The Secret to Our Base Elderberry Juice—Or Is It a Syrup?
Autumn is a season of rich colors and even richer flavors. One of our all-time favorites has to be the elderberry, and today, we're sharing our recipe for a base elderberry juice that serves multiple culinary purposes. This concoction is so versatile it can shift roles easily, from juice to syrup to a cooking ingredient!
Elder trees are like the giving trees of the forest, offering up aromatic flowers in the spring and nutritious berries in the fall. Now that you've got your hands on these little gems—ideally, after asking the Elder Mother for her blessing, as per tradition—it's time to turn them into something delicious.
Step 1: Rake Off the Berries
The first step is to rake the berries off their stems. This is best done over a large bowl to catch all the falling berries.
Step 2: Wash and Sort
Wash the berries in cold water. The buoyancy will help you identify and skim off any immature berries, which are generally less ripe and flavorful.
Step 3: Cook It Up
Place the cleaned berries in a pot and add enough water to just cover them. Toss in a couple of sour apples, which will complement the elderberries both in flavor and acidity. And here's a personal twist—we also add thyme. Why thyme? Well, it's a tradition, and it lends a subtle lemony note that pairs wonderfully with the ascorbic acid from the apples.
Step 4: Sweeten and Acidify
Begin boiling the mixture. As it cooks, you'll want to add sugar to taste—and probably more than you initially think. Elderberries have a complex, unique taste that sugar helps to amplify. Once you've got the sweetness just right, it's time to add some additional acidity. You can use lemon juice, tart berries, or even granulated acid to achieve this.
Step 5: Cook, Cool, Strain
Let the mixture boil for about 15 minutes, ensuring all the flavors meld together and the elderberries lose their raw, slightly toxic edge. Allow the mixture to cool, then strain it to remove all the solids.
Step 6: Bottle or Freeze
Once the juice is cool enough to handle, bottle it for immediate use or freeze it for long-term storage.
There you have it! Our base elderberry juice is a labor of love from start to finish, and it plays a role in so many dishes and drinks. Curious about what you can do with it? Have a look:
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