Tipparee (Gooseberry) Preserve
A traditional preserve made from tipparees (gooseberries), cooked with sugar until the syrup reaches a thick, jellied consistency. This sweet preserve can be stored in bottles and enjoyed throughout the year.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Tipparees (gooseberries), shelled and cleaned (Remove pods and wipe away all dust)
- 2 pounds Sugar, granulated (Approximately equal weight to fruit, adjust to taste)
Instructions
- 1Shell or remove the pods from the tipparees. Wipe away all dust with a clean cloth. Using a bamboo skewer or wooden toothpick, prick each tipparee once to allow the syrup to penetrate.
- 2Place the prepared tipparees in a preserving pan or large heavy-bottomed pot. Strew sugar over each layer of fruit as you add them, creating alternating layers. Make the final top layer of sugar thicker than the others, using about one-third of the total sugar for this layer.
- 3Place the pan over medium-low heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Continue cooking until all the juice has been extracted from the fruit and the syrup has thickened considerably. This will take approximately 45-60 minutes.
- 4To test if the preserve is ready, drop a small amount of syrup onto a cold plate. If it congeals and wrinkles when pushed with your finger, the preserve has reached the correct consistency. If not, continue simmering and test again every 5 minutes.
- 5Once the preserve has reached the correct consistency, remove it quickly from the heat. While still warm, carefully ladle or pour the preserve into clean, sterilized glass jars or bottles, leaving about 1/4 inch headspace. Seal immediately with sterilized lids.
- 6Allow the jars to cool completely at room temperature. Once cooled, check that the lids have sealed properly. Store in a cool, dark place. The preserve will keep for several months when properly sealed.
