how to cook elderberries?

[smile_sunshine]

Hi,

found some elderberries today and though i would try them for the first time - am going to make a crumble with apples and blackberries. I was just wondering if anyone knows:

1. Do i need to strain the seeds out (are they safe to eat?)
2. How long do i need to cook them for (i know they're poisonous raw do they need to be cooked for a certain length of time to be OK?)

thanks :)
Emily

[mrsflibble]

answerrs:
1. they are safe, but they get stuck in teeth and make poop look funny (SCARY nappies if feeding to a toddler or baby)
2. they are not poisoness raw in small quantities, I generally cook until they have gone to a pulp. they need a lot of sugar, sweet apples or fructose to help them though. they have a very irony, tannic taste when raw- sort of like blood mixed with a hint of fruit. when cooked they are fragrant like elderflowers. hope i helped.



oh, one more tip: buy some oxybleach; the kind that comes in a big yellow pot from asda (not asda own it doesn't work) because it's the only thing I've ever found that gets elderberry stains out.

[smile_sunshine]

wow that was a quick reply!
thats great, thanks :) was a bit worried cos never tried them before,

[Millymollymandy]

I put them in crumble all the time - not on their own but with apples or other mixes of fruit. No probs here!

[mybarnconversion]

I find them quite bland on their own so mix them with blackberries ... make a great sorbet :)

[Silver Ether]

Have you thought about a cordial ... you can add brandy to it for a bit of punch ...

[Esme]

My kids used to like them in fritters - stick a spoonful in a hot frying pan and pour pancake batter on top.
You can dry them and keep them for later and best of all you can turn them into alcohol - *hic* - loads of recipes on line - google in elderberry wine.

[smile_sunshine]

mmmm - definately trying the wine ! The crumble was really good :) thanks for all the ideas

[frozenthunderbolt]

Elderberrys - the plant of the little people, the fair folk, the fey!

I grew up eating them (still do) raw. they are fine, just purgative in large quantities raw.

Flowers make a delight full cordial or "champagne".

Made wine one year, got greeeeedy and took all the fruit heads and was roundly chatised for my greed by the fair folk when i cut the tip off my finger while trimming a fruit bunch. much later -3 years - i have 2 bottles of me "Faieres revenge" left in the cupboard. It is very raw as a young wine - nearly undrinkable. But much much much better for having stored it a few years

[Thomzo]

Elderberry wine is absolutely the best mulled wine ever. Mmmmmmm

Zoe

[red]

Elderberry wine is absolutely the best mulled wine ever. Mmmmmmm

Zoe

oo thats good to know - no way mine will be done by that winter festival lthingy... maybe next year

all my wine seems to take ages to ferment... cold house i guess...

[hedgewizard]

Elderberrys - they are fine, just purgative in large quantities raw.

Just purgative? Just?? Purgative = laxative x 1000!