Almost all people love strawberries and raspberries, using these berries to make aromatic compotes and jam. But gooseberries are often ignored by housewives, believing that it is impossible to prepare something tasty from them. Properly prepared gooseberry compote for the winter can please your relatives and complement the festive table. This drink has a refined taste and unforgettable aroma.
- Features of preparing gooseberry compote for the winter
- What berries does it go with?
- What varieties of gooseberries are best to choose?
- How to choose gooseberries before starting the process
- How to make gooseberry compote at home
- A simple recipe for a 3-liter jar step by step
- Without sterilization
- With lemon
- From frozen gooseberries
- With tarragon
- With black currant
- With mint
- With orange
- With apple
- With raspberries
- Storing compote
Features of preparing gooseberry compote for the winter
Compote can be prepared from berries of any ripeness. But many housewives prefer to use green ones, since in this case the drink turns out transparent. The berries do not have to be covered immediately; after harvesting, they can lie in a cool place for up to 2 weeks.
To prevent the berries from bursting, they are first pricked with a toothpick. You can close the gooseberry compote either with or without sterilization.
Before preparing the drink, the jars are thoroughly washed with soda, rinsed and kept in the oven for 15 minutes.
Iron lids should also be boiled. To seal the compote without sterilization, use jars with a capacity of 2-3 liters. The water in them takes a long time to cool down, giving the berries time to boil.
What berries does it go with?
Gooseberries are eaten in their pure form and in combination with other berries or fruits. It goes well with black and crancurrants, cherries and plums. You can add apples, lemon, orange, apricots and raspberries to the compote. The more ingredients in gooseberry compote, the richer and richer the taste. But you shouldn’t put too many other ingredients in the jar so as not to interrupt the taste and aroma of gooseberries.
What varieties of gooseberries are best to choose?
Gooseberries are the only berry that is used for preservation at different stages of ripeness. Using green gooseberries is advisable if you want a clear drink. Melissa or mint is often added to this compote to add flavor.
The red berries give the drink a pleasant pink tint.This compote is also prepared with the addition of other components - citrus fruits and currants.
The use of black, overripe product gives a rich ruby color. This product has its own incomparable aroma, which can be supplemented with cherries or plums.
How to choose gooseberries before starting the process
For harvesting for the winter, only strong, large berries are selected, without traces of rot or spoilage. The same applies to other ingredients that are added to the drink. The berries are sorted, the stalks and tails are torn off. Wash the product with cool water. It is not necessary to dry the gooseberries, as they will be filled with hot water several times.
To prevent the berries from bursting and the drink to remain transparent, they are first pricked with a toothpick. A needle is also used for pricking.
How to make gooseberry compote at home
Gooseberry drink can be prepared according to different recipes. Each housewife decides on her own cooking method. Often they choose simple recipes that do not require much time and effort.
A simple recipe for a 3-liter jar step by step
According to this recipe, you can take berries along with the tails and stalks. To prepare the workpiece take:
- gooseberries - 2 cups;
- sugar - 1 glass;
- water - 3 liters.
Water is poured into a saucepan, sugar is added and brought to a boil. Pre-pricked berries with a toothpick are poured into the syrup. Now you need to turn the heat down and boil the berries for 10 minutes. Pour the finished drink into a jar and close with a metal lid. The jar is turned over onto its neck and wrapped in a blanket.
Without sterilization
Many housewives prefer to sterilize blockages for the winter, but this is quite possible to do without.To make a gooseberry drink without sterilization, prepare the following products:
- gooseberries - 1.5 cups;
- sugar - 150 grams;
- water - 2 liters.
The berries are poured into a 2-liter jar and poured with boiling water. Let the drink sit for 15 minutes, after which the water is poured into a saucepan, sugar is added and brought to a boil. Pour boiling syrup over the berries and seal. The preparation can be made sweeter or sour by adding more or less granulated sugar.
Before pouring boiling water into a jar, place it in a deep bowl. If the jar accidentally bursts, you will be able to avoid burns.
With lemon
You can prepare it for the winter with lemon. This drink has a refreshing taste and aroma, it tones and fills you with energy.
To prepare an aromatic drink, the following products are prepared:
- green gooseberries - 1 cup;
- sugar - 70 grams;
- lemon - 2 slices;
- water - 1 liter.
The berries are pricked and poured into a liter jar, and lemon slices are added there. Add sugar to the water, bring the syrup to a boil and pour it into the jar.
Next, the jar is placed in a pan of water and sterilized for 20 minutes. At the bottom of the pan you need to lay a piece of gauze folded in two layers. After sterilization, the jar is rolled up and wrapped in a blanket for a day.
From frozen gooseberries
You should not make preparations from frozen berries. This product is best used for cooking compote. To prepare a tasty drink, pour a glass of berries into a saucepan, add 3-4 sliced apples and 4 liters of water. The compote is brought to a boil, boiled for 10 minutes, a glass of sugar is added and the stove is turned off.
With tarragon
A drink made from green berries with the addition of mint or lemon balm is very tasty. To prepare the preparation, take the following products:
- gooseberries - 2 cups;
- sugar - 200 grams;
- water - 3 liters;
- lime or lemon - 2-3 slices;
- mint or lemon balm - 3-4 branches.
The berries are poured into a jar and washed greens and lime are added there. Bring the water to a boil, pour it into a jar and cover the container with a blanket for 20 minutes. The water is poured from the jar back into the pan, sugar is added and the syrup is boiled. Pour it into gooseberries, roll up the jar with a lid and wrap it up for a couple of days.
Gooseberry drink with mint can be cooked in a saucepan using all the ingredients, and then poured into jars and sealed.
With black currant
A tasty and aromatic drink is made from gooseberries and black currants. To prepare the workpiece you should take:
- gooseberries and currants - 1 glass each;
- sugar - a little more than a glass;
- water - 3 liters.
The water is brought to a boil and poured into a jar into which the berries have been previously poured. Leave the jar under a blanket for 20 minutes, then pour the water back into the saucepan. Add sugar and cook the syrup. Pour it into a jar and roll it up with a lid. The jar is well wrapped in a blanket.
With mint
In winter, a drink made from gooseberries and mint will remind you of the taste of summer. Required ingredients:
- green gooseberries - 1 cup;
- water - 1 liter;
- sugar - 70 grams;
- a couple of mint sprigs.
Berries and mint leaves are placed in a jar. The first time is poured with simple boiling water, and the second time with syrup made from water and sugar. The jar is rolled up, wrapped in a blanket and left to warm up for a day.
With orange
Compote with the addition of orange is cooked in the same way as the recipe that contains lemon. The tastes of these two drinks are different, so if you want, you can experiment.
With apple
To prepare this preparation for the winter, you need to prepare the following products:
- sweet and sour apples - 0.5 kg;
- gooseberries - ½ cup;
- sugar - 1 glass;
- water - 3 liters.
Apples are peeled from seeds and cut into small slices. Pour apples and gooseberries into a 3-liter bottle and fill with syrup made from sugar and water. They set it to sterilize for 20 minutes, after which they roll up the jar.
With raspberries
The combination of gooseberries and raspberries gives a delicate and unusual taste. To make preparations for the winter, you should prepare the following products:
- gooseberries and raspberries - 1 glass each;
- water - 3 liters;
- sugar - a little more than a glass.
The berries are placed in a bottle, filled with boiling water and left for 20 minutes. After this time, the water is drained, sugar is added and the syrup is boiled. Pour it into a jar and roll it up.
You can add one chopped apple to the gooseberry and raspberry compote, in which case the taste will be richer.
Storing compote
Gooseberry compote should be stored in a cellar or cool pantry. When living in an apartment, an insulated loggia would be a good storage option. A properly sealed drink can be stored at room temperature without changing its taste.