Chokeberry, or chokeberry, is a perennial shrub with beautiful small flowers and delicious berries that ripen closer to the end of summer and at the very beginning of autumn (August - September).
Its fruits are rich in carbohydrates, flavonoids, vitamins P, C, tannins and organic acids, and also contain many trace elements: copper and iron, magnesium and manganese, molybdenum, boron, and many others. etc. Therefore, they are widely used in cooking, as well as in the confectionery industry, preparing juices and soft drinks, jams and preserves, marmalade and dyes, as well as wine, liquor and tinctures. Recipes of simpler dishes are also popular, such as aronia, mashed with sugar. This is one of the most economical and affordable options for harvesting its fruits for the winter. It is also widely used for medical purposes as a tasty addition to the general regimen for the treatment of atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension,
hemorrhagic diathesis and gastritis with reduced secretion of hydrochloric acid. Also, chokeberry with sugar is an active choleretic agent, so it can be used for diseases of the liver and biliary tract. Of course, it will not have a pronounced therapeutic effect, and it should not be abused, but as a general strengthening agent, especially in winter, it will help maintain immunity and avoid hypovitaminosis until spring.
Cooking
Chokeberry, grated with sugar, is very tasty in its pure form, and in various combinations with other fruits and berries. So, it can be harvested for the winter with cranberries, currants or raspberries, and its tart, slightly sour taste will enrich any jam or homemade compote. In addition, chokeberry in sugar is one of the simplest options for processing it. For cooking, you only need the berries themselves (0.5 kg), the same amount of sweet apples and a glass of sugar. First you need to carefully sort through all the fruits, excluding spoiled or beaten, and wash under running water. Then peel the apples from the peel and stalks, cut out the seeds and put the halves in an enameled pan and, pouring a small amount of water, cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes until soft, and for flavor you can add cherry leaves there for cooking. At the same time, put the berries in a colander and hold for 5 minutes in boiling water. Then, in order for chokeberry, grated with sugar and apples, to be suitable for food and for older people, you need to wipe all the resulting fruits through a frequent metal sieve in mashed potatoes, and in hot form.
Final stage
Then it remains only to mix everything into a homogeneous mass, gradually pouring granulated sugar, and heat over low heat so that it melts. And if you roll the resulting mashed potatoes in sterilized jars, then in a cool place, chokeberry, grated with sugar and applesauce, will be stored all winter, and even until the next harvest. It is pleasant to use it instead of jam for tea, but you can also fill it with pies, muffins and rolls, decorate cakes and other desserts. Enjoy your meal!