Blackcurrants are available for a limited season only. This makes these dark purple fruit, with their fresh, sweet and tart flavour, even more appealing. They have a number of health benefits too. If you’re lucky enough to get hold of any, but are wondering what to do with them, these blackcurrant recipes are here to help you out.
Blackcurrants
July is the season for blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum) here in the Northern hemisphere. For me, blackcurrants are redolent of this, my birthday month. I’ve spent many weeks in July picking blackcurrants, either in our allotment, at friends, but mostly in my mother’s garden. She has the most phenomenal blackcurrant bushes that are now well over fifty years old and still producing prolifically.
Britain with its cool and wet climate grows them very well. I say cool and wet, it’s been extremely dry in my part of Britain this year and the garden and allotment are suffering for it.
Yes, we have an allotment again. We picked up the keys to our new one just a few days ago. It’s in a dreadful state and will require a lot of work to get it into any kind of order. But, it has some fruit bushes on it, including blackcurrants.
If you don’t grow your own or have family and friends that do, look out for them at farmer’s markets. There are also lots of pick your own sites around the UK. Look for dark plump currants with shiny, unbroken skins.
Blackcurrants freeze really well, so if you manage to get hold of more than you need, you can just pop them into the freezer. Place in a sealed bag or container and freeze for up to six months. Unlike many berries, they also store well in the fridge and should be good to go for five or six days after picking.
CT bought a load home from work the other day. As it’s so hot, we’ve mostly been enjoying them as this strawberry rose mint fizz. Only we’ve replaced the strawberries with blackcurrants. I’ve also frozen a load, made smoothies and a blackcurrant fool.
Health Benefits
Blackcurrants have long been known as a health food. They are indeed one of Britain’s top superfoods. They’re chock full of vitamin C after all. Indeed they have four times the amount that oranges have.
But in addition, that dark colour denotes an abundance ofantioxidants, specifically anthocyanins. It has doublethe amount that blueberries have. Plus they contain a decent amount of gamma-linolenic acid.
They are said to boost the immune system, improve eye function and promote levels of healthy bacteria in the gut. Amongst many additional health claims, blackcurrants are meant to be beneficial for stiff muscles and joints and can ease flue symptoms. Personally, I think blackcurrants are fabulous. They taste good too.
All The Blackcurrant Recipes You Will Ever Need
All the blackcurrant recipes you will ever need, may be a bit of a tall claim, but bear with me. I shall be adding to this list as and when I come across suitable ideas. Many of the recipes here can easily be adapted to suit what you have to hand and your own needs.
Breakfast
Blackcurrant compote on top of porridge in the middle of winter is pure delight. You have zing and a beautiful vibrant colour to liven the porridge as well as a taste of summer. I usually try to freeze a few for this very purpose.
There are more ways to enjoy blackcurrants for breakfast however. They’re great in smoothies. Just replace the blueberries and apple with blackcurrants in this blueberry kefir smoothie. Or follow the recipe below.
Blackcurrant & Coconut Smoothie (vegan) from Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Blackcurrant pancakes from All That I’m Eating
Raspberry, blackcurrant & coconut bircher muesli from Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Wheatberry currant salad from Running to the Kitchen
Blackcurrant Recipes for Cakes & Cookies
Blackcurrants make a wonderful fresh, tart and flavoursome addition to bakes. Add them to, or even on top of, cakes, muffins, scones or cookies. They also make for delicious and colourful tarts and pies. The fruits are best used whole, but you can easily make a puree of them too by mashing them up and pushing through a sieve.
Almond blackcurrant bars from me at Tin and Thyme
Blackcurrant brownies from me at Tin and Thyme
Blackcurrant & mint fondant fancies from Phil’s Home Kitchen
Chocolate blackcurrant buckle from me at Tin and Thyme
Oaty blackcurrant flapjacks from Foodie Quine
White chocolate blackcurrant blondies from All That I’m Eating
White chocolate blackcurrant cookies from me at Tin and Thyme
Pudding & Desserts
When it comes to blackcurrant puddings, the first thing that springs to mind is summer pudding. It’s a classic British dessert that both my aunts and my mother used to make. I was never very keen as they made it too tart for my youthful tastes. But I reckon I’d appreciate it much more now. Janice’s late summer pudding recipe below sounds superb with its addition of Framboise.
from me at Tin and Thyme
Blackcurrant meringue pie from Gluten Free Alchemist
from me at Tin and Thyme
Deep-filled blackcurrant pies from Little Sugar Snaps
Summer pudding from Farmersgirl Kitchen
Vanilla cream blackcurrant tart from Only Crumbs Remain
Frozen Desserts
Blackcurrant season is full on summer when frozen desserts come into their own. Blackcurrants make a deliciously refreshing ice-cream or sorbet to help us cope with the hot, hot weather.
Blackcurrant ripple ice cream from me at Tin and Thyme
Blackcurrant sorbet from Only Crumbs Remain
Chocolate sundae royale from me at Tin and Thyme
Frozen blackcurrant yoghurt from Searching for Spice
Summer pudding ice lollies from Farmersgirl Kitchen
Preserving Blackcurrants
I do love to preserve gluts of food so they can be used when the season is but a memory. Jam is the classic way to preserve them. There’s more than one way to make it as you will see below. I also have a fabulous recipe for chilli blackcurrant jam which used to languish in the middle of my blackcurrant brownies post. It now has its very own place in the spotlight. The chilli gives the jam a bit of a lift, but doesn’t blow your head off.
But don’t be tied down to just jam. Have you tried making your own cordial or fruit liqueurs? How about blackcurrant curd or even vinegar?
Blackcurrant cordial from Recipes Made Easy
Easy homemade cassis from me at Tin and Thyme
Blackcurrant gin from Practical Self Reliance
How to make blackcurrant mead from Practical Self Reliance
Bread kvass with blackcurrants from Peter’s Food Adventures
Blackcurrant vinegar from me at Tin and Thyme
Easy Blackcurrant Curdfrom Baking Queen 74
Easy blackcurrant jam from me at Tin and Thyme
Raspberry & blackcurrant jam from Fab Food 4 All
Your Favourite Blackcurrant Recipes
I hope you’ve found something to inspire you with all these beautiful blackcurrant recipes. Let me know if you try any of them. I’m also keen to know what I’ve missed? What are your favourites? Do tell by commenting below.
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Choclette x
All The Blackcurrant Recipes You Will Ever Need. PIN IT.
