Pickled Strawberries recipe

Some fresh strawberries have been lying in my fridge for the past few days and it had become  not so fresh anymore…jam and milkshakes have been in my mind but I dint want to make those. Cakes, cookies, scones too went thru my mind, dint want to do that either.

All of a sudden thought of pickling it … has no idea how that spark came in. I was quite uncertain about the outcome too... But yet just gave it a try. I must say I am digging the berries from the jar whenever I pass by.

And the best thing there is no added sugar, efforts or any other frills attached. Simply chop add salt, sugar, green chillies and few spoons of vinegar.

Now the recipe looks like this

Strawberries (cut into 4 ) – 250 gms

Water

Salt and sugar – as per taste

Vinegar – 1-2 tbsp. (depending on the sourness of the strawberries)

Green chillies – 2-3 (finely chopped)

Method

Take a clean glass jar and fill in with the chopped strawberries. Add the salt, sugar and chopped green chillies and shake the bottle. Add water just above the level of the berries. Add the vinegar too.

Shake again and leave it aside.
Let it sit for few hours and then enjoy nonstop 

Note: You may reduce the heat by reducing the number of green chillies you use 

Thanks and regards

Chaithanya

Strawberry preserve in jaggery syrup

Strawberry preserve in jaggery syrup

Bought strawberry with so much enthusiasm but was confused as to what to do with them. Couple of ideas went through my mind but thought will do this experiment.

Once I finished making this dear husband entered the house and was curious to know what was cooking as the aroma was divine! I gave him a spoonful of it to taste, he just loved it and when I said its of jaggery he praised more. Oh yea my experiment passed and now have clicked a picture , not a great one, unable to avoid that glare falling in the preserve and have a three lines recipe too for you all :) Yea as usual short and simply ! ;)

Ingredients

Strawberry - 500 gms

Jaggery syrup ( thick) - 1 cup

a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

Method 

Wash the strawberries well in salt water and rinse well.

Cut each berry into four and put it a thick bottom pan.

Add the jaggery syrup and keep the pan on the stove. The berries will release water and then gradually the syrup will start thickening. 

Remove from stove once you see the syrup coating the wooden spoon well and the freshly grated nutmeg and mix well

Once the preserve is slightly cool transfer into a sterilized jar and close it airtight.

Store in the refrigerator.

Enjoy :)

thanks!

Chaithanya

Simple strawberry jam

I just love the beauty and taste of strawberries (except those very sour ones ), have always loved admiring those lovely simple fruit... oops but my son who goes to kindergarten claims  that strawberry is a flower.. quite debatable .. go ahead please :)


And when the price of strawberries started falling down, I just cudn't control my selves from buying a couple of boxes of strawberries and trying out making jam from it. I made it and we relished it and made it again too . So the following is the recipe I tried, have a look and give it a try before the season is off!

Ingredients 

Strawberry puree- 1 3/4 cup ( or simply hulled)
Sugar- 1 1/4 cup
Lemon juice of one med sized lemon


Method

Place strawberry puree, sugar and lemon juice in a heavy bottomed pan, place on medium to medium high heat, stir frequently and allow sugar to melt and strawberries to cook.

To test whether the jam is ready  the jam should pour from the spoon in a thread consistency else if you pour a few drops of the jam on a clean plate, it will not spread and will have the clear jam like consistency, then you know that the jam is ready.

Cool slightly, pour in a clean glass jar, cool thoroughly and refrigerate and use as required.


The above method gives you a hassle free jam in case you or your kids don't want to bite in the fruit. If you want to have teeny weeny bite make the jam without pureeing the strawberries.