Cowberry pastille

Perhaps the most useful preparation for the winter is dried lingonberries. After all, this wild berry, growing in hard-to-reach swampy places, has a large supply of vitamins, microelements, and even a natural antiseptic. It is during drying that the maximum amount of useful substances is preserved in lingonberries.

You can dry both whole fruits and berry puree. In the first case, an excellent preparation is obtained for the preparation of medicinal tea or decoction. In the second – an ancient dish, pastila, which can be a healthy alternative to sweets.

Lingonberry marshmallow is good because it can be stored for a very long time without any difficult conditions. This dried dessert can be made with just one ingredient, or you can choose a more complex recipe.

The light bitterness and sourness of a not too sweet berry in the sugar-free marshmallow recipe will be appreciated by people who are indifferent to sweets. And those with a sweet tooth will most likely like versions of this dish with sugar or honey. Among the lingonberry marshmallow recipes given in this article, everyone can choose the option to their taste.

Useful properties of dried cranberries 

For a long time lingonberries have been used to treat many diseases. In this plant, both berries and leaves are endowed with useful properties.

Useful properties of dried cranberries:

• thanks to the unique composition, they support the activity of the cardiovascular system (lingonberries contain a lot of vitamins A and C, as well as potassium, magnesium and chromium);
• can be used as a natural antiseptic for sore throats, colds, inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract (lingonberries contain a natural antiseptic – benzoic acid);
• the diuretic property of the fruit also helps to successfully restore the urinary system, fight gout, rheumatism;
• tannins, which are part of dry lingonberries, help to remove harmful substances from the body;
• the copper present in it has a positive effect on the body with problems with the pancreas, hypertension;
• catechins, pectins, organic acids improve digestion by increasing acidity in the stomach and stimulating the production of digestive enzymes (therefore, dried lingonberries are useful for chronic pancreatitis, gastritis with low acidity);
• in addition, juice from this berry helps to quench thirst, relieve intoxication, and improve immunity.

It must be remembered that despite the abundance of useful properties of dried lingonberries, there are also contraindications to its use.

Dried cranberries calories

The nutritional value of lingonberries is difficult to overestimate. It is a storehouse of vitamins, trace elements, amino acids, dietary fiber and proper carbohydrates.

The energy value of a native of the marshes is low, so it is considered a dietary product.

100 g of dried product contains:

• 314 kcal (15,4% of the daily requirement);
• carbohydrates – 80,2 g (35,8% of the daily requirement);
• fat – 1 g;
• proteins – 0,3 g;
• dietary fiber – 2,5 g (23% of the daily requirement);
• water – 16 g.

How to dry cranberries at home

Lingonberry is a richly fruiting plant, the fruits of which are harvested in large volumes from August to September. Unfortunately, this berry quickly deteriorates (crumples, rots), so it is necessary to preserve the crop by preparing a source of nutrients for the winter.

To do this, the collected lingonberries need to be sorted out, separating leaves, moss, small twigs and other debris from it, at the same time removing spoiled berries. And then you can start harvesting in one of many ways (soak in water, cook jam or jam, rub with sugar, cook compote, dry, etc.).

The greatest amount of useful substances will be preserved in soaked and dried lingonberries. For soaking, it is enough to rinse the fruits, fill the container with them and pour clean water. Such a blank will be stored at room temperature until the next harvest. Drying lingonberries will require a lot of effort, but the result will be a product that can be stored for years. In addition, during the drying process, you can prepare a dietary alternative to sweets – marshmallow.

To dry lingonberries, you will need an oven or an electrical appliance.

How to dry lingonberries in the oven

To harvest dried lingonberries in the oven, you must first preheat it to a temperature of 60 ° C. The berries are laid out on a baking sheet in a thin layer (preferably in one).

For convenience, the drying process can be presented step by step:

1. Sort the fruits, wash, dry and put on a baking sheet.
2. Place the tray in the preheated oven.
3. Dry until completely dehydrated (3-4 hours).
4. Place the dried product in jars (it is better if they are glass) and close with nylon lids.

How to dry lingonberries in a dryer

It is more convenient to cook lingonberries in an electric dryer (no need to control the process, mix the product). However, the process will take longer. If dried at a temperature of 60 ° C, then tender fruits may burst, so experienced housewives advise setting a lower temperature in an electric dryer (40–55 ° C). So that small berries do not fall through and do not crumple in the holes of the lattice, you can cover it with gauze.

The main stages of drying:

1. Sort the cranberries, wash and dry.
2. Pour onto the drying rack in a single layer.
3. Dry until completely dry.
4. Pour the dried fruits into a jar and cover with a nylon lid.

The cooking time of lingonberries in an electric dryer depends on the set temperature. At 60 ° C, it will be approximately 12 hours, at 40 ° C – up to 16. Drying is safer at a lower temperature.

The use of dry cranberries

Dried lingonberries are used both for medicinal purposes and as a food product. In addition to the already listed healing properties, it increases appetite and gives strength to the body.

For treatment, teas and decoctions are prepared, while in cooking, dried fruits are used more widely:

• added to yogurt, muesli and ice cream;
• when baking (added to pancakes, pies);
• when preparing sauces;
• compotes are cooked from it;
• covered with icing or simply rolled in powdered sugar (healthy sweets are obtained).

Rules for storing dried lingonberries

To store dried berries, it is better to use glass jars or clay vessels covered with a lid. Shelf life – from 6 to 12 months (until the next fruiting season).

If you grind dried fruits into powder, then the jars need to be sealed very tightly. Such a product can be stored for 5 years, and even more.

Cowberry pastille at home

You can dry not only whole berries, but also lingonberry puree. It turns out a very tasty, long-known dried delicacy – marshmallow. To prepare lingonberry marshmallow, it is necessary to prepare berry puree, and then dry it using one of the available methods.

There are two main ways to make lingonberry puree:

1. From fresh berries. Lingonberries are crushed with a blender until a homogeneous mass is obtained (you can strain the puree for a better consistency).
2. From pre-steamed fruits, you can simmer lingonberries in a pot or cauldron under a lid (to do this, place the container in an oven heated to 70-80 ° C and leave for 3 hours). Or blanch in a saucepan for 10 minutes (for 1 kg of fruit – 1 tablespoon of water), stirring constantly until the berries release juice.

Steamed berries are also crushed in a blender and filtered.

General principles for the preparation of lingonberry pastille

Pastila can be prepared with the addition of various ingredients, but the principle of preparation is the same in all cases.

The technology for obtaining marshmallows is reduced to three stages:

1. Preparation of mashed potatoes (one of the methods described above).
2. Boiling the mixture (to the consistency of liquid sour cream).
3. Preparation of lingonberry marshmallows in a dryer (in an oven on parchment, at a temperature of 80 ° C, the process may take 2-6 hours, depending on the thickness of the layer, in an electrical appliance – a little longer).

The dried marshmallow will peel off the parchment paper easily. When ready, it can be cut into pieces, sprinkled with powdered sugar and put in a storage container.

Making lingonberry marshmallow in a dehydrator is a fairly simple process, although it takes time.

Sugar-free cranberry pastille

This recipe is the easiest. All you need is lingonberries. Cooking steps:

1. Puree can be prepared in any way, but more useful properties will be preserved when using the option without thermal effects on the fruit.
2. Place the resulting mass on a baking sheet (layer thickness should not exceed 3 mm) and send to the oven for 2 hours.
3. Put another layer on the dry layer and send it to dry again (4-5 layers should be obtained in total, but you can do less).
4. Cut the finished marshmallow into slices and store in a dry, dark place.

Cowberry pastille with honey

Cowberry marshmallow with the addition of honey has a pleasant taste and aroma, and also carries the beneficial properties of wild berries and flower nectar. For 1 kg of cranberries take about 400 g of honey.

Stages of preparation:

1. The lingonberry puree is boiled down a little, then it is allowed to cool.
2. Combine the berry mass with honey and mix thoroughly until a homogeneous consistency (you can beat).
3. Dry the resulting mixture as usual, in thin layers.
4. The finished marshmallow is cut into pieces and stored in a dry, dark place.

For the preparation of this marshmallow, rapeseed honey is usually taken, which crystallizes better.

Recipe for lingonberry pastille with sugar

Cowberry marshmallow with sugar will replace sweets for sweet tooth, while it is much healthier. For 1 kg of berries, 200 g of granulated sugar will be required.

Step-by-step recipe:

1. Pour sugar into the finished puree, constantly stirring the mixture.
2. When the sugar crystals are completely dissolved, the mass is boiled until thickened.
3. Then they are dried in one of the standard ways.
4. The finished marshmallow is cut into beautifully shaped pieces and packaged for storage.

Cowberry and apple pastille

The most popular fruits for making marshmallows are apples. Puree from them is well whipped, and lingonberry marshmallow with the addition of an apple becomes airy.

To prepare this delicacy take:

• apples – 6 pcs.;
• lingonberries – 4 tbsp.;
• granulated sugar – 1,5 tbsp.

Cooking process:

1. Lingonberries and apples, peeled and core, are steamed together and mashed.
2. Add sugar and stir the mixture until it is completely dissolved and beat.
3. For drying, the mass is laid out in a thin layer (3-4 mm) and sent to the dehydrator until completely dry, then the process is repeated, increasing from 3 to 5 layers (you can make a single-layer marshmallow, then it is not cut, but simply twisted into a roll).
4. The dried product is cut into cubes and placed in a container.

Pastila from Antonovka does not require boiling and it turns out especially tasty.

Delicious lingonberry pastille with blueberries

Lingonberries and blueberries often coexist in the forest, and the combination of bitterness of the first and tart sweetness of the second is very successful.

To make pasta you will need:

• 1 kg of lingonberries;
• 0,5 kg blueberries;
• 300 d Sahara.

Cooking process:

1. Mix the berry puree with sugar and stir until the crystals are completely dissolved.
2. Whip the mixture in a blender until thick.
3. A homogeneous mass is spread on a pallet in a thin layer, dried, the process is repeated, increasing the layers.
4. The finished dried sweetness is cut into pieces and laid out in storage containers.

Rules for storing lingonberry marshmallow

Marshmallow can be stored as a whole sheet (for convenience, it is rolled up and tied with twine). But it is more convenient to pack sweets cut into pieces.

For the best option, the dried billet is best placed in a glass container and stored in the refrigerator. If there is a lot of marshmallow and it is supposed to be stored for a long time, then the product is placed in an airtight bag and frozen.

Conclusion

Among all the healthy products that increase immunity and improve health, it is difficult to find a tastier one than dried lingonberries. The wide possibilities of using this berry in cooking make it more and more popular. It is safe to say that the regular use of dried lingonberries for food is the path to health and longevity.