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Kisiel (Polish fruit jelly drink)
Berry juice thickened with potato starch into a soft, spoonable jelly
Kisiel is a Polish childhood staple served in school canteens and at home after school, warm in winter and chilled in summer, somewhere between a thick drink and a soft jelly. Home-made versions use fruit or juice thickened with potato starch, without the bright colours of packet mixes. This one uses mixed berries and only a little sugar. None of the common allergens are in it. Chef's tip: always mix the starch with cold water first and pour it into the boiling fruit while stirring; added dry, it forms lumps that never dissolve.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz mixed berries (fresh or frozen)such as raspberries, blackcurrants, strawberries
- 2 ½ cups water
- 2 tbsp sugaror to taste
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 3 tbsp potato starch
- ½ cup cold water
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Simmer 10 ½ oz mixed berries (fresh or frozen) with 2 ½ cups water for 5 minutes, until they collapse. Press through a sieve to remove the seeds, then return the liquid to the pan.
5 minStep 2: Add 2 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp lemon juice and bring back to the boil.
Step 3: Stir 3 tbsp potato starch into ½ cup cold water until smooth and milky.
Step 4: Pour the starch slowly into the boiling juice while whisking constantly. It thickens and turns from cloudy to clear and glossy in about 30 seconds. The common mistake is boiling it on for minutes afterwards: potato starch thins out again if overcooked.
1 minStep 5: Take off the heat as soon as it bubbles once and is clear. Pour into glasses or bowls; serve warm, or chill for 2 hours for a firmer, spoonable jelly. Keeps covered in the fridge for 2 days.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 75 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 18 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kisiel (Polish fruit jelly drink) take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 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.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of lemon juice?
- Lime juice, same amount.
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