How to cook cherry plum compote?
Cherry plum is a very tasty and healthy fruit from which you can make compote. To properly make this drink and learn about the various recipes for its preparation, check out the materials in this article.
What is this fruit?
The name of the cherry plum comes from the Azerbaijani word "aluca", which means "small plum". The fruits are juicy and round, with a pronounced sourness. Depending on the variety, the color of the fruit can be yellow, pink, red or even purple. The bones are poorly separated from the tender and fragrant pulp. Fruits reach 2-3 centimeters in diameter and weight - from 20 to 60 grams.
Cherry plum grows on trees from 2 to 10 meters high, has a high degree of resistance to frost and drought. One tree can produce up to 50 kilograms of cherry plum. The harvesting volumes of this fruit are impressive, they reach several hundred tons per year.
Various preserves are made from cherry plum: jams, compotes, syrups, jellies. Marmalade and wine are prepared from this fruit. A popular oriental delicacy - marshmallow - is a dried cherry plum puree. Unripe fruits are widely used in Caucasian cuisine for the preparation of seasonings and sauces that add sourness to the dish, including the famous tkemali sauce.
Cherry plum grows in Central and Asia Minor, the Tien Shan, the Balkans, the North Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Iran, Moldova and Ukraine. In most cases, these trees are wild.This fruit is also grown in Russia, the states of Asia and Western Europe. Due to early and violent flowering and high fruitfulness, cherry plum has become increasingly used in the design of parks and gardens.
This fruit is the closest relative of the plum. However, the plum has a much more pronounced sweetness and is not as rich in calcium. Plum fruits are usually larger and darker than cherry plum. If cherry plum ripens in July - September, then plum - from June.
Benefit and harm
Cherry plum is rich in trace elements, minerals, antioxidants, organic acids, fiber. These fruits contain a large amount of vitamins: B1, B2, B6, C, A, E. Due to the low sugar content, this plum relative is perfect for dietary nutrition. The calorie content of cherry plum is only 34 kcal per 100 grams. In addition, cherry plum has many useful properties:
- Due to the abundance of vitamin C, the fruit perfectly strengthens the immune system. It is recommended to eat it regularly with a tendency to frequent colds, weakening the protective functions of the body.
- The fruit favorably affects the functioning of the digestive tract.
- Cherry plum has a mild laxative effect, enhances intestinal motility.
- Due to the high level of fiber content, the product removes toxic substances from the body, contributes to the normalization of metabolism.
- The fruit increases the level of hemoglobin, it is recommended for people suffering from anemia.
- Cherry plum has properties aimed at preventing stroke, heart attack, arrhythmia, atherosclerosis. It cleanses blood vessels of cholesterol, helps protect against heart disease, lowers blood pressure.
- Regular consumption of several fruits of cherry plum can improve the condition of the skin, hair and nails.
- The high content of B vitamins supports the nervous system, helps to cope with insomnia, nervousness, increased excitability.
- The fruit promotes weight loss by speeding up metabolism.
- It also helps digestion of "heavy" foods. It is not for nothing that a variety of sauces for meat are prepared from cherry plum.
- The fruit removes excess fluid from the body, helping to eliminate edema.
- Given the low sugar content, cherry plum is perfect for inclusion in the diet of diabetics.
- This fruit is credited with the ability to save the elderly from senile dementia.
However, this fruit should not be abused. Excessive consumption of cherry plum can cause serious harm to the body. Include the fruit in your diet in reasonable amounts.
Eat only ripe fruits. Be sure to wash fruit thoroughly before eating or using it in food or drink. In no case do not eat cherry plum bones: they contain hydrocyanic acid, which is dangerous for the body. It is worth remembering the possible negative consequences of consuming this fruit:
- Excessive consumption of cherry plum is fraught with poisoning, and, as a result, heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
- In large quantities, this fruit can cause dehydration.
- It is also contraindicated in people suffering from hyperacidity of the stomach.
- An ulcer of the stomach and duodenum is a direct contraindication to the consumption of the fetus.
- Consistently exceeding the daily allowance of this product may lead to an increase in blood glucose levels. This can be dangerous for people with diabetes.
- Hypotension patients should not abuse cherry plum, it can significantly lower blood pressure.
- It is also contraindicated in people with a fast metabolism.With hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, in particular with thyrotoxicosis, plum consumption should be reduced to a minimum.
Subtleties of cooking
Each compote recipe is good in its own way. But there are some tricks that are relevant for making any cherry plum compote. By following these simple tips, you will be able to achieve the perfect taste, rich aroma and maximum benefits from this wonderful drink:
- Use only high-quality, ripe fruits without signs of spoilage.
- Cherry plum deteriorates very quickly. Process the fruits on the day they are picked. Extra plums can be frozen. Frozen fruits are stored in the freezer for up to six months.
- Choose hard fruits for compotes, otherwise they will quickly become sour during cooking and fill the drink with a cloudy sediment.
- Adjust the amount of sugar depending on the type of fruit and your own taste. Don't rely entirely on the recipe.
- The fruits of this plum relative retain most of the vitamins after freezing. In winter, they will be an excellent ingredient for a healthy compote.
- When preserving compote, fruits are used both whole and pitted.
- The main condition for the preparation of preservation is the sterility of the container, the purity of the fruit, and the tightness.
- Cherry plum compote will be beneficially complemented by raspberries, pears, peaches, apples.
- To obtain a sterile container for canned compote, the sterilization process must last at least 10 minutes.
- To prevent the cherry plum shell from bursting during cooking, you can pierce the fruit with a toothpick.
- After rolling the compote, turn the jars over and place them on the lid, insulate and leave for 4-6 hours.
- There is a seaming method that allows you not to sterilize the container. Place thoroughly washed fruit in the bottom of a clean jar. Then fill the container to the top with boiling water, cover with a lid.After 10-15 minutes, drain the water, repeat the procedure twice. Now you can pour cherry plum with boiled syrup.
Recipes
Compote of cherry plum, apricot and green basil. The following ingredients are needed for 3 liters of the finished drink:
- cherry plum - 600 grams;
- apricots - 500 grams;
- granulated sugar - 200 grams;
- green basil - 1 branch;
- water - 2 liters.
Cooking:
- Wash the fruit thoroughly, make a couple of punctures in each with a toothpick. The bones do not need to be removed.
- Place fruit, water, and chopped basil leaves in a saucepan.
- Bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes.
- Add sugar and cook for another 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour into a jar and seal.
- Turn the jar over, insulate and leave it to cool in this position.
Cherry plum compote with zucchini for the winter
Having tried this drink, it is almost impossible to guess that zucchini is present in it. The unexpected combination of ingredients and the unusual taste of this drink will not leave anyone indifferent.
Ingredients for 3 liters of finished drink:
- cherry plum - 600 grams;
- zucchini (peeled) - 500 grams;
- granulated sugar - 150 grams;
- water - 2 liters.
Cooking:
- Pre-sterilize the container and lid.
- Wash the zucchini, peeled and peeled, and cut into cubes about 1 by 1 cm.
- Put the washed cherry plum in the jar without separating the pulp from the stone.
- Add zucchini to it.
- Pour the contents of the jar with boiling water and leave for 10 minutes.
- Drain the water back into the saucepan, add the sugar.
- Boil the syrup for 3-5 minutes.
- Pour hot syrup into a jar of cherry plum and zucchini.
- Roll up the jar with a lid, turn it over and insulate. After 6 hours, the container can be turned over and removed for long-term storage.
Cherry plum compote with cherries for the winter
Cherry and cherry plum go well in compotes.The drink has a bright ruby color and rich aroma.
Ingredients for preparing 3 liters of drink:
- cherry plum - 500 grams;
- cherry - 400 grams;
- sugar - 300 grams;
- water - 2 liters.
Cooking:
- Sort and wash fruits. Poke holes in the cherry plum with a toothpick.
- Check the prepared container for chips. Sterilize jars for 10 minutes.
- Prepare sugar syrup. To do this, add granulated sugar to boiling water and cook over low heat, stirring, for another couple of minutes.
- Put cherries and cherry plums in prepared jars.
- Pour the contents of the container with boiling sugar syrup, cover and let it brew for 15-20 minutes.
- Then pour the syrup back into the saucepan and boil again.
- Pour hot syrup into the container, immediately seal it.
Place the jar upside down, wrap it in a towel and let it cool in this position. This will provide additional sterilization of containers, lids and compote ingredients.
Compote for the winter of cherry plum and raspberries with mint
A drink prepared according to this recipe has a wonderful aroma and a fresh, tonic taste. The combination of raspberry and mint perfectly complements the sourness inherent in cherry plum.
Ingredients for 3 liters of finished drink:
- cherry plum - 300 grams;
- raspberries - 200 grams;
- granulated sugar - 150 grams;
- mint - 2 branches;
- water - 2.5 liters.
Cooking:
- First, sterilize the jar and lid.
- Thoroughly wash the cherry plum and raspberries, get rid of the tails.
- Lightly pierce each cherry plum fruit with a toothpick.
- Put the cherry plum on the bottom of the jar, then the raspberries and pre-washed mint branches.
- Add sugar to a saucepan of boiling water and cook over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.Pour the contents of the jar with boiling syrup and immediately cork it.
- Turn the jar over, wrap it in a towel and let it cool in this form.
Compote of cherry plum and dried fruits
Since cherry plum is perfectly stored frozen or dried, it is not necessary to preserve compotes with this wonderful fruit. You can enjoy such a compote right in winter or at any other time of the year. For this you will need the following ingredients:
- cherry plum - 300 grams;
- dried dates - 300 grams;
- dried apples - 100 grams;
- sugar - 150-200 grams;
- water - 3 liters.
Cooking:
- Sort dried fruits, soak for 5-10 minutes in cold water, rinse.
- Remove pits from dates.
- Wash the cherry plum, remove the tails.
- Bring water to a boil, add dried fruits and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Dip the cherry plum into the pan and cook over low heat for another 3-5 minutes.
- At the very end, add sugar and let the composition cook for a couple more minutes.
- Ready compote must be insisted for 5-6 hours, after which it can be drunk.
This compote is best served chilled. This drink can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. However, it is better to use it on the first day after preparation in order to get the maximum amount of vitamins.
For information on how to make a fragrant cherry plum compote, see the video below.