2-Step Redcurrant Cordial

Redcurrants are packed with Vitamin C and contain many healthy nutrients.  This recipe from Making and Living's A Very Red Currant Cordial  is a great recipe and I make batches of it throughout the year.  

Utensils
This is what I use.   A jelly bag is not vital: mine is a recent purchase. For years I have used a piece of muslin tied to an upturned stool with a bowl underneath! It worked perfectly well.

Set up your jelly bag or straining equipment and have your utensils ready.

Ingredients
Redcurrants (As many as you can!)
Sugar (You will use 400g for each 1L of juice)
Juice of a lemon
Fresh redcurrants are best, but I use home-grown, frozen redcurrants. 
The results are good and it can be made out of season. 

Step 1
Wash and destalk the redcurrants.  You can use a fork and pull down the length of the stalk, so the berries drop off. 

Heat in a large pan, gradually bringing the berries to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes until the berries are soft and the juice flowing.

Pour the berries into your jelly bag and strain off the liquid into a bowl.  Leave it for 3 hours or overnight if you have time.

Step 2
Sterilise your bottles.  Wash bottles in hot soapy water.  Heat your oven to 150C, 325F or Gas Mark 3 and put the wet bottles and lids on a baking tray in the middle of the oven and leave for 15 minutes or until they are dry. Remove from the oven a few minutes before you need them (to cool a little).

Measure your juice in a jug.

For each litre of juice you have, add 400g of sugar and return to the pan.  Add the lemon juice and reheat gently.  Stir until the liquid is simmering and the sugar has dissolved.
  
Be careful not to overheat your cordial or it will turn to jelly! 

1.5L of juice yielded this much cordial :) 

Links
A Very Red Currant Cordial Recipe by Making and Living
7 Health Benefits of Redcurrants
The Properties of Redcurrants
Nutrients Found in Redcurrants

See more recipes on my Blog's Food and Drink Recipes and Pinterest pages.

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