Although Italian cuisine has a wide variety of dishes, surely expanding with cranberry products might be an idea. This ingredient is still unknown to us, as it is mainly used in American culinary tradition. The basic element of the Mediterranean diet and the simplicity of the dishes is not covered in America, where almost every dish is seasoned with sauces that cover the flavor of the food being cooked. Cranberry, however, thanks to its natural flavor will be able to win over even the most discerning palates.
Cranberry sauce
This is a traditional sauce that accompanies stuffed roast turkey.
Ingredients for 12 people:
450 g fresh cranberries
200 g of brown sugar
240 ml of water
Recipe
Rinse the blueberries, removing the stems. Heat the water in a saucepan and add the sugar, waiting for it to dissolve completely. When the water begins to boil, pour in the blueberries. Adjust the heat so that the water continues to boil and cook until all the blueberries burst. Other ingredients such as orange peel, cinnamon, rosemary and cloves can also be added during boiling. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool. It is necessary to rest in the refrigerator overnight before using the sauce.
Cranberry Holiday Bread
Fruit bread is typical for the festivities of the New Year. It is allowed to rest for a couple of days so that all the flavors blend well together.
Ingredients for 1,500-gram bread:
460 g of sifted flour
200 g of white granulated sugar
4 teaspoons of yeast
1 teaspoon salt
Lemon or orange zest
1 large egg
56 g of melted butter
1 sachet of vanillin
360 ml of milk
120 g of cranberries
90 g of candied peel
60 g toasted and chopped almonds
Recipe
In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and orange zest. In a bowl, process the beaten egg, melted butter, milk, and vanillin. Mix together the liquid and dry ingredients, incorporate the fruit and almonds, and finally pour the mixture into a bread mold. Bake in a preheated oven at 160-170 °C for 70 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack.
Roasted pumpkin with cranberries and sage
Roasted pumpkin with the tart flavor of cranberry berries are the perfect combination for the winter season.
Ingredients for 4 persons:
1 kg hulled pumpkin
1 medium white onion
Dried cranberries
Dried sage
Coarse salt
Oil
Recipe
Let the cranberries soak in a bowl of warm water for 20 minutes. Drain them and set them aside. Cut the squash into cubes and the onion into slices so that it can reach the cooking point at the same time. Place the squash and onion in a bowl and season with the oil and cranberries. Season with sage and salt. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for 30 minutes.
Cranberries Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie is a typical American dessert that never fails on Thanksgiving. The dessert is served with ice cream or whipped cream.
Ingredients for 4 persons:
100 g of cranberries
120 g of white granulated sugar
250 g of pumpkin pulp
3 eggs
1 dl semi-fat cream
Butter
1 roll of shortcrust pastry
Recipe
Mix cranberries with 20 g sugar in a bowl. Grate the pumpkin pulp and pour the eggs, cream, and remaining sugar into the same bowl. Beat well with electric mixer and mix in pumpkin pulp. Grease the mold and roll out the shortcrust pastry. Pour the mixture over the dough and distribute the cranberries. Bake the cake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for 45 minutes.
Cranberries Muffins
Muffins are very similar to plume cakes and were originally made with cornmeal. It is a classic American breakfast dessert.
Ingredients for 10 muffins:
2 handfuls of cranberries
250 g of flour
100 g of sugar
2 eggs
100 g butter
1 sachet of baking powder
1 glass of whole milk
Recipe
In a container, process the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and pour in the flour and baking powder a little at a time. Add the milk and cranberries and continue stirring. Pour the mixture into 10 buttered molds and bake at 180 °C for about 20-25 minutes.
Chocolate Cookies with Cranberries
Chocolate chip cookies are a great idea to bake something tasty and add an unusual twist with cranberries.
Ingredients:
113 g of butter
150 g of sugar
2 eggs
1 yolk
1 sachet of vanillin
245 g of flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch of salt
45 g of cocoa powder
50 g of cranberries
90 g of white chocolate chips
Recipe
Whip the butter and sugar and vanillin until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix. In another bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder. Incorporate the butter from top to bottom and incorporate the cranberries and white chocolate. Pour the dough onto a flat surface, divide it in half and make a roll about 25 cm long from each half. Arrange the two rolls on a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes in a preheated oven at 170 °C.
Cream Cheese Cake and Cranberries
This dessert is very simple to prepare and is usually served with a sauce on the side.
Ingredients for 6-8 people:
For the crust:
100 g of GRHAM crackers crumbs
50 g of ginger cookies
30 g of sugar
80 g of melted butter
For the filling:
227 g of cream cheese
50 g of caster sugar
1 sachet of vanillin
240 ml whipped cream
For the sauce:
300 g of raspberries
200 g fresh cranberries
100 g of sugar
1 tablespoon of masi starch
Lemon or orange zest
Recipe
Crust:
Mix crumbled cookies, sugar, and melted butter. Place the mixture on the bottom and sides of a buttered baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Stuffing:
Whip the cheese for the sugar and vanillin. In a separate bowl, whip the cream and incorporate it, mixing from the bottom up. Using a spoon, spread the filling on the crust and chill overnight.
Cranberry and raspberry sauce:
Mix all ingredients together and cook until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Pear, apple and cranberries crumble
The characteristic feature of this cake is the topping resting on a fresh fruit compote. It is served with cream or vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients for 6 persons:
For the topping:
105 g of flour
155 g of brown sugar
½ teaspoon of cinnamon
¼ teaspoon of salt
70 g of oatmeal
40 g of chopped walnuts
113 g of butter
For the fruit compote:
30-55 g of brown sugar
½ tablespoon of wheat starch
680 g honey
680 g red pears
Recipe
Topping:
Combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, oatmeal and nuts. Mix the butter with the help of a whisk until you get pea-sized crumbs.
Stuffing:
In a bowl, combine the sugar and cornstarch. Peel the pears and apples, cut them into chunks and mix them with the cranberries in the sugar-starch mixture. When the mixture is well blended, pour it into the cake pan and spread the prepared crumble mixture. Bake in a 190 °C oven for 35-45 minutes.
Cranberry Jam
Cranberry jam is the best way to enjoy this fruit all year round. It can be enjoyed on its own or to accompany desserts or roasted meats.
Ingredients for 6 persons:
1 kg of fresh cranberries
400 g white sugar
400 g of brown sugar
Juice and peel of one orange
Cinnamon
Cloves
Candied orange peel
Recipe
Wash the berries and to dry them on a cotton cloth. Grate the orange peel and squeeze out the juice. Place the cranberries, the two kinds of sugar and the orange juice in a saucepan. Add the cinnamon and cloves. Cranberries jam is ready when the berries split, so it is important to pay attention to the cooking point. Pour the still-boiling jam into sterilized jars, cap them tightly and invert until cool.
Candied cranberries
Candied Cranberries are soft and sweet, excellent to use with their syrup to garnish cakes and desserts. The syrup can be used to wet sponge cake and to give color to frostings.
Ingredients for 6 persons:
200 g of cranberries
250 g of sugar
180 ml of water
Recipe
Arrange the cranberries in a steel bowl to be placed in turn in a steaming pot filled with 2 inches of water and brought slowly to a boil. Bring the sugar-water syrup to a boil and pour it over the fruits. Cover with a plate and add enough weight to keep it steady while boiling. Steam the berries for about 45 minutes and allow to cool. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave the berries for 3-4 days at room temperature until they become gelatinous.
Source: The Cranberry – A fruit that never ceases to amaze by Mediserve
