Cooking nightshade jam
In Russia, nightshade (aka sunberry) is considered a wild berry found in humid places. Garden nightshade grows rapidly, becoming black and shiny. Its size is large and resembles a cherry. Readiness is determined very simply: if the berries are easily crushed in the fingers, then they are ready to eat. Usually harvested in September. Gardeners love to grow nightshade on their plots because of its properties: the berry has zero calories, no fats and proteins, sunberries contain a minimum of carbohydrates. No matter how much you eat, you won't get better. What is not cooked from nightshade: jelly, fillings for baking, syrups. This article will focus specifically on sunberry jams.
The benefits, harm and healing properties of the berry
Except for the berries that are already ripe, all other parts of the nightshade are poisonous, so it is not recommended to self-medicate. The use of preparations with the plant they contain for medical purposes can only be carried out with the permission of a doctor. Nightshade is called healing because of its properties, the fruits have the following effect on the body:
- sedative;
- cleansing;
- expectorant;
- choleretic;
- anti-inflammatory;
- antipyretic;
- antirheumatic;
- disinfectant;
- diuretic.
In books about traditional medicine, there are sure to be passages that regular use of nightshade in the form of jam will help to cope with:
- constipation;
- inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract;
- toxins in the body;
- lethargy;
- headaches;
- stress.
Also, wild berry jam can improve blood composition and normalize blood pressure. It serves as a dessert and prevention of gastrointestinal poisoning.
The benefits of the plant are obvious. As for harm to the body - it also exists. The use of unripe berries can cause poisoning. It is worth keeping a close eye on children if nightshade grows on the site, as they are inquisitive and can pick a berry. By the following signs, poisoning with berries can be determined:
- diarrhea;
- nausea;
- vomit;
- dyspnea;
- pain in the stomach;
- loss of consciousness;
- cardiopalmus.
If you or your loved ones have these signs, you should seek medical help as soon as possible. It is important to report the use of black sunberry.
Recipes
Black jam with lemon
It is very simple to prepare such a blank, the jam is not only very tasty, but also healthy. For the recipe you will need at least 1 kg of berries.
Ingredients:
- sunberry berries - 1 kg;
- sugar - 1 kg;
- lemon - 2 medium;
- water - 1 glass;
- mint (preferably fresh) - 4 leaves.
Recipe.
- The berries are poured with boiling liquid in a saucepan, after which they are sent to cook on the stove for 5 minutes. It is advisable to set the fire small.
- After the time has elapsed, the jam should stand for 4 hours.
- Repeating the procedure: first, the berries are boiled, and then they stand for 4 hours. The process is repeated 3 times.
- The last time before boiling, juice squeezed from lemons and mint leaves are added to the mixture.
- Hot jam is laid out in jars, which are then placed upside down. From above they are covered with a towel.
The jam can burn, so it is advisable to always be nearby while it is cooking and stir it with a spatula.Jars must first be sterilized in the oven. But here you have to be very careful so that the banks do not burst. It is best to first place the jars of jam in a cold oven, and then set the temperature to 80 degrees.
Yellow nightshade jam with lemon
Yellow nightshade differs in that it is much sweeter, but recipes from it are the same as from black. To make jam properly, just use less sugar than for a black sunberry.
Ingredients:
- berries;
- sugar - to taste;
- lemon - 1 or 2 (to taste);
- water.
Recipe.
- Well-washed yellow sunberry fruits are cut into 2 parts (if they are large, then into 3).
- Berries are placed in a saucepan, sugar is added to them. Then the mixture is put to boil on fire. There is no need to interfere.
- After boiling the mixture, let it cook for another 5 minutes, after which it should be infused for at least 7 hours. Then again the consistency is sent to the stove. After boiling, the fire should be reduced. Cooking time = 15 minutes. The mixture must be stirred every now and then.
- After boiling, the berries are removed from the pan and placed in a separate container.
- Let the syrup continue to cook for 20 minutes after boiling. A lemon cut into several pieces is placed in syrup and then it is boiled for another 10-12 minutes.
Simple nightshade jam
Sunberry jam is one of the most delicious preparations. Even a person who is not fond of cooking can make it. For the recipe, it is advisable to use already ripe berries, with unripe ones it will not be so tasty.
Ingredients:
- black sunberry - 1 kg;
- sugar - 1 kg.
Recipe.
- Several times the nightshade is washed with water.
- Sugar is added to the same container where the berries were washed. The mixture should be infused for 30 minutes before proceeding with further steps.You need to wait until the berries release juice.
- Then the container (pan) with berries and sugar is placed on a small fire. Cooking time 2 hours. In this case, you need to periodically stir the jam.
- When the jam is ready, it should be laid out in pre-sterilized jars and tightly closed with lids.
- Delicious blanks are removed in a cool place, where they must cool completely.
Store jam in a cool place. Be sure to try baking a cake or pancakes with the addition of nightshade, which will spice up any dish.
Sunberry Apple Jam
The recipe is very easy to prepare. To give a more refined taste, spices can be added to the jam, but this is optional.
Ingredients:
- berries - 1 kg;
- apples (the Antonovka variety is best) - 6 pieces;
- sugar - 0.5 kg;
- water - 100 ml.
Recipe.
- The peel is removed from the apples, they are cut into small pieces.
- Berries rub on a grater, like apples (preferably with large cells).
- The mass is placed in a saucepan, and then sprinkled with sugar. Infused for 5 hours.
- After the specified time, water is added (half a glass). The resulting mixture is put on fire and boiled for 30 minutes. It is important not to forget to stir. After 12 hours have passed, the jam should be boiled again until it is finally ready.
- The last stage is optional, but if you want to give the jam a special taste, you can add: ginger, cinnamon or vanilla. Since these spices are very fragrant, they are enough for jam in a small amount.
Jam with mint
In winter, you can treat yourself to a delicious preparation - sunberry jam.
Ingredients:
- berries - 2 kg;
- sugar - 2 kg;
- lemon - 1 piece;
- mint - 1 handful.
Recipe.
- Nightshade is doused with boiling water, after which the berries are removed from the branches.
- The sepals are separated and washed with water, like lemon and mint leaves.
- Berries, lemon, and mint are passed through a meat grinder.
- Sugar is added to the resulting mixture.
- Everything is mixed together. Jam is cooked after boiling for no more than 20 minutes. It needs to be stirred periodically.
Sunberry with orange
Since quince is included in the ingredients, this type of dessert turns out to have a special taste and is distinguished by its aroma.
Ingredients:
- quince - 6 fruits;
- berries - 1 kg;
- barberry - a handful;
- sugar - 0.5 kg;
- orange - 1 piece;
- water - 100 ml;
- aromatic herbs: lemon balm, ginger, mint (or others - to taste).
Recipe.
- All berries must be washed and sorted. The peel from the quince should be peeled, and then grated (preferably on a large cell).
- In a saucepan combine: quince, sunberry, barberry and orange (previously cut into pieces). Fruits are infused for at least 6 hours.
- When the specified time has passed, water and sugar are added to the pan. The mixture is mixed and boiled for 30 minutes, while you need to be nearby and stir it.
- The jam should be infused for 12 hours, after which you can add some aromatic herbs to your taste and preference.
- The jam is boiled again (already until the mixture is the desired consistency). Then it is bottled.
Not everyone likes oversweetened jam, so the amount of sugar can be halved. Ready-made jam is served with pancakes or pancakes. Hostesses also prepare pies using jam as a filling. As you can see, there is nothing complicated in making sunberry jam. Everyone can master simple recipes, and no one will refuse such a homemade treat. You can safely invite friends and relatives to visit for a tea party.
For information on how to make nightshade jam, see the following video.