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Smart ideas for preserving summer fruit | Kitchen aide
Late-summer harvests can be preserved through various methods to enjoy them year-round. Fermenting fruit in honey is a technique that yields a versatile, sweet syrup. Blackberries and plums can be submerged in honey in sterilized jars, with a touch of lemon juice or cider vinegar if needed. This mixture ferments slightly and can be stored for up to a year.Inspired by Korean traditions, a British take on kimchi can incorporate seasonal fruits and vegetables. This approach allows for using up items like courgettes, blackcurrants, strawberries, and even tomatoes. For stone fruits like plums and damsons, a Japanese umeboshi-inspired method is suggested, utilizing a high salt percentage to create a brine. This brine can then serve as a flavorful condiment.Alternatively, damsons are excellent for infusing liquors. Combining vodka, the fruit, and sugar allows their flavor to be captured and preserved. These preserved fruits and their byproducts offer unique culinary uses, such as the honey syrup for sweetening or the umeboshi brine as a salty sauce. Pickling courgettes in a vinegar brine is another effective preservation technique for vegetables. These diverse methods help maximize the enjoyment of seasonal produce.