Today, jelly can be prepared quickly by simply pouring boiling water over ready-made powder bought in a store. In the past, jelly was made from only natural ingredients – based on fruit and potato flour. Interestingly, this dessert is also mentioned in old, pre-war books, among Christmas Eve recipes. It turns out that Already at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, cranberry jelly was the biggest hit in Polish homes for Christmas..
Cranberry jelly has a slightly tart taste. Although its preparation will take a little longer than the instant version from a bag, you still won’t have to stand in the kitchen for hours. What’s more, jelly served in elegant cups can successfully replace Christmas Eve cake. It can be served warm or cold. Try the traditional recipe from 1913.
Ingredients:
- 300 g fresh or frozen cranberries,
- 400 ml of water,
- cinnamon stick,
- a few whole cloves,
- a few tablespoons of sugar (to taste),
- 2 tablespoons of potato flour,
- optional: whipped cream.
How to do it:
Put the cranberries into a pot and mash them a bit with a fork. Pour water and turn on the burner at medium power. Add sugar, cinnamon stick and cloves. Stir gently and cook until the fruit is almost completely broken down. Then remove from the heat, place in a very fine strainer and strain into the pot. If you don’t have a suitable strainer, use cheesecloth. Try to squeeze as much juice as possible from leftover fruit.
Set 1/4 cup of the resulting liquid aside to cool. Reheat the rest. Add potato flour to 1/4 cup of cooled cranberry juice and mix thoroughly. Pour into the rest of the boiling liquid. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until the consistency becomes thicker. Serve cranberry jelly in cups. You can decorate with a dollop of whipped cream.
The jelly prepared this way is not only delicious and festive, but also healthy. It contains no artificial preservatives or dyes. However, there is a lot of cranberry, which brings many benefits. 100 grams of fresh fruit contains approximately 46 kcal. Why is it worth eating cranberries? Above all they are a treasure trove of vitamins (including A, C, E and those from group B) and minerals (including potassium, magnesium, selenium and sodium). They also deliver fiber and a large dose of strong antioxidants.
All nutrients contribute to the health-promoting properties of cranberries. The fruits have antibacterial, diuretic and antioxidant properties. They prevent the development of infections in the urinary system, delay the aging of the body and protect against numerous lifestyle diseases (cancer, atherosclerosis and diabetes).
Cranberries supports the treatment of the upper respiratory tract and disinfects the mouth and throat. That’s why it’s great for colds and flu. In addition has a preventive effect on peptic ulcer disease and prevents the deposition of Helicobacter pylori bacteria on the walls of the digestive system.
Source: Terazgotuje.pl, kitchenkredens.pl
