Compote is considered to be one of the most valuable, healthy and delicious drinks. You can take care of preparing it for winter in the summer. This drink preserves almost the entire range of beneficial vitamins from fruits or berries. You can prepare a compote of healthy red currants and aromatic raspberries for the winter, because the berries always ripen at the same time. The drink will appeal to everyone: both adults and children.
- Features of cooking raspberry and currant compote
- How to select and prepare raw materials
- Preparing containers
- How to cook compote?
- Classic recipe for raspberry and currant compote
- Quick cooking method
- With cherry
- With citric acid
- With gooseberries and black currants
- With white currants
- How to properly store the finished product?
Features of cooking raspberry and currant compote
When preparing berry compote, you need to take into account some features:
- If honey is used to add sweetness to the drink, then it should be added at the very last stage of processing, since this is the only way it will retain all its beneficial qualities.
- For berry compote, it is recommended to add dry white wine (1 teaspoon per serving), which will reveal the aroma and taste of red currants and raspberries.
- To enhance the aroma and taste, you can also use additives such as vanilla or cinnamon.
- The drink must be infused for at least 10 hours before serving.
How to select and prepare raw materials
As you know, red currant is a very fragile delicate berry, prone to instant loss of shape even from a stream of water. Therefore, in order to wash it well, you need to carefully place the berries in a deep container and fill them with water. All debris will immediately appear on the surface of the water. Repeat the described process several times to remove excess dust and dirt as much as possible.
You can use berries with leaves and twigs, or you can remove them. It all depends on the cooking recipe, as well as personal preferences.
When selecting raspberries, you should pay attention to slightly unripe berries of approximately the same size. They must be sorted out, removing spoiled ones, and washed only in cold water. To remove black bugs, pour cold water, with a little salt, over the raspberries and set aside for 15 minutes. Then rinse with water and immediately distribute into jars.
Preparing containers
For compote, you need to prepare the container in advance: wash the jars thoroughly (you can even use soda) and, together with the lids, sterilize them.This way, you won’t have to rush at the right time. It is better to prepare more containers, because when pouring a hot drink, as a result of a sharp temperature change, any container can burst.
How to cook compote?
In order to prepare red currant and raspberry compote, you can use various methods: with or without sterilization, with the addition of various other ingredients.
Classic recipe for raspberry and currant compote
To prepare the drink, you must perform the following steps:
- Sort through 200 grams of raspberries and 200 grams of red currants, removing spoiled or rotten berries. Be sure to remove all leaves and twigs.
- Place the berries on the bottom of the prepared containers, evenly distributing the prepared amount of currants and raspberries over them.
- Bring 1600 milliliters of water to a boiling point, fill containers with berries halfway with it, wait a few minutes, and then pour water up to the neck. Note! It is very important to gradually fill glass containers with boiling water, otherwise the glass will burst due to sudden temperature changes.
- Place sterilized lids on top of the jars and leave for 10 minutes.
- After this time, pour the colored liquid into a deep container, pour in 240 grams of granulated sugar and a small amount of spices to your own taste (for example, cinnamon and star anise).
- Bring to boiling temperature on the stove and boil for 2 minutes. This is necessary to dissolve the sugar crystals.
- Remove the spices from the syrup and then distribute it among the jars. Close them tightly with lids, and after complete cooling, send them to the cellar.
Quick cooking method
To make compote preparation quick and hassle-free, you will need:
- Prepare red currants and raspberries so that you get approximately 600 grams. Place in a 3 liter jar.
- Add granulated sugar (300 grams) to the berries.
- Fill the jar with boiling water up to the neck.
- Close the lid using a seaming machine.
With cherry
Step-by-step preparation:
- Place selected clean berries in 1 liter jars (3 pieces). Each container will contain 150 grams of red currants and 50 grams of raspberries and cherries.
- Boil 2700 milliliters of water, fill each jar to the top. Cover with lids and let steep for 20 minutes.
- Pour water into a container, add 300 grams of granulated sugar, boil, and cook for another 1 minute.
- Pour boiling syrup over the berries and seal tightly with lids.
- Turn upside down, wrap in a warm cloth and do not touch until cooled.
With citric acid
Preparation of the drink is as follows:
- Wash 200 grams of raspberries, 200 grams of red currants and then put them in a clean, sterilized jar.
- Add granulated sugar - 300 grams, 5 grams of citric acid, and then fill the free space in the container with two liters of boiling water.
- Close the compote, place the jar upside down, and wrap tightly in a warm cloth. After 2 days, store in a place with a cool temperature.
With gooseberries and black currants
Preparation is as follows:
- You need to wash 150 grams of black and red currants, 100 grams of raspberries, and 100 grams of gooseberries, remove the stems. Place in a sterilized jar.
- Boil 1.5 liters of water, pour berries in a jar, cover with a lid, leave for 10 minutes.
- Drain the water and bring the saucepan back to a boil. Add 250 grams of granulated sugar to the berries.Pour boiling water, cover with a lid, wait for the sugar to dissolve. Close tightly.
Important! The specified amount of sugar can be reduced or increased. Even with minimal sugar content, the drink stores well.
With white currants
Step-by-step preparation of compote:
- Wash 100 grams of red and 100 grams of white currants, remove the branches.
- 150 grams of raspberries also need to be washed gently but thoroughly.
- Bring 2 liters of water to a boil on the stove.
- Pour the prepared granulated sugar (400 grams) and wait until the sugar crystals dissolve.
- Place the berries in sterilized jars and pour in the prepared syrup. Seal tightly with sterilized lids.
How to properly store the finished product?
Having prepared red currant and raspberry compote for the winter, you need to know that it can only be stored for 3 months. Therefore, it is necessary to harvest enough of it to last only for one winter.
The place to store the drink must meet the following requirements: darkness and coolness.