to choose ripe, but not overripe berries.

Ripe gooseberries have a uniform color, dense skin and slightly elastic texture when pressed. Too soft and damaged berries are better not to use, as they can spoil the flavor and texture of the finished product.

Before starting to prepare, gooseberries need to be processed – remove the stalks and tails. You can do this with your hands or with scissors.

Next, the berries should be thoroughly washed in cold water. You can soak them for 10-15 minutes in a solution of baking soda, salt or vinegar, and then rinse with clean water. After that, dry the gooseberries on a towel to get rid of excess moisture.

Recipes for preparing gooseberries for the winter

Gooseberry jam

This is a great way to preserve the aroma and taste of berries for the winter. It can be used in baked goods, added to yogurts and smoothies or used as a standalone treat.

Ingredients:

• gooseberries – 1 kg;
• sugar – 1.2 kg;
• water – 200 ml.

Preparation:

1. Prepare gooseberries by cleaning them from the stalks and rinse them in cold water.
2. In a deep saucepan mix water and sugar, bring to a boil, stirring so that the sugar dissolves completely.
3. Add gooseberries to the resulting syrup and cook over low heat for 40-50 minutes, stirring gently and periodically skimming off the foam.
4. As soon as the jam starts to thicken, increase the heat and cook for another 5-10 minutes until it reaches the desired consistency. You can check if the jam is ready by dropping a little on a cold plate: if the drop does not spread, the jam is ready.
5. Pour the hot jam into sterilized jars, seal with lids and let cool at room temperature.

Gooseberry jam without sugar with honey

For those who watch their diet and prefer to avoid sugar, there is a recipe for sugar-free gooseberry jam. It preserves the natural flavor of the berries and is a great option for a healthy diet.

Ingredients:

• gooseberries – 1 kg;
• lemon juice – 1 tbsp;
• honey – to taste.

Preparation:

1. Prepare gooseberries by cleaning them from the stalks and rinsing them in cold water.
2. In a saucepan add gooseberries, lemon juice and honey.
3. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the berries are soft (about 30-40 minutes).
4. If the jam turns out to be too sour, add more honey.
5. Pour the hot jam into sterilized jars and close with lids.

Gooseberry jam without sugar with orange and kiwi

Ingredients:

• oranges – 4 pcs;
• kiwi – 1 pc;
• gooseberries – 1 kg.

Preparation:

1. Pick gooseberries, wash, removing the stalks.
2. Peel kiwi and chop it together with gooseberries in a blender to a homogeneous mass.
3. Cut the oranges into pieces, remove the pips and also chop them in a blender to a puree.
4. Mix the resulting puree of gooseberries, kiwi and oranges until smooth.
5. Pour the jam into sterilized jars, seal with lids.

Gooseberry jam with the addition of spices

For a more intense flavor in gooseberry jam you can add spices. They will give the treat a piquant flavor. With berries are perfectly combined with cinnamon and cloves.

Ingredients:

• Gooseberries – 1 kg;
• sugar – 1.2 kg;
• water – 200 ml;
• cinnamon – 1 stick;
• cloves – 3-4 pcs.

Preparation:

1. Prepare gooseberries by removing the tails and washing the berries.
2. In a saucepan mix sugar and water, bring to a boil.
3. In the resulting syrup add spices: cinnamon and cloves. Cook on low heat for five minutes so that the spices give their flavor.
4. Add gooseberries to the syrup and cook over low heat, stirring gently, until the jam thickens.
5. Pour the jam into sterilized jars, removing the spices, and seal with lids.

Storing gooseberry jams

Jam should be stored in a dark and cool place, protected from direct sunlight. The optimum storage temperature is between 5°C and 15°C. The ideal place is a cellar or pantry. Make sure the jar lids are well screwed on.

After opening the jar, the jam should be stored in the refrigerator and consumed within 1-2 weeks.

By the way, to extend the shelf life of the finished product you can use such a method as pasteurization. To do this, jars with jam are placed in a pot with hot water and brought to a boil. The procedure takes 10-15 minutes.

Which option is healthier: jam, compote or frozen berries?

doctor-gastroenterologist of the Federal network of clinics of expert oncology “Euroonko”

“The most useful option for preserving gooseberries is freezing. In this method, there is minimal loss of vitamin C.”

Gooseberries contain fiber, which is the basis for good digestion and nourishment of the intestinal microbiota. In addition, they contain a large amount of vitamin C, with smaller amounts of vitamins P, B and A, and trace elements.

According to the expert, the destruction of this nutrient occurs when boiling compote. If you throw the berries already in boiling water and cook the compote for just a couple of minutes, there are chances that the useful substances will be preserved.

A less useful option is to make jam from gooseberries. In addition to prolonged cooking and the destruction of vitamins and microelements, this delicacy contains a large amount of sugar. With frequent use of such a product there is a chance to gain extra pounds.

Before freezing berries, it is better not to wash them. If they are still contaminated, then you need to rinse them under running water.

Do not freeze wet berries. Allow them to dry completely, without blotting, naturally.