Glut of redcurrant

[Old Central]

Help! I have three bushes collapsing under the weight if redcurrants.

I still have about another 3 years supply of redcurrant jelly from last year's glut.

Going to give a granita a go but how can I preserve more in a usable form - any chutney ideas? Freezing isn't an option sadly as there are more important fruits and veg to consider. Looks like I'll be taking out a bush this autumn.

OC

[Old Central]

[Duke Ellington]

What about redcurrant gin or vodka ?

or

Give them away ! I wished you lived near me I would take some off your hands. ;D

[Old Central]

Duke

That's not fair you can see where I am.  :)

Still recovering from the last time I made sweet, pink vodka  :-[. I find they have no real taste on their own.

I'll pin a note on the office board.

OC

[calendula]

red currant jelly is always my first recipe for our glut, after that it is cordial (often mixed in with white and black currants), then after that some will go into any jam that is being made - they look like jewels hanging when the sun shines on them, I love red currants  :)

[PurpleHeather]

I do cook them and then extract the juice as most people hate the seeds.

The beautiful juice can be frozen and is just lovely to cook up apples or pears in later, when they are ready. I call it pink flush apple pie. But you can poach rhubarb in it too with sugar of course.

Otherwise simply freeze and take out when you are ready to use them for what ever recipe you can find later on, the colour is magnificent and the flavour seems to enhance most other fruits.

Smoothies.

Just add to  a little yoghurt, some milk and a banana, strain through a sieve. Lovely to pour over cereal hot or cold. Sweeten to taste.

It is a much neglected fruit. The birds love them too. So if you are very stuck, stick them on the bird table. Even frozen ones will be appreciated over winter.

[Jeannine]

You can make them into a pie filling , then put inti a baked patry case and top with whipped cream or a syrup based topping for the tops of cheesecake or icecream.XX Jeannine

[Old Central]

Thanks all.

Cordial being made and granita in freezer. Suspect a give away is required!

OC

[calendula]

oh yes granita - and an alcoholic sorbet maybe, just add white rum or vodka or gin  :o

[Old Central]

Well I do have my stock of raspberry, blackberry and blackcurrant liqueurs (all my own work) under the stairs. I was going to pour them on afterwards. but I guess a spoonful or two won't hurt :P

OC

[lilyflower]

I have used this yummy recipe given me by a friend to help with my redcurrant glut.
Redcurrant Bombe
1 lb redcurrants, 4 oz sugar and 1 tbsp water - heat together until soft and then push through a sieve to make a puree.
Whip 1/2 pint cream and mix with half the puree and 3 oz crushed meringues.
Pour into a pudding basin and freeze.
When serving tip it out of the basin and pour the remaining puree over it.

I have made some of the puree and frozen it in 8 oz amounts.  Doesn't take up much space in the freezer that way and I make a Bombe whenever a special occasion is coming up (and no one is on a diet!)

[cacran]

Wish I'd had a glut of red currant.........I got one measly currant! The plant is about 3 years old. I am not sure exactly how to prune it, I understand that fruits grow on last years stems, is that right? What does that mean with regard to pruning. If I get it right, next year I might get two currants....lol!

[calendula]

I wouldn't actually prune it if it is only 3 years old but take out any bad wood if any or just trim lightly to keep shape if you are fussy about that - I just hack mine back every few years - i think maybe a feed or a mulch might be in order though as you should be getting more fruit but remember this year has been a challenge with so much heat and drought, so tlc rather than pruning, others might say different

[cacran]

Thanks, will just give it a trim.