Not everyone appreciates the very tart taste of cornelian cherries. However, when cooked or prepared in another way, the non-toxic cornelian cherries are among the interesting wild fruits. Compared to cherries, cornelian cherries are inconspicuous, but they can be used in many ways in the kitchen and in the household.
What do cornelian cherries taste like?
The taste of cornelian cherries is very tart and sour, which makes it difficult for many people to eat them raw. However, ripe, almost black varieties resemble sour cherries in taste and can be used in many ways in the kitchen, e.g. for jam, jelly, juice or preserved fruits.
Very bitter and sour taste
Ripe cornelian cherries have a very tart and sour taste that discourages most people from eating them raw. That's a shame, because the fruits are rich in vitamin C and, like most wild fruits, are very he althy.
The ripe, almost black varieties of cornelian cherries are an exception. The taste of their fruits is similar to that of sour cherries.
In times of need, cornelian cherries were often used as a substitute for other cherries.
Cornelian cherries – versatile in the kitchen and household
If you don't like raw cornelian cherries, you can process the fruit in several ways:
- Cooking
- Juicing
- Drying
- Insert
- Winemaking
- Roasting seeds
Boiled cornelian cherries can easily be used to prepare tart jam or jelly, juice and compote with the addition of sugar.
Drying is a lot of work, but you can enjoy the dried cornelian cherries all winter long in muesli, fruit salad or game compote. Or you can do like the ancient Romans and pickle the cornelian cherries in wine vinegar like olives. This aromatic variant goes well with many meat and vegetable dishes.
Use in the household
The roasted seeds develop a pleasant vanilla taste. This is what gave the famous Viennese coffee its very special aroma.
The kernels can also be pressed into oil, which can be used to make soap. The residue left over from juicing the fruit is ideal as a natural coloring agent.
Fishing with cornelian cherries
Even fish like cornelian cherries. That's why the pulp was used for fishing in the past.
Liqueur and wine production
The fruits can also be used to make a fruity, slightly sour cornelian cherry wine, which goes very well with sweet dishes.
In Austria, the well-known “Dirndl schnapps” is distilled from cornelian cherries.
Tip
The stones of the cornelian cherry are very difficult to remove by hand. Experienced kitchen experts therefore cook the fruit with stone and then strain the mixture through a sieve or cloth.
