Sunday, December 21, 2008

Gooseberry Recipes You Should Try

By KC Kudra

If you are not familiar with them, gooseberries can seem strange. These little berries look a lot like grapes - even their texture is similar. However, pop one in your mouth and you will be surprised by their sourness. However, despite their sour flavor, there are lots of things that can be done with this fruit. They are delicious in toppings and deserts, and a little research will show that they are good for you, too.

Though they are quite small, gooseberries pack a serious punch when it comes to potassium. A generous amount of potassium in your diet has proven to be amazingly useful when it comes to bringing down high blood pressure and taking care of the problems associated with hypertension.

Similarly, gooseberries also carry high amounts of vitamin A and vitamin C, a healthy portion of which is essential to healthy function. Gooseberries are often recommended to women who are pregnant due to these properties. In addition, because the vitamins come in an organic and natural form your body will assimilate it better.

First and foremost, gooseberries can be eaten straight from the carton. As mentioned before, they are much like grapes, though they lack the bitter seeds, and can be eaten whole. This makes them great candidates for desserts, as you do not have to worry about removing unwanted seeds. This is also a major time saver too.

Some people are a little put off by the tartness of the berries, but find that if you split them in two and sprinkle some sugar on top, they can be quite agreeable. While many people find that the addition of sugar is essential to this fruit, other people will actually add salt to it instead.

There are also many excellent desserts that feature gooseberries. One option is mixing diced strawberries and gooseberries, and then simmering them with fruit juice, wine, or sugar. Add a little potato starch to thicken, and then chill the liquid.

The resulting thickened syrup is terrific on pancakes, waffles, or crepes and is quite popular in Europe, particularly the Scandinavian countries. You will also find plenty of recipes for "gooseberry fool," a particularly delicious dessert if you look online.

This fruit makes a great choice any time you are interested in trying something a little different. You can sometimes find gooseberries in your local grocery store. If yours does not carry them, try checking the farmer's market. Gooseberries range from light green to purplish red. Like grapes, they can be very different in flavor, so remember to ask for a sample. There are lots of different ways to eat gooseberries. Just look online to find more gooseberry recipes, and discover more about this tasty, but lesser known fruit. - 15266

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