Using Elderberries in Cooking
I noticed that there's lots of elderberries near where I live, and I had an idea about making an elderberry brulee, but I'm sure that the elderberries would be a little too sharp if simply cooked.
Would it be worth cooking them down with sugar first, then maybe removing the skins with a sieve? Any thoughts welcome on this.
Best Answer
One of the very English methods for rhubarb cake is to cook the rhubarb in apple juice first. Since rhubarb is incredibly tart, the cooking and the apple juice help relax it a little.
The same should work for you with the elderberries. Naturally, you can substitute a sugar solution for the apple juice, but you should dissolve the sugar in the water first and then add the berries.
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Quick Answer about "Using Elderberries in Cooking"
The berries have a rich flavour, so they're delicious when cooked with a bit of sugar and mixed with other lighter autumn fruits such as apples, pears and plums. Try adding a handful of elderberries to a fruit crumble, cobbler, pie or a summer pudding.What do cooked elderberries taste like?
They're not overly sweet, but they have a super bright flavor and the perfect earthy and tart balance. That makes them an excellent blending berry with sweeter fruits (like apples or strawberries), but they also blend well with tart fruit like blackberries or mild-flavored grapes.What should I do with my elderberries?
One of the best ways to use elderberries is to make them into a syrup or cordial, to make delicious fruity drinks and cocktails (such as this Elderberry Kir Royale). You can also leave the berries to infuse their flavour into spirits \u2013 Elderberry gin is particularly tasty.Are cooked elderberries toxic?
Only fully ripe berries should be consumed, and again, cooking the berries destroys the glycosides present in the seeds which can cause nausea and other gastro-intestinal upset. While the other parts of this plant have been used for everything from making baskets to flutes, all are toxic and should not be eaten.How do you remove cyanide from elderberries?
Cyanide is very volatile (evaporates at slightly above room temperature), so drying or roasting would effectively remove any low levels of poison from the berries.More answers regarding using Elderberries in Cooking
Answer 2
Your best bet is to get them and try it yourself. Sugar is cheap, cooking them down won't take long. It's always better to experiment and see what you like; this will make you a better cook over time.
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