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White cherry preserve

Name: White cherry preserve
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 100 min
Cuisine: Azerbaijani
Ingredients: 1 kg white or yellow cherries; 900 g sugar; 250 ml water; 1 lemon

Ağ gilas mürəbbəsi: whole pale cherries in lemony syrup

Features:

Absheron is famous for its white cherries, pale yellow fruit with a pink blush that ripen in June in the sandy orchards around Mardakan and Shuvalan. Baku families stone them one by one with a hairpin and cook them slowly into a clear golden preserve, sharpened with lemon, which is served in tiny glass bowls (mürəbbə qabı) with black tea; you sip the tea and eat a spoon of cherries between sips. A common mistake is cooking the fruit in one long boil, which shrivels it. Chef's tip: cook in short spells with long rests in between, so the cherries plump up with syrup and stay whole and glossy.

Total time: 100 min
Difficulty: easy
Serves: 12

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Ingredients

Serves12

For the preserve

2 ¼ lb white or yellow cherriesstoned
2 lb sugar
1 cup water
1 lemonjuice and a few thin slices

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Spices & pantry

Fresh ingredients (1)

lemon

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Method

0/5 done

Step 1: Heat 2 lb sugar and 1 cup water in a wide pan until dissolved, then boil for 2 minutes.
5 min
Step 2: Add 2 ¼ lb white or yellow cherries, bring to a simmer for 5 minutes, skimming, then take off the heat, cover with a cloth and leave for 6 hours.
5 min
Step 3: Repeat the 5-minute simmer and rest once more. Common mistake: one long boil; the fruit shrivels.
5 min
Step 4: Add 1 lemon juice and slices and simmer for 10–15 minutes, until the syrup coats a spoon and the cherries look clear.
15 min
Step 5: Ladle into hot, sterilised jars and seal. Keeps for a year in a cool cupboard.

Nutrition per serving

Calories: 150 kcal
Protein: 1 g
Carbs: 38 g
Fat: 0 g
Fibre: 1 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does white cherry preserve take?: About 100 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 60 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?: 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegan?: Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
Is it gluten free?: Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
Can I make it ahead?: Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
What can I use instead of sugar?: Caster sugar, same amount.
What can I use instead of lemon?: Lime, or 2 tbsp bottled lemon juice per lemon (no zest from bottled juice).

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