Red currants: useful properties and contraindications

Bright red berries and sprawling branches - so looks familiar to many from childhood red currants. It is also commonly referred to as "porechka" due to the fact that in the wild it is found mainly along the banks of rivers. The fruits of this shrub have a sour-sweet taste and rich flavor, excellent for cooking various dishes and drinks.

What is the difference between red currant and black currant

Red and black currants are similar to each other, but they also have a number of differences. Red berries are sourer than black ones, they do not have a bright aroma and taste. Black currants are characterized by a sweeter, richer flavor and aroma, they contain much more ascorbic acid. But red currants, in turn, are characterized by a fairly high content of vitamin A.

Not only the berries of these varieties differ from each other, but also the bushes themselves. For example, black currant - a lush shrub with large leaves, its branches are thicker and flowers are larger, as, indeed, the berries themselves, red - has not such a lush bushes, smaller leaves and berries.

Which currants are healthier: red or black?

Champion by the number of vitamins and other valuable elements - black currants. It contains a record amount of vitamin C, in which it is second only to rosehips. Red currants contain this vitamin in slightly smaller amounts, but can also easily make up for its daily norm for the human body.

Composition and calories

Red currants contain many useful substances, including vitamins B group, PP, C, carotene, as well as iron, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and sodium.

This berry is quite low in calories - it has only 39 kcal per 100 grams. Of those, 7.3 g are carbohydrates, 0.2 g are fats and 0.6 g are proteins. Such a composition of macronutrients allows you to include red currants in the menu of thinners and those who seek to maintain a figure.

What are the benefits of red currants

General benefits

The fact that the considered berry is useful, mankind has been convinced for a very long time. It is grown on almost every plot, and is also an indispensable crop of many industrial farms. Although this berry is quite sour, eating it is very important. It helps to cope with many ailments, as well as generally strengthen the immune system and improve overall health.

Due to the large amount of vitamin C, red currants can boost the immune system and help to overcome colds and viral diseases. Potassium and magnesium help with cardiovascular problems, carotene improves visual acuity, and sufficient fiber content improves digestion.

For women

Red currants are an extremely useful product for women. Due to the content of vitamins and minerals, this berry can improve the condition of the skin, hair and nails. Also, the fruit contains a sufficient amount of iron, which helps to increase hemoglobin, as well as improve the condition of women during menstruation. This is the main advantage of red currants for a woman's body, if they are used regularly, to increase stress resistance, mood and improve the general condition of the body.

In addition, this berry helps to control appetite, which means - to keep yourself in shape. The low glycemic index and low calories make red currants an excellent product for health and a slender figure.

For men

Men who are engaged in physical labor or often go to the gym, need to consume carbohydrate-containing products. One of them are berries, in particular - red currants. Its sugars are digested slowly, which allows you to maintain energy at the proper level for a long time.

Those who are not very fond of sour berries with lots of small seeds may like the juice. You can dilute it by half with water and add sugar or honey to taste. But since there is no fiber in the juice - one of the useful properties of red currants will be lost.

Pregnancy

Since during pregnancy on the body of the future mother is a huge burden, there is a question: is it possible to eat currants, because it has so many vitamins and other useful substances? Doctors say that there is no unambiguous ban on the use of this berry during pregnancy, but you should take into account the individual characteristics of the female body, her susceptibility to allergies, as well as observe the reaction after some time of eating red currants.

In the absence of allergies and other negative effects from the use of this berry can only bring benefits to the body of the future mother and her baby.

Currants strengthen the immune system, and also help to overcome colds and viral diseases for pregnant women, who are forbidden to take most medications to treat such ailments. Also, this berry fills the body with valuable substances, has a draining effect and normalizes the digestive process.

Another important property of red currants is the increase of resistance to stress and improvement of the emotional background. Regular use of this berry will help women to cope with all the difficulties of pregnancy and prevent the development of postpartum depression.

When breastfeeding

Red currants during breastfeeding is allowed to eat only if the baby is not subject to allergies and he does not suffer from colic. Then this berry will really bring only good, filling the breast milk with useful substances. But if mom notices any negative reaction in the child, and the day before she tried red currants, from this delicacy it is better to give up for a while.

The use of red currants is recommended only after the baby is at least 3 months old. You should also be careful with the introduction to the diet of these berries, as well as any other product. You should start with 2-5 berries, gradually increasing the portion to 50-100 grams. It is desirable that a nursing mother is not raw berries, and cooked, adding them to different dishes or making them a drink.

For children

Since red currants are quite allergenic berries (due to their bright scarlet color), they should be introduced into children's diet very carefully. In the absence of allergies, it is allowed to give morsels, compote or diluted red currant juice to children after 7 months. At first you should give your baby a spoonful of this drink, the next day you can give two spoons, and if all is well, another day later increase the portion again, bringing the volume to 30-50 ml by 9 months. Whole berries in raw form should not be offered to children under 12 months of age.

Red currants are useful for children because they contain many vitamins and trace elements. It helps with colds, increases hemoglobin, helps maintain vision, and strengthens the baby's immune system, which is especially important in the first years of life.

When losing weight

To get your figure in order, first of all you need to change your diet. It is important to include a sufficient amount of fiber, which promotes good digestion and normalizes metabolic processes in the body. Red currants are also able to remove excess cholesterol, normalize blood sugar levels and make up for the lack of vitamins and other nutrients during the diet.

To lose weight with red currants, you need to include them in your daily diet. You can use this berry both fresh and as part of various dishes and drinks. Red currants eliminate the feeling of hunger for a long time and satiate energy, which makes them an indispensable product for weight loss.

Are frozen red currants good for you?

The best way to store red currants is freezing. This berry does not lose its properties when frozen, so it is just as useful frozen as it is fresh. Tasty and low-calorie product can be on the table of those who care about their health, throughout the year, as it is easy enough to make. It is enough to inspect the berries for damage, rinse them thoroughly, dry them, pack them in bags or other containers for freezing and place them in the freezer.

Frozen red currants can be used to make delicious compotes, morsels, jam, as well as add them to pies, casseroles and other pastries, make it into jellies, juice and even wine. Frozen red currants can be consumed in the same way as fresh ones, since they do not lose their flavor qualities when frozen.

Useful properties of red currant leaves

Useful properties possess not only the berries of red currants, but also the leaves, which contain a considerable amount of valuable substances. The greens of this shrub has:

1. Diuretic action, which allows you to use it in the treatment of cystitis and some other diseases of the urogenital system.
2. The ability to increase immunity and treat colds and viral diseases.
3. Relieve fatigue and nervous tension.

All these properties of red currant leaves indicate that this product is extremely beneficial for humans. The leaves can be brewed instead of tea or made into a decoction. You can prepare the leaves for the winter by drying.

The benefits of red currant preserves

The leek is a valuable berry that is useful both fresh and cooked. It makes a great variety of delicious dishes, which retain many vitamins and other useful substances. From red currants are made such drinks as compote, morses, juice and wine, as well as making desserts: jellies, jam, etc.

Juice

The benefits of red currant juice are obvious, since it contains the maximum amount of vitamins and minerals. Juice can be diluted with water and add sugar or honey to taste. It is worth taking it to improve the immune system or help the body to overcome a cold. It is also useful for vitamin B deficiency, C, PP, low hemoglobin and chronic fatigue.

It is recommended to give juice to children prone to anemia and rickets, but you should not start introducing this product earlier than 7 months of age, and better - after one year. Juice should be given in diluted form, starting with one spoonful and gradually bringing it to the desired volume (usually 50-100 ml).

Jam

Red currants are an excellent berry for making jam. It is not sugary sweet, but sour, so this jam does not need the addition of other berries and fruits. It should be noted that in red currant jam, many useful substances of the original raw material are preserved, so such a treat will not only be a delicious addition to the tea, but also a contribution to your own health.

Jelly

There are several options for cooking jelly from red currants, but all of them have the juice of this useful berry in their base, which makes the dessert itself a very valuable product. Jelly from red currants is an excellent treat for children and adults, it will be a great addition to a tea party, as well as replenish the body lacking vitamins and trace elements, increase immunity and strengthen the overall condition.

Compote

Made from red currants compote - a tasty and healthy drink that can be consumed fresh or made for the winter. Many people like the sour taste of compote from red currants, and considering that this drink contains many vitamins and minerals, we can definitely say - red currant compote turns out to be one of the best. You can prepare it with the addition of other berries or fruits, but here it all depends on individual taste preferences.

The benefits of red currant compote lies in its composition, which preserves a sufficient number of vitamins and trace elements. It is recommended to drink for colds, general fatigue, low immunity and simply as a delicious dessert drink.

Mors

A very useful drink made of red currant berries is a morsel, cooked according to the classic recipe, which involves minimal heat treatment of berries. A morsel of red currants has a rich flavor and has a number of useful properties. It helps to cure a number of ailments:

• Nausea and vomiting;
• digestive problems;
• diseases of the gallbladder;
• reduction and lack of appetite;
• Colds, accompanied by a high fever.

Regular consumption of red currant morsels strengthens human health, and replenishes spent energy and vitamin reserves in the body.

Wine

Red currant wine is an alcoholic drink, the consumption of which should be very moderate. But this does not mean that it should be excluded at all. A small amount of homemade red currant wine will have a restorative effect, improve blood values and its renewal, normalize the cardiovascular and nervous system, accelerate the regenerating processes of damaged tissues.

Just one glass of red currant wine will allow the dinner to be digested, and will also improve the absorption of iron from food. But regular consumption of two or more glasses of any wine, including currant wine, can lead to the opposite result - the deterioration of all indicators of health and alcohol dependence.

Red currants in medicine

Red currants contain a large amount of vitamins, as well as potassium, iron, carotene, malic and succinic acid, pectin and nitrogenous substances, selenium and other elements. Such a valuable composition allows us to call this berry a real treasure trove of useful substances. Scientists have proved that red currants have the ability to destroy cancer cells and prevent the formation of new ones. Because of its rich composition and amazing properties of red currants took a place of honor in folk medicine. It is recommended to use it for many diseases.

In case of diabetes

Red and black currants are approved for use by people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Thanks to the high content of pectin and fiber, the carbohydrates in their composition are absorbed quite slowly, without causing a sharp spike in insulin in the blood.

In addition to the fact that red currants can be a product that brings variety to the diabetic menu, this berry can significantly improve the condition of the person suffering from diabetes. For therapeutic purposes, you need to eat fresh or frozen berries whole, limiting the volume of 100-150 grams per day. Infusions of red currant leaves can be used for the same purpose for half a cup six times a day. The infusion is prepared as follows: 2 tbsp of dried red currant leaves pour a glass of boiling water and insist for half an hour.

Important: The glycemic index of red currants is 25 units.

With pancreatitis.

Is it acceptable to use red currants in pancreatitis? Contrary to the mistaken belief of many, this useful berry should be excluded from your diet in pancreatitis, but this applies only to the acute phase of the disease. This is due to several reasons:

1. The composition of currants includes malic, ascorbic and succinic acids, which can provoke the increased production of pancreatic enzymes, due to which the so-called "digestion" of the pancreas occurs.
2. This berry is able to have a choleretic effect, and bile components penetrating the pancreatic streams turn the proferments into aggressive enzymes.
3. A large amount of fiber (almost 3.5 g per 100 g of berry) causes diarrhea and bloating of the intestines, which is also unacceptable in pancreatitis.

But these restrictions apply only to the acute phase of pancreatitis. If a person is in the remission phase, he not just can, but must include red currants in his diet. Only after all symptoms of acute pancreatitis have disappeared, the patient is allowed to eat berries both fresh and heat-treated. Red currants are good on their own, and as part of drinks, jams, baked goods, and they are also a great decoration for desserts.

But still, before you start eating red currants in pancreatitis, even in the remission phase, you should consult with your doctor. Excessive consumption of this berry, as well as any other product with a high content of organic acids, can cause a resumption of symptoms and failure of remission.

If the result is satisfactory, patients can eat portions of up to 150 g of the berry a day. It is also recommended to consume decoctions, infusions and teas from the leaves of red currants, which helps to overcome pancreatic problems.

Gastritis

Red currants are useful for many diseases, but you should use it with caution in case of gastritis, caused by high acidity of the stomach. If gastritis occurred on the background of low acidity, red currants can and should be included in the diet. This applies to both fresh berries and morsels, juice and other preparations.

With gastritis of any type, drinks based on red currant leaves are shown, which help to improve digestion and alleviate the condition in this disease. It is recommended to use decoctions or infusions half an hour before meals for several days to see a tangible result.

For constipation

Like all foods that contain fiber, red currants help fight constipation, including chronic constipation. In the absence of allergies and stomach problems, you can safely include these berries in your menu. To overcome such an unpleasant phenomenon as constipation, it is enough to eat half a glass of fresh berries two or three times a day, as well as drink morsels, compotes, juices made on the basis of red currants.

With gout

Due to the anti-inflammatory action of red currants, this berry can be used in case of gout. This disease is quite serious, it has an inflammatory nature and is accompanied by severe pain. Like other berries, red currants can help to overcome the discomfort associated with this disease. This berry can be consumed both fresh and heat-treated, because it almost does not lose its useful properties. Regular inclusion of currants in your diet helps to relieve inflammation, reducing the strength and frequency of attacks.

When gout is allowed to use berries in fresh form, but it is better to prepare on their basis such a medicinal drink: three spoonfuls of berries pour a glass of boiling water and insist for four hours. The resulting drink is divided into four parts and taken during the day for half an hour before a meal.

To relieve pain and other symptoms of gout, there is a popular recipe for making a drink of currant leaves. For its preparation, take 1 tbsp. of dried currant leaves, pour a glass of boiling water, strain and use instead of tea three times a day, adding honey or sugar to taste.

For the liver

The berry in question contains substances that have a choleretic effect. This means that its consumption helps digestion, and also improves the condition of the liver and gallbladder. Regular consumption of red currants in food will improve the ability of the liver to cleanse the blood, as well as eliminate stagnation in the gallbladder, including the prevention of stone formation.

To achieve the therapeutic effect it is recommended to eat 50 to 150 grams of red currants. And in this case, it is best to use fresh berries, in the extreme case - frozen.

Red currants in cosmetology

The rich content of vitamins A, PP and C in red currants allows to preserve the beauty of skin, hair and nails.

For Face

1. A mask made of 2 tbsp. white clay and 4 tbsp. red currant juice will help to overcome the problem of rashes. These two ingredients should be thoroughly mixed and applied to clean skin, hold for 10 minutes and wash off with warm water.
2. Moisturize the skin of the face with a mask of red currant juice (or puree), honey and heavy sour cream. Such a composition has a beneficial effect on the skin, making it radiant and healthy.
3. A mask of red currant juice, fat cottage cheese and honey helps to reduce the appearance of age and prevent the appearance of new wrinkles. These ingredients are mixed, apply to the face and leave for half an hour, then wash off with warm water.
4. A mask of wheat flour and juice of berries mixed in equal proportions will help against enlarged pores. Healing composition to apply to the skin, hold for about 20 minutes and wash off. After the procedure, it is advisable to wipe your face with a cotton pad soaked in strong brewed black tea.

For Hair

This berry with regular use will make the hair healthier and shinier, they will cease to fall out heavily, and the problem of split ends will stop bothering. In addition to the direct use of berries in food, there are several cosmetic recipes based on red currants:

1. To prepare the mask, take a necessary amount (depending on the length and density of your hair) of red currants, 15 g of dry beer yeast, one egg yolk and 1 tsp. honey. All ingredients should be mixed and kneaded into a smooth pulp. The resulting mask is applied to the hair from the roots to the ends, hold for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Such a mask can strengthen thin and weak hair, as well as give your hair back volume and lushness.
2. Currant decoction of leaves is useful for hair. It is recommended to rinse the hair with it every time after washing. To prepare the broth is not difficult: take 7 tbsp. currant leaves, grind them in a blender, pour a liter of boiling water and boil for about half an hour. Then strain the liquid and cool. Store the resulting decoction can be stored for 2-3 days in the refrigerator.
3. Restore hair after dyeing or the use of other strong chemicals can be helped with the following mask based on red currants: turn 2 tbsp. berries into a mush, mix with a teaspoon of honey, 10 g of dry yeast and 2 tsp. water. The resulting porridge to apply to the hair, cover with plastic wrap and a towel on top, leave for half an hour and rinse.
4. Get rid of split ends you can use the following remedy: put 2 tablespoons of red currants, one small apple and 15-20 ml of burdock oil in a blender. Apply the mask to the hair, hold for 2 hours and rinse. The result will be noticeable after a few procedures.

Harm and contraindications

Despite the fact that red currant is a very useful berry, not everyone can use it. This berry is contraindicated, first of all, to those who have an individual intolerance to the components in its composition. It should be noted that allergies to red currants are quite common, and some people can eat these berries without any consequences, and already when using them for cosmetic purposes - notice allergic manifestations.

Limit the use of brightly colored berries, which include red currants, should be limited for pregnant and nursing women. Such measures are important to prevent the development of allergies in the newborn. However, in small doses this berry will, on the contrary, be useful during pregnancy and during the breastfeeding period.

You should not abuse red currants for those who suffer from gastritis against a background of increased acidity. This berry contains a large proportion of organic acids, which can only aggravate stomach problems.

Another contraindication refers to the consumption of berries on an empty stomach. This product is quite aggressive for the stomach, so it is better to eat it as a dessert.

If you have hepatitis, pancreatitis, hemophilia and low blood clotting, the use of red currants should be strictly controlled. Such people should consult a doctor before including this tasty berry in their menu.

Gathering and storing red currants

Currants are one of the favorite berries among Russians. Red and black varieties of this berry are found in almost every household plot. But it is not enough to grow currants, it is necessary to know how to preserve the harvest, in order to be able to enjoy the useful berry at any time of the year.

You should pick red currants after their full maturity. In the South, they are harvested in midsummer and in the North in late summer and early autumn. It is better not to eat unripe berries to avoid digestive problems in the form of indigestion and intestinal upset. The ripeness of berries can be determined by their color - they should be a rich dark red color. Also ripe berries have a characteristic taste and aroma, are easily separated from the stalks, and the branches are brownish in color.

In some cases, it is possible to pick unripe berries when they need to be stored or transported for a few days. During this time, the currants will ripen and become suitable for eating and preserving.

The best way to pick red currants is by hand, but in the case of large volumes you can use special devices - berry pickers. This kind of harvester will allow you to collect the entire crop from the bush in a few minutes, without causing significant damage to the leaves and branches of currants.

Harvesting should be done in the morning and evening hours in dry and warm weather. If harvested after rain or during dew, the berries may crumple and turn to mush. Stack currants should be in a small container, wooden boxes are best - so the berries will retain their shape and not crumple. It is also recommended to pluck the fruits with a twig, which also contributes to their better storage.

After harvesting, you need to carefully sort the berries, removing damaged specimens, leaves, twigs and other debris. Then rinse them with running water and place them on paper towels to remove excess moisture. Once the berries have dried, they can be used for preserves.

Fresh storage of red currants can last no more than 1-2 weeks, and they should be placed in the refrigerator. In an airtight container or a tightly closed glass container, the storage period can be increased by another 1-2 weeks.

Can I Freeze

Freezing is the most common option for making red currants for the winter. In the freezer berries will retain all their useful properties and flavors throughout the year. Leaving them for the next year is not recommended. To freeze the berries, you need to spread the already prepared harvest in plastic bags for freezing and place them in the freezer. Defrost currants should be at room temperature, and then consume the same as fresh.

Can I dry them

From red currants you can make dried fruit, which in the cold season can be used to make compotes or simply replace sweets for tea with them. The most correct option for drying berries is in the oven. To do this, you should pour a thin layer of clean berries on a baking tray and leave for 2-3 hours in an oven preheated to 200-230 degrees. All the time the oven door should be slightly ajar.

It is allowed to dry berries in the open air, but you need to make sure that they are not in the open sun. To check the degree of readiness of dried fruit in both cases, you can check them for the secretion of juice: ready berries should not release moisture when pressing.

Canning

Canned currants in the form of compotes, juices and jam can be stored for quite a long time. Jam is prepared from berries with sugar in a ratio of 1:1, compotes - the traditional way, with mandatory sterilization of storage containers.

What can be cooked from red currants: recipes

Red currants - a common culture among Russians, which often appears on the table in fresh form and as a supplement to other dishes. With its use, a wide variety of dishes can be prepared.

Jelly

To prepare such a dessert from red currants as jelly, you need only two ingredients - sugar and berries themselves. You can mix red currants with white or black currants, but then the color and consistency of the finished product will be somewhat different.

To make jelly according to the classic recipe you need to take 1 kg of berries (you can take them with twigs, but washed) 1 kg of sugar, put them in a large saucepan, stir for 5-10 minutes until the juice forms. Then put the pan on a high heat, constantly stirring the berries with sugar. For this amount of ingredients, it will take about 8-10 minutes to get the right consistency. It is easy to determine the readiness - the mixture can be removed from the fire when the foam has completely subsided, and large bubbles appear on the surface. The mass of berries after that rub through a sieve into another container and pour into jars or plates. The jelly will harden overnight and acquire the desired texture.

If you need to make jelly for the winter, it should be poured into sterilized glass jars, corked, turned over and covered with a towel. In the morning, you can remove the finished treat in a place for storage.

Compote

Compote from leeks - an excellent refreshing and vitamin drink for any feast. Every housewife can prepare it according to the following recipe: for a 3-liter jar you will need 0.5 kg of berries, 0.4 grams of sugar and 2.5 liters of water. The berries can be separated from the twigs or make a compote with them - the drink will not get worse from this. The selected berries transferred to a clean dry jar, sterilized in advance, along with a lid, boil water separately and dissolve sugar in it, then pour the syrup over the berries and immediately cover with a lid. Then turn the jar upside down and leave it under a towel overnight.

Wine

Any alcoholic beverages should be consumed in a minimal amount, which also applies to homemade wine from red currants. It is not very strong (about 10-12 degrees), but it retains most of the beneficial properties of red currants and can be an excellent addition to a holiday dinner.

A simple recipe for wine: for 0.5 liters of freshly squeezed currant juice you will need 0.5 kg of sugar and 1 liter of water. The juice must be obtained from the berries by hand, and the preliminary washing and separation from the branches is not required - you need the bacteria to start the fermentation process.

Pass the juice through a sieve or gauze, add sugar and water, stir and pour into jars (2 liters per 3-liter jar). Close with special lids for making wine with holes, which you can buy in almost any hardware store. Closed containers to put in a warm place for about a month. All this time, shake the wine every two days. Finished drink strain through gauze, cool and consume.

Jam

Red currant jam is prepared in much the same way as the jelly. For 1.5 kg of berries you need to take 1.5 kg of sugar, stir until the juice appears and put on a small fire. During the entire cooking process, constantly stir the berries with sugar, so that they do not stick and do not stick. After the sugar is completely dissolved, pass the mass through a sieve or with a food processor. Then bring it to a boil and immediately remove from the stove. Ready jam pour into presterilized jars or plates (if long storage is not planned).

Sauce

Red currant sauce goes particularly well with meat dishes. It can be prepared as follows: for 2 kg of berries take 1 kg of sugar (divided into 3 parts), 1 cup of vinegar, 1 tsp of spices such as ground black pepper and allspice, cloves, cinnamon.

Separate the berries from the twigs, sorted, washed and dried, then rubbed through a sieve, remove the cake and put the pan with the resulting juice on low heat. It is important not to allow the sauce to boil too much, otherwise it will be too liquid. After 5 minutes in the juice of the poured one part sugar, after 5 minutes - the second, and another 5 minutes - the rest. When all the sugar has dissolved, pour in the spices and the vinegar. Then simmer the sauce for about 5 minutes, pour into sterilized jars and seal.

Juice

To make red currant juice, you need to pass the berries through a juicer or grind with a fork, then squeeze through cheesecloth. Add 100 grams of sugar (or more, if you like it sweeter) and 250 grams of water per liter of juice. Juice in this recipe will be ready for use, and for the preparation for the winter it must be boiled for five minutes and rolled in presterilized jars.

Marmalade

Recipe of delicious red currant marmalade with agar-agar: For 0.4 kg of currants take 1.5 tsp of agar-agar and 100 g of sugar. Grind the berries with a blender, pass through a sieve or gauze, then add the sugar and agar-agar, leave for half an hour, heat until the sugar dissolves, without allowing the mass to boil. After this, you can pour into containers or molds until it hardens completely. Sprinkle the marmalade with sugar.

Confit

The difference between confit and jam is that the former contains gelatin, starch or agar-agar. Making confit is quite simple: take the currants, wash them, pour sugar in equal proportions and grind them. Then bring them to a boil on low heat, add the thickener according to the instructions for each of them.

Ajika

To prepare ajika from red currants is not difficult, and the taste of such an additive to dishes will please many people. You need to take 0.5 kg of berries, 4 medium bell peppers, 4 small chili peppers, 6 cloves of garlic, 100 g sugar and 2 tsp of salt. Put all the ingredients through a blender, mix, taste, adjust the salt/sugar/vinegar according to your personal preference, put in jars and put in the fridge for storage.

Kissel

To cook the kissel from red currants need 300 grams of berries, 6 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of potato starch and a liter of water. Pour the water into a saucepan and put it on the fire, after boiling add the sugar, and then, when it dissolves - the red currants. All this boil for another 5 minutes, then strain through a sieve and discard the cake. Dilute starch in cold water (100 ml.), gently combine with the base, avoiding the formation of lumps, boil for another 5 minutes and use after cooling.

Ketchup

Red currants are suitable for making ketchup. Let's look at a classic version of this sauce. You'll need 1 kg of currants, 1/4 tsp. ground red pepper, the same amount of ground cloves, 0.5 tsp. ground ginger, turmeric and curry, 2 peas of black pepper, 3 bay leaves and 2 cups of sugar.

Rinse berries thoroughly, pour boiling water (blanch), then rub through a sieve. The resulting juice is mixed with all the other ingredients, cook for 6-8 minutes. While boiling you should constantly stir the ketchup and remove the foam. Remove the bay leaf, pour the resulting sauce into sterilized jars and seal.

Mousse

You will need 700g of red currants, 200g of sugar, 3 egg whites, 15g of gelatin and 100 ml of water to make the mousse. First, you should soak the gelatin in water, leaving it to swell, and then proceed directly to the preparation.

Place the berries in a saucepan, add two spoonfuls of water and heat with a pusher until they give juice. Then remove the berry mass from the fire and strain it through a sieve. Add the sugar to the juice, stir until completely dissolved, and then add the diluted gelatine. Whisk together with a mixer on medium speed, gradually introducing the egg yolks. When the mass thickens and "seizes" at the edges - the mousse is ready.

Smoothie

There are many recipes for red currant smoothies. For example, you can whip in a blender 1 ripe banana, 100 grams of currants and 200 ml of milk or kefir. You can add any berries or fruits depending on individual preferences, as well as make smoothies on the basis of juice, mineral water or other beverage.

Vinegar

To make homemade vinegar you will need 500 grams of sprigs of young red currants, a glass of berries themselves, 1.5 cups of sugar, 2.5 liters of water and a pinch of raisins.

Shred the shoots, put in a jar or other container, put there berries, raisins, pour sugar and pour water. The jar should be covered with gauze and left in a dark place for a month. During this time, the composition should be stirred once every 1-2 days. Ready vinegar to strain, pour into bottles and put in the refrigerator.

Marshmallow .

From red currants you get a very tasty and fragrant marshmallow. You can prepare it with the following ingredients: 350 g berries, 600 g sugar, 150 ml water, 1 egg white, 4 tsp agar-agar, 3 tbsp powdered sugar. Soak the agar-agar in water for an hour. Turn the berries into a purée, mix with sugar (3/4 part) and put in the fridge. Separately boil a syrup of agar-agar and the remaining sugar. Boil it until the removed spoon begins to leave behind a thin stream. Then add one protein to the mashed berries, whip the mass with a mixer, gradually pour the syrup with agar-agar.

The finished marshmallow mass can be used to make marshmallows. You can press out the halves with a culinary bag or make a device yourself from baking paper. Place all the halves on parchment paper, leave for a day, then combine the two halves together and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Pastila

Red currant marshmallow is a delicious and healthy dessert. To prepare it we will need 300 grams of berries, 250 grams of sugar, 50 grams of powdered sugar and 1-2 tablespoons of starch. Pour the sugar and berries into a bowl, stir and wait for the juice to form. Then transfer to a saucepan and put on low heat. After boiling sugar with berries for 5-8 minutes, put everything into a blender and make a homogeneous mass. After that, put a sheet of parchment on a dryer, spread the puree in a thin layer on it, and leave to dry for 4-6 hours at a temperature of 60 degrees. When the dessert is ready, you can take it out, cut it into slices, sprinkle it with powder and roll it up.

Jam

The red currant jam, loved by many from childhood, is very simple to make. This recipe will help to preserve as much as possible nutrients, as it doesn't require a long thermal treatment: take the same amount of sugar for 0.5 kilograms of currants, mix the ingredients and leave for a few hours "to rest". When the currants will emit juice, warm it on the stove for just 1-2 minutes to dissolve the sugar, and then put it aside again. Then bring it to a boil on maximum heat, stirring constantly and removing the foam, then remove from the stove, pour into sterilized jars and seal. Store jam according to this recipe can be stored throughout the year.

How to eat red currants

Red currants are eaten as a dessert after main courses, as they should not be eaten on an empty stomach due to their high acid content. The berry is added to desserts, pastries and even meat dishes, and also used as a decoration.

How much you can eat per day

In the absence of allergies and other contraindications, red currants can be eaten in an amount of 50-300 g per day. If you still have health problems, you should consult your doctor about this.

You can eat them at night and on an empty stomach.

It is not recommended to eat red currants on an empty stomach and at night, especially for people who suffer from hyperacidity of the stomach. The variant of eating them in the morning or in the evening is allowed, but only after the main meal.

Is it possible to eat with pips

It is recommended to eat red currants together with the seeds, because they have the property to improve digestion and remove various toxins from the body. However, not everyone will benefit from the berries together with the stones - they should be excluded for people who suffer from peptic ulcer and other serious gastrointestinal diseases, as well as young children.

Can animals be given red currants

Red currants can be present in the diet of pets. The rich content of vitamin C in this berry makes it a valuable product for rabbits, guinea pigs, cats and even dogs. Of course, an individual approach is important in each case, since fresh berries are not an acceptable food for all animals. Also, it should be understood that red currants, like any other berry, should only be a supplement to the basic diet of the pet, not its basis. Just a few berries a day is enough to provide the body of a beloved pet with useful substances.

Interesting facts about red currants

1. Currants are a close relative of gooseberries - both shrubs belong to the Stonecolombicaceae, and peonies, badanum and stonecrop are also included there.
2. Red currant is found in almost all countries of the world. It is an unpretentious shrub and can grow even in the wild, mostly along rivers.
3. Only three varieties of currants are widely known: white, black and red. However, there are several other varieties of this berry in the world: yellow, orange, green and even purple.
4. Depending on the weather that fell on the period of ripening currants, their useful properties will differ. So, the most useful berry becomes in sunny, but not very hot weather, with a moderate frequency of rain.
5. From currants are made a natural dye, which also has beneficial properties for the body.
6. Experienced housewives know to add currant leaves to a jar with cucumbers and other pickles. This way the preserves better and contains more vitamin C.
7. Currants are able to remove radioisotopes and heavy metals from the body. For this property it is recommended to eat it for people working in harmful industries.

Photo of red currants