Gardening - Nature - Recipes

Pretty Green Globes: Gooseberries for Jam and Pie

gooseberries

Berries have always been valued in my family as a special treat. When I was a kid it was mainly strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. There are so many more.  I am developing an appreciation for gooseberries,     elderberries and currants.

The latter three grow well in my backyard. Gooseberries, elderberries and currants don’t seem to mind our clay soil—although I have worked at enriching it with peat and in the fall add a layer of dried grass or shredded leaves. These berry bushes don’t need much care, just need to be picked.

Gooseberries

The gooseberries are ripening. My two-year-old grandson was fascinated with the little green globe. He held one in his hand turning it around and gazing at the stripes with wonder. So much to wonder at in nature. God has created so much for us to enjoy!

Have you ever tasted a gooseberry? My grandson took a tentative little bite. It is rather sour but good for jam and pie.

Two cookbooks are helpful in providing directions for gooseberry jam: Cooking with Wild Berries and Fruits by Teresa Marrone and Stocking Up from Rodale Press. According to Teresa Marrone’s book, green gooseberries (not quite ripe) contain enough pectin to make a simple jam without added pectin.

The first step is to cook the gooseberries with a little water (2 or 3 Tablespoons of water per cup of berries). Bring the berries to a boil and then simmer for approximately 10 minutes. Mash the berries with a potato masher.   Next add the sugar (or honey) gradually—approximately ½ cup to ¾ cup per cup of berries. I tend to taste the mixture several times as I continue to add the sweetener. A combination of sugar & honey works also. I like a tart jam. When the sugar is well mixed in, bring the mixture to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. When I am using honey as a sweetener I add additional pectin–homemade pectin–in the last minute of cooking. (BTW – If you add a pat of butter to the boiling fruit, it won’t spit at you.)

The final step is to ladle into sterile jars and process in a hot water bath. I process half-pint jars for 10 minutes. Gooseberry jam has an interesting color and rich flavor.

gooseberry jam

Gooseberries are good in pie also. I freeze some of the gooseberries for apple/gooseberry pies.

Marrone, Teresa, Cooking with Wild Berries and Fruits, Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications, Inc. 2009 p. 70

Stoner, Carol, editor, Stocking Up, Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press.

Linking with Our Simple HomesteadFrom the FarmTuesdays with a TwistHappy, Healthy, Green & Natural,  Mom to Mom Mondays, Sue’s Wordless Wednesday,  the Art of Homemaking and  Seasons

Carol is a follower of Jesus and a wife, mom & grandma. She worked for many years as a childbirth nurse and prenatal educator. She recently retired from clinical work. She has written articles for nursing journals and devotionals. Her novel, Aliisa's Letter, was published in 2010 and she is currently working on another project.

11 Comments on “Pretty Green Globes: Gooseberries for Jam and Pie

  1. I grew up with wild berries and other fruit in our yard. We made wonderful jams and preserves from them so I am delighted that you shared the joys of using healthy and delicious Gooseberries for Jam and Pie with us at the Healthy Happy Green Natural Party! I’m Pinning and sharing this!

  2. I didn’t know about these berries. Would love to try them (and having them in pie sounds delicious).

  3. Lovely! I had to plant a couple of gooseberry bushes because my daughter loves the jam… (for waffles). I use brown sugar.
    We used to have the large green sort in my childhood. A neighbour had lots of bushes with small, tasty red ones, and we children could eat as much as we wanted 🙂

  4. Nostalgic memories of picking them as a teen:) But never tasted them as a jam. Thanks for the recipe, and sharing this with SEASONS – much valued:)
    Also, I had no idea you were a grand mother! Have a great week, Carol!

  5. I’ve had currants in one form or another, but never gooseberries or elderberries. It’s such an interesting fruit, I ever would have known what it was. They’re kind of pretty with the sun shining on them like that.

  6. Oh … pretty, pretty! I’ve heard of gooseberries but never have seen them here in the northeast. But any kind of berry is a friend of mine … especially in pies or jams.

    Fun post, Carol!

    ;-}

  7. Hello, I am not familiar with these berries. Right now we are seeing the raspberries growing wild. Our blueberries are not ripe yet and the strawberries are always finished. I do love various types of berries as long as they are sweet. Great post and photos. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week ahead!

Comments are closed.