Red currant recipes showcase this short lived summer fruit in all the best ways. Once picked, red currants are delicious when added to baked goods, made into sauces, or preserved in various forms.
For many, the word currant brings to mind small dried raisin-like fruits, known as Zante currants. True currents are more akin to gooseberries, growing on dense bushes with berries in shades of black, red, white, and pink. Red currants in particular are a pleasing treat that can be incorporated into many dishes.
Red currants have a short cultivation season, often ripening over a two week period in mid-June to mid-July. This can sometimes result in a large collection of red currants at one time that needs to be quickly used.
You can of course preserve red currants by freezing the fruit or making them into jam and jelly – but there are plenty of recipes to help use up those fresh puckery berries as well if you find yourself with a bumper crop.
Redcurrants are a delicious summer fruit that have a lovely tart and tangy flavor. However their short season means you need to use them up quickly before they go bad. This article will provide you with 23 amazing ideas for using up fresh redcurrants so none go to waste!
Redcurrants are small, bright red berries that grow in clusters on shrubs and bushes. They have a tart, tangy taste somewhat similar to cranberries but are smaller and juicier.
Redcurrants have a very short growing season, usually ripening for just 1-2 weeks in mid-summer. Once picked, they only last about a week before spoiling so it’s important to use them up quickly
Their high natural pectin content makes redcurrants excellent for jams, jellies, sauces and more. When cooking with them, a little sweetener can balance out their tartness nicely.
Below are 23 delicious ways to use fresh redcurrants before they go bad!
Fresh Redcurrant Recipes
Redcurrant Salsa
Dice redcurrants and mix with tomatoes, onion, cilantro and lime juice for a sweet-tart salsa to serve with tortilla chips.
Spicy Red Currant Chutney
Cook redcurrants down into a chunky chutney with raisins, vinegar, brown sugar and spices. Perfect paired with Indian dishes, grilled meats or sharp cheeses.
Red Currant Crostini
Top toasted bread slices with soft cheese like goat cheese or ricotta. Top with fresh redcurrants and a drizzle of honey.
Red Currant Salad Dressing
Puree redcurrants with olive oil, shallots, honey and herbs like thyme for a sweet-tart vinaigrette dressing for salads.
Red Currant Sauce for Meat
Simmer mashed redcurrants with chicken or vegetable stock and sweeten slightly to make a delicious sauce for pork, chicken, fish and more.
Redcurrant Desserts and Baked Goods
Red Currant Pie
Make a simple pie with fresh redcurrants mixed with sugar and tapioca starch baked in a pie crust. Serve warm with ice cream.
Red Currant Scones
Mix chopped redcurrants into the dry ingredients when making scones. Bake and top with sugar glaze or lemon curd.
Red Currant Muffins
Stir fresh redcurrants into muffin batter before baking for fruity muffins with a tart kick. They go great with morning coffee.
Red Currant Cake
Fold chopped redcurrants into vanilla or lemon cake batter before baking. Brush the finished cake with jelly glaze.
Red Currant Cheesecake
Make a graham cracker crust and fill with cream cheese mixture studded with fresh redcurrants before baking for a delicious cheesecake.
Red Currant Ice Cream
Mix mashed redcurrants into your favorite vanilla ice cream base before churning for a refreshing summer treat.
Red Currant Sorbet
Puree redcurrants with simple syrup and lemon juice, then freeze into a tangy, brilliantly-hued sorbet.
Red Currant Smoothies
Add a handful of redcurrants to your favorite smoothie recipe for a nutritional boost and pop of bright flavor.
Red Currant Lemonade
Muddle redcurrants and blend with lemon juice and simple syrup for a homemade lemonade with extra zing.
Red Currant Margaritas
Muddle redcurrants and mix with tequila, lime juice and orange liqueur over ice for a fun twist on margaritas.
Red Currant Mojitos
Muddle fresh redcurrants and mix with rum, mint, lime juice and club soda for a sweet-tart mojito.
Preserving Redcurrants
Red Currant Jam
Cook mashed redcurrants with sugar over low heat, then fill sterilized jars. Keeps for up to a year refrigerated.
Red Currant Jelly
Strain cooked redcurrant jam through a cheesecloth to remove seeds and skins. Fill jars with the strained jelly.
Red Currant Syrup
Simmer redcurrants with sugar and water then strain to yield a sweet-tart syrup that’s delicious on pancakes or mixed into drinks.
Pickled Redcurrants
Pack sterilized jars with fresh redcurrants, vinegar, sugar and spices. Refrigerate for up to 3 months.
Frozen Redcurrants
Spread fresh redcurrants in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze solid. Transfer to freezer bags to store up to one year.
Dried Redcurrants
Dehydrate fresh redcurrants in a dehydrator or low oven until completely dried. Store in an airtight container for up to one year.
Red Currant Wine or Liqueur
Steep redcurrants in vodka or wine for several weeks to infuse the flavors. Strain and rebottle the infused alcohol.
Savory Redcurrant Dishes
Red Currant Glazed Roast Pork
Brush roast pork with redcurrant jelly mixed with mustard and herbs while roasting for a delicious sweet and savory glaze.
Red Currant Duck Breast
Pan sear duck breast and make a quick pan sauce from the drippings with redcurrant jelly, balsamic, shallots and thyme.
Red Currant Meatballs
Mix a jar of redcurrant jelly into the ground meat when forming meatballs or meatloaf for sweet-tart flavor.
Red Currant Chicken Salad
Toss chopped chicken breast with mayo, celery, red onion and fresh redcurrants for an elegant salad.
Grilled Salmon with Red Currant Relish
Mix a relish of redcurrants, shallot and mustard and serve over grilled salmon fillets for a fast weeknight dinner.
As you can see, redcurrants are extremely versatile! Their brilliant color and zippy flavor liven up both sweet and savory dishes. With this wide variety of redcurrant recipe ideas, you can easily use up a bumper crop of fresh currants before they spoil.
Turn them into jams and desserts, mix into drinks, or incorporate into sauces for meat. Freezing and dehydrating lets you save currants to use all year long.
So next time you spot redcurrants at the market, grab a few baskets. With this arsenal of recipes, you’ll have no problem putting them to delicious use!
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Red Currant Drink Recipes
The thought of all those tempting dishes making you thirsty? Let’s check out some red currant drink recipes then! Red currants can be added to kid-friendly beverages like sweet tea or lemonade. Make red currant juice to store and splash into other beverages. Currants can be blended into smoothies along with yogurt, blueberries, bananas and other antioxidant-rich red berries.
And for the adults, you’ll find plenty of cocktails and other mixed drinks. Try margaritas, cosmos and minty mojitos for a refreshing summer evening treat. And if you’re feeling international, be sure to try making mors, a traditional Russian berry drink. Commonly enjoyed in the summer months, it is made with boiled berries and sugar with spices occasionally added. For an adult version, try serving with a shot of vodka, or even red currant gin.
Alcohol-free
Adult Beverages
Fresh Red Currant Recipes
You can incorporate fresh currants into everything from salads and tongue-teasing appetizers to decadent desserts. Add red currants to diced cucumbers, tomatoes and onions for a refreshing and colorful salsa. Try red currants in a spicy chutney with thick crackers.
Too much cooking involved? Try toasting crostini and topping it with soft cheese and fresh currants. Add a drizzle of honey or olive oil and sprinkle with rosemary. Red currants can also be added to salads or made into dressings. Try pairing with figs, cucumbers, or even shrimp.
Fruit salads can benefit from a dose of red currants as well – their sharper taste can create balance with sweeter fruits like strawberries or raspberries. Additionally, fresh currants can be added to tarts and pies. Consider blending with other fruits like blueberries and other sweet berries or stone fruit.
Appetizers
Salads & Dressings
Sometimes the best way to use up a glut of red currants is to simply preserve them so you can enjoy the fruit throughout the year. You can of course freeze red currants or dry them to add to baked goods later on.
In still more methods of preservation, red currants can be made into jams and jellies and sealed for the long winter. Below you’ll find both sweet and spicy recipes for jelly as well as sweet jams made solely from red currants as well as with the addition of other fruits.
Ever wonder how to use all that red currant jelly? Cooks Illustrated recommends adding it to meats, charcuterie boards, and even tea.
Freezing and Storing
Jams and Jellies
How To Make Redcurrant Jelly (Easy Recipe)
FAQ
What can you do with fresh red currants?
Redcurrants, with their high pectin content, make beautiful jellies full of vigour that are perfect on toast or stirred into gravies and sauces to be served with lamb and game. Fresh redcurrants are essential in summer pudding, but also marry beautifully with strawberries for a cool, elegant, healthy dessert.
Why were redcurrants banned?
The federal government had banned the cultivation of black and red currants in 1911 when the burgeoning timber industry pressured legislators to eliminate currants because they were thought to be an intermediate host to pine white rust.
What is the best way to eat red currants?
While they are sour, they tend to be less sour than gooseberries so they can be eaten raw: sprinkle them on your morning yogurt or just eat them by the handful.Jul 20, 2015
Can red currants be eaten raw?
This bright, translucent, sweet and slightly sour berry is difficult to find in many areas, and is similar to the cranberry and gooseberry in it’s tartness. The fruit can be eaten raw without a sweetener, that’s part of it’s magical quality.
What can I do with red currants?
Here are some great uses for your red currants. Most turn out best with fresh red currants, but you can also use frozen red currant. A ruby red, sweet n easy red currant jelly recipe without pectin. A delicious breakfast hit with butter and bread or gift it to a beloved family member or friend.
What are the best red currant recipes?
Enter the Sparkling Red Currant Cosmopolitan. So if you’re thinking of trying your hand at cooking with red currants, I’ve got these BEST currant recipes for you. From tarts and pies to jams, cakes, and even smoothies—you get every shade of red currant goodness here. #24 is a real decadent surprise. 1. Red Currant Muffins
How do you eat red currants?
Sprinkle fresh berries into crepes or sweet omelets, or toss a little red currant jam atop some pancakes for a tart and sweet breakfast treat. Top with fresh berries for added flourish. Red currants can also be implemented in savory dishes.
What are red currants used for?
Red currants can be used in many dishes from salads to jams or made into sauces, syrups or liqueurs. In Russia, red currants are used to make wine and juices, while in Austria, it is a popular filling for Linzer Tortes. You can incorporate fresh currants into everything from salads and tongue-teasing appetizers to decadent desserts.
Can you freeze red currants?
Sometimes the best way to use up a glut of red currants is to simply preserve them so you can enjoy the fruit throughout the year. You can of course freeze red currants or dry them to add to baked goods later on. In still more methods of preservation, red currants can be made into jams and jellies and sealed for the long winter.
Can You Dry Red Currants in a dehydrator?
The best way to use up your fresh red currant + a simple recipe to dry red currants in a dehydrator. Wash your berries well to get rid of all impurities. Dry them carefully with a clean kitchen towel. Keep in mind that red currants can stain. You don’t want extra water on the berries as this can prolong the drying process.