How to cook cranberry compote?
Compotes from berries and fruits are a great alternative to purchased drinks. Homemade treats are not only tasty, but also healthy. You can enjoy this treat at any time of the year.
Drink Features
Cranberry compote is a popular drink in many Russian families. The red and fragrant berry has many beneficial properties. Cranberries also grow in different regions of the country, which played an important role in its distribution. The berry is used to make sauces and additions to meat dishes. For the preparation of compote, they take not only fresh berries. Some housewives opt for dried, frozen or canned cranberries. During the cooking process, the main ingredient can be combined with other berries and fruits. This will give the drink a special taste and aroma.
So that the compote retains all the useful properties, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules of processing and cooking. The cooking process is simple, and everyone can handle it, even without the proper skills. You just need to follow the recommendations and act step by step. The main ingredients for compote are berries, water and sugar.
The benefits of cranberries and a drink from these berries are as follows:
- the drink will help to cope with coughs and colds due to the large amount of vitamin C, as well as relieve pain or lower the temperature;
- regular consumption of treats will lower cholesterol levels;
- berries contain proanthocyanidins, which prevent the risk of the appearance and development of caries and inflammation of the gums;
- if you eat berries or drink a drink from them, the blood circulation process will improve;
- useful trace elements stimulate the brain and prevent the occurrence of cancer;
- doctors recommend drinking cranberry compote or eating berries while taking antibiotics;
- the berry includes a large number of healing microelements, vitamins of various groups, iodine, useful acids, potassium, zinc and much more.
- berries can slow down the natural aging process.
Despite the many useful properties of a wonderful drink, there is a downside when compote can harm the body.
- People suffering from diseases of the duodenum should give up the drink and the berries themselves. The acid in the composition can cause acute gastritis.
- It is necessary to refuse delicacies due to individual intolerance to the product and trace elements in the composition of cranberries.
- Excessive consumption can be harmful to teeth. An acidic drink will damage the enamel, leading to increased sensitivity.
If you have health problems, you should consult a specialist before use.
General cooking rules
To properly cook cranberry compote, you must follow certain recommendations. If fresh berries are not always available, a candied or frozen product can be used. It can be found in almost any grocery store at an affordable price.
During cooking, follow certain rules.
- The key to a tasty and healthy product lies in the correct choice of the main component. If possible, it is better to use cranberries picked by yourself.You can buy berries in a trusted place, knowing that they were grown in an ecologically clean area.
- Carefully inspect the berries before cooking. Use only whole and ripe fruits, without any defects.
- Unripe fruits will make the drink too sour. In this case, you will have to use a lot of sugar. This is not only costly, but will also spoil the berry taste.
- For cooking, it is recommended to choose enamelware. The most inappropriate option is aluminum pans. The metal will react with the acid, making the drink harmful.
- The minimum recommended capacity for brewing is 3 liters.
- Before cooking, the berries should be soaked in clean and warm water for 10 minutes. After they are thoroughly washed and boiled compote.
- After boiling and finishing, let the drink stand.
If the compote was cooked correctly, the result will be a tasty and fragrant drink, the use of which will give strength and energy.
Popular Recipes
There are many recipes for making aromatic compote. In some of them, cranberries are combined with other products. Consider the most common ways to prepare a drink at home.
Classic cranberry compote
In this case, frozen berries are most often used. They are much easier to get than fresh ones.
You will need the following ingredients:
- granulated sugar - 2 tablespoons;
- berries - 450 grams;
- pure water - 1.5-2 liters.
Step by step preparation:
- water must be boiled in a prepared container;
- add sugar;
- carefully washed cranberries are carefully lowered into boiling water;
- then you need to switch the slow fire and boil for about 10 minutes;
- the finished drink must be left for a while;
- as soon as it reaches room temperature, it is poured into a glass container, the compote is ready for use.
Morse from berries
The peculiarity of this drink is that it is prepared without boiling. So it retains the maximum of useful substances.
For compote you will need the following:
- sugar - 450 grams;
- drinking water - 2 liters;
- cranberries - 750-800 grams;
- ground cinnamon - 2 grams.
The cooking process looks like this:
- the berries are sorted and washed, followed by treatment with hot water and washing with cool water;
- the main ingredient is crushed with a large spoon or a special culinary device;
- in the resulting mass you need to add a glass of water, mix and squeeze it through gauze;
- the remaining mass is transferred to a separate container, poured with one glass of boiling water and granulated sugar is poured;
- juice is collected in an enameled container and diluted with clean drinking water;
- the cooking process is over, now you can add cinnamon to the drink for an appetizing aroma and taste, such a homemade delicacy will please everyone.
Cranberries with apples
Juicy red berries harmonize wonderfully with apples of any variety. An additional ingredient will give the compote a special touch of taste.
The following ingredients should be prepared:
- three liters of drinking water;
- a couple of large ripe apples;
- 350-400 grams of cranberries;
- sugar (to taste);
- orange peel.
Step by step preparation:
- water and sugar are added to a pre-prepared container;
- apples are washed, peeled and the core is removed from them, after which the fruits are cut into equal parts;
- berries, along with fruits and zest, are sent to boiling water and cooked over low heat for about 15 minutes;
- the drink is considered ready as soon as the apples soften;
- compote settles for an hour, then it is ready for use.
Fragrant and spicy drink
The following delicacy will definitely appeal to lovers of original and expressive tastes. Due to the combination of many ingredients, an original drink is obtained.
List of required products:
- three liters of drinking water;
- half a lemon;
- a glass of cranberries and cherries.
Step by step preparation:
- citrus is cut into small cubes without peeling;
- pits are removed from cherries;
- pour water into the pan, add sugar and wait for the boil;
- all fruits are dipped in liquid and simmered for about 15 minutes;
- a few minutes before cooking, you can mix in a few pinches of vanillin. This will give the drink a special taste.
You can also add some citric acid.
How to prepare for the winter?
To enjoy a drink at any time of the year, you can make some jars of compote for the winter. Such a treat will be a wonderful start to the day, as well as an excellent addition to the festive table.
To prepare a drink for a 3-liter jar, the following products are needed:
- kilogram of cranberries;
- a liter of clean water;
- sugar (half a kilogram or kilogram, depending on preferences).
Cooking method:
- the main ingredient must be washed and dried;
- glass containers should be sterilized in advance;
- cranberries are added to the jar;
- berries are poured with hot syrup of water and sugar.
If you are afraid that the drink will turn out too sour or concentrated, one kilogram of berries can be divided into several jars.
With the correct implementation of the sterilization and preservation procedure, compote can be stored for several years. In jars, the drink will retain its beneficial and taste properties.
Drink with plums and cranberries
The contrasting duet of sour and sweet will appeal to many.It is best to use fresh and ripe plums whenever possible.
To prepare compote, you need to prepare the following (for a three-liter jar):
- a glass of cranberries;
- 300 grams of plums;
- clean drinking water;
- two glasses of granulated sugar.
Step by step preparation:
- berries are added to a clean and sterilized glass jar, plums and cranberries should be thoroughly washed before cooking;
- containers are filled with boiling water to the brim and covered with lids for seaming;
- after 10 minutes, the liquid must be drained into a saucepan, put the container on fire and boil;
- sugar is added to the hot fruits, the contents of the jars are thoroughly shaken;
- pour the contents of the jars with boiling water;
- now the jars are securely closed with lids and covered with a thick cloth;
- compote can be rearranged in the cellar after a day.
For information on how to cook cranberry compote, see the following video.