15 best blueberry recipes for the winter
Cooking blueberries for the winter is an interesting, not complicated process. Many delicious blanks can be made from the berry. But the main thing is that they will all be useful, since this berry is a storehouse of vitamins and minerals. Its beneficial effect on the organs of vision has been proven for a long time. Blueberries are a powerful antioxidant, pectins help cleanse the intestines and the whole body.
Features of harvesting blueberries for the winter
The methods of harvesting berries for the winter are different, but their features are reduced to general principles: the correct choice and preparation.
The specifics of the choice of berries
Blueberries should be fresh, have intact skins, not crushed. You can use the crushed berry for freezing, making wine, liqueur.
Preparation of berries
The fruits must be washed, any debris (twigs, leaves), spoiled fruits must be removed. The presence of garbage is inevitable due to the collection method. Pour water over the berry, all the debris will float up, then it is easier to remove it.
What can you make from blueberries at home?
Cooking options are different. It is not difficult to preserve, and the dishes are tasty and healthy.
Dried blueberries
You can save it dry. To do this, use electric dryers, an oven, or you can simply dry it in a well-ventilated place, without direct sunlight.
Can I freeze?
You can prepare by freezing.
Sequencing:
- Spread the washed berry on a cotton cloth and dry.
- Fold in portions in polyethylene bags or plastic containers. The size of the workpiece must be designed for one-time use, as re-freezing is prohibited.
- Place in the freezer.
Blueberries mashed with sugar
It is not difficult to make such a blank, the main thing is to choose the right proportions so that the product does not ferment. You only need to store it in the cold. If the product will be stored in the freezer, 3 times less sugar will be required. The advantage is the absence of heat treatment, preservation of vitamins.
It is necessary:
- blueberries - 1 kilogram;
- sugar - 1 kilogram.
Sequencing:
- Washed berries must be completely dry, otherwise the workpiece may ferment. Preparation and storage containers - only sterilized.
- Grind prepared berries with a blender or meat grinder.
- Add sugar, stir, let stand for half an hour, stirring occasionally, until sugar is completely dissolved.
- Arrange in prepared containers.
Homemade syrup
Such a blank can be made for future use.
It is necessary:
- sugar - 1 kilogram;
- berries - 1 kilogram.
Sequencing:
- Cover the berries with sugar, mash, leave for 7-8 hours.
- After separating the juice, heat the mass a little, up to 50-60 about.
- Pass through a sieve. The cake can be used for compotes, jelly, marmalade.
- Pour the resulting syrup into a sterilized container. Keep cold.
Blueberry juice
If the syrup is not suitable for everyone due to the high sugar content, then the juice will be to everyone's taste. Due to the gentle heat treatment, vitamins and valuable elements are preserved in it.
It is necessary:
- berries - 1 kilogram;
- sugar - 200-250 grams.
Sequencing:
- Cover the berries with sugar, mash, add water, heat to 70-80 about.
- Rub through a sieve. Heat to 80-90 about and boil (do not boil) for 10 minutes.
- Pour into prepared containers.
Wine recipe
It is necessary:
- blueberries - 4 kilograms;
- raisins - 150 grams;
- water - 2 liters;
- sugar - 1 kilogram.
Sequencing:
- Mash the berries, add raisins, a third of the sugar. Cover with gauze, leave for 3-4 days in room conditions.
- When signs of fermentation appear, strain the mass. Pour into fermentation vessel. Pour the cake with water, wait a quarter of an hour, squeeze, pour into the juice. Pour in 300 grams of sugar, put on a glove with a hole or a water seal. Leave in room conditions.
- After 5 days, add the remaining sugar.
- After 25-50 days, the fermentation process will end, the wine will brighten, a precipitate will appear. Drain through a thin tube without touching the sediment.
- Fix the resulting liquid with alcohol or vodka. Place in a dark cool room for 2-3 months for aging. If sediment appears, pour with a straw.
Jelly
Delicious and healthy dessert, prepared quickly.
It is necessary:
- blueberries - 500 grams;
- sugar - 210 grams;
- gelatin - 10 grams;
- water - 150 milliliters.
Sequencing:
- Cover the berries with sugar, pour in 100 milliliters of water, crush and boil for 5 minutes.
- Soak gelatin in the remaining water.
- Pass through a sieve.
- Heat the swollen gelatin a little until it is completely dissolved, pour into the berry liquid, mix, pour into molds.
Blueberry jam
For the winter, you can close the delicious jam, which is suitable for desserts, pancakes, ice cream.
It is necessary:
- blueberries - 1 kilogram;
- sugar - 450 grams;
- water - 100 milliliters.
Sequencing:
- Boil the syrup from sugar and water, place the berries in it. Leave on for 2-3 hours.
- Boil and leave to cool completely. The berries should be saturated with syrup.
- Boil for a quarter of an hour, put in a sterilized container, close tightly.
Jam
You can also preserve blueberries with jam; thanks to the pectin contained in the fruit, it hardens well.
It is necessary:
- blueberries - 1 kilogram;
- sugar - 550 grams.
Sequencing:
- Grind the berries with a blender, add sugar.
- Boil for a quarter of an hour, put in prepared sterilized containers.
Compote
Such preservation will appeal to both adults and children. The concentration of the drink depends on the amount of berries.
Sequencing:
- Fill the jars with washed blueberries (1/2, 1/3 - optional). Pour boiling water over. Let stand for 10 minutes. Drain the liquid.
- Pour in sugar, 60 grams per liter of water. Boil, pour, close hermetically.
Blueberry puree
Delicious preparations in the form of mashed potatoes will appeal to children. The puree is made according to a jelly recipe, only gelatin is not used.
Cooking peculiarity: boil the berry mass passed through a sieve for 10 minutes, put it in prepared sterilized containers.
Marmalade
Processing and harvesting of blueberries allows the preparation of marmalade.
Cooking feature:
- Marmalade is prepared according to the principle of mashed potatoes.
- Next, you need to use pectin.For 500 grams of berry mass, 15 grams are required. To prevent the pectin from picking up in lumps, it must be mixed with sugar, stirring, and poured into the hot berry mass.
- Boil for 10 minutes.
- Arrange in molds, cut after hardening. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before use.
Bottled sugar free blueberries
It is necessary to prepare such blanks with sterilization.
Sequencing:
- Fill the bottles with washed, dry fruits.
- Put in a container with water, put a cloth on the bottom. Sterilize for a quarter of an hour.
- Seal, pour corks with paraffin.
Liquor
Crushed and not fresh berries can be processed by making a liqueur.
It is necessary:
- sugar - 1 kilogram;
- blueberries - 650 grams;
- water - 1 liter;
- alcohol - 650 milliliters.
Sequencing:
- Mash the berries, add alcohol, leave for 5 weeks.
- After the time has elapsed, pass the mass through a sieve.
- Boil syrup, combine with berry tincture.
- Pour into bottles, keep cool.
Blueberry tincture with vodka
It is not difficult to make a tincture; you can use it to make cocktails.
It is necessary:
- blueberries - 550-600 grams;
- vodka - 750 milliliters.
Sequencing:
- Mash berries, put in a jar, pour vodka. Withstand 3-4 weeks.
- Strain the mixture, squeeze the berry mass. Pour the tincture into bottles, cork. Put in the cold.
