I’m looking forward to our long weekend and a visit to the farm this weekend. When we’re at the farm, I look forward to catching up with everyone, relaxing, eating home cooked Southern food and trying my hands at something new at the farm. My goal this is year is to milk the goats once again when they are ready. So I’m keeping my fingers crossed for our quick getaway this weekend, since we have a snow storm prediction that’s calling for a few inches of snow.
I didn’t think I’d find red currants again but I was fortunate enough to run into them last weekend. Last year I made a simple jam for my whole wheat chocolate layer cake. This time, I made a smooth butter that’s infused with a whole bunch of flavors I would never think of pairing, until now! I’m amazed at how delicious the pale ale balances the tartness of the currants, this is one recipe that I will definitely scale up if I ever run into a huge stash of red currants (which I sincerely hope I will).
I almost forgot about the ginger! The fresh ginger infuses a lovely flavoring in this sweet medley. I like this butter to be less sweet and more tart but if you want to reduce the tartness, I recommend increasing the sugar to around 1/2 cup. I recommend using a deep saucepan as the beer will tend to foam and rise as the liquid heats up, this reduces spillage and a potential kitchen stovetop mess.
What’s a better way to wake up in the morning and eat your beer on a slice of your toast!
What’s a better way to wake up in the morning and eat your beer on a slice of your toast!
beer ginger red currant butter
yields: approximately 250ml
ingredients
12 ounces red currants
1/4 cup brown sugar (you can also increase the amount of sugar to 1/2 cup to make it sweeter and less tart)
1 teaspoon ginger root, freshly grated
12 fluid ounces (355ml) beer (I used a pale Belgian ale)
1. Rinse the currants under running cold tap water. Carefully remove the fragile currants from their stems and place them in a deep bottomed saucepan.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients to the saucepan and heat on a medium high flame with constant stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Reduce the flame to a medium low and stir the contents occasionally. Cook the butter for about 1 hour. During cooking the currants will burst and release their pulp and juices.
3. Place a sieve over a clean bowl. Pass the contents of the saucepan through a sieve and using a large spoon, press the fruit in the sieve to release as much of the fruit pulp and juices as possible. Stir the butter that collects in the bowl. It will have a thick consistency. Transfer and store in an airtight container until ready. Though the butter is ready to serve immediately once cooled, I find the flavors to be much more developed and tastier the next day.
7 Responses
I adore the amazing color of red currants. Very interesting recipe, I'd really like to have a taste š This line cracked me up: "What's a better way to wake up in the morning and eat your beer on a slice of your toast!"
What an interesting combination! I'd love to taste that red currant butter. Lovely still life photos…
Cheers,
Rosa
It looks so interesting and oh so enticing! I love red currants and am willing to try them in any combination. I am just so impressed you have fresh red currants in the middle of February!! I will have to save this recipe till summer. š
is it weird that i've never had currants before?
anyway, your pictures are so lovely.
enjoy your time on the farm, good luck with milking a goat, hopefully you'll be posting on IG.
Very interesting and creative combination of ingredients .
Love the gorgeous color of the currants.
This is brilliant recipe! I have to find some currants and try it soon:) I love that you pair currants with ginger – must be delicious with little spicy punch! Your photography is amazing – love the light and compositions! Hope you have great time on farm and lovely weekend!
I'll try to if we do get to go, looks like we are having another bout of snow š