Gooseberries
If you are unfamiliar with them, trying gooseberries can be something of an adventure. These homely little berries look a great deal like grapes, and even have something of a similar texture, but their sour taste can be a little bit shocking if you are unprepared. The fact is, gooseberries are quite popular in various desserts and toppings, and you’ll find that with a little bit of research that they can be quite beneficial for you.
Though they are quite small, gooseberries pack a serious punch when it comes to potassium. A generous amount of potassium in your diet has proven to be amazingly useful when it comes to bringing down high blood pressure and taking care of the problems associated with hypertension. Similarly, gooseberries also carry high amounts of vitamin A and vitamin C, a healthy portion of which is essential to healthy function. Gooseberries are often recommended to women who are pregnant due to these properties.
First and foremost, gooseberries can be eaten straight from the carton. As mentioned before, they are much like grapes, though they lack the bitter seeds, and can be eaten whole. Some people are a little put off by the tartness of the berries, but find that if you split them in town and sprinkle some sugar on top, they can be quite agreeable. While many people find that the addition of sugar is essential to this fruit, other people will actually add salt to it instead.
You’ll also find that there are some great desserts that can be made with gooseberries. Try mixing some diced gooseberries and strawberries, simmering them with sugar and either fruit juice or white wine and adding some potato starch, and then chilling. The resulting thickened syrup is terrific on pancakes, waffles or crepes and is quite popular in Europe, particularly the Scandinavian countries. You’ll also find plenty of recipes for gooseberry fool, a particularly delicious dessert if you look online.
This is a terrific fruit to try if you are in the mood for something different, so try searching it out at your local grocery store or farmers’ market. They’ll range in color from pale green to reddish purple, and remember to ask for samples to see what you are getting in to! There are many different ways to eat gooseberries, so take a look online and find out how this fresh and surprisingly tasty fruit can suit you.
