Gooseberries....

[ParsleyTheLioness]

Can I make chutney out of my garden ones? Would this be a bad idea? Last time I tried jam, which wasn't too successful, and trying to avoid pies and crumbles.

Oh I'll be interested to read any recipes. I'm a slattern and so we usually end up standing in the garden and eating them by the handful. They really are sweet when properly ripe. I don't know why they have a reputation for sharpness.

Working on the idea that the rhubarb chutney (recipe in the recipes on here by a MNer) was/is wonderful, particularly if you make it with balsamic. Don't know whether the acidity content makes a difference?

Am sure I have seen recipes for goosegog chutney so I guess you can! Gooseberry Curd is also good :) Its a Pam Corbin recipe (Pam the Jam from River Cottage) actually for Bramley Lemon Curd (also yummy) but can sub the apple with equal amount of goosegogs. Ours are red ones so we get a lovely pink curd :)
I have made good jam in the microwave which I like as you use smaller amounts of fruit at a time so if one batch is less successful the whole harvest is not wasted. And I have a friend who is addicted to gooseberry vodka

Thanks for this Whin. I think I will just do the chutney, as the last time it just seemed to be boil it until its done kind of thing.
Oaty are you going to have a go too?

I've just made a very successful gooseberry and strawberry jam. Was worried they would eclipse the strawberry taste but balanced nicely. About 700g of gooseberries and 300 of strawberries with a handful black currants and red currants mixed in.

I puréed it through a sieve though I am not keen on seeds in jam.

Make nice wine, too. One of the fruit wines that makes good sparkling wine if you use a champagne wine yeast and a secondary fermentation.

Right, thanks all! Have just put the gooseberry chutney on the stove...

My mum in the 60s made amazing strawberry and gooseberry pies.

Sounds lovely, but shudders to think how many WW Pro points would be in a pie...only two of us to eat them!