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Kissel
Kisel (кисель): Russian berry drink lightly thickened with potato starch
Kissel is the drink of Russian childhoods: a glass of silky, ruby-red berry juice, just thick enough to coat the tongue, poured warm at kindergarten lunch or cold in summer from a jug on the dacha veranda. It is also the old Maslenitsa and wake-table drink, and frozen berries make it possible all year. The flavour is sweet-sharp and fresh, the texture smooth and slightly jelly-like. A common mistake is adding the starch mixture to boiling liquid and letting it bubble for minutes; bring it just back to a simmer, then take it off, or it thins out again and can turn gluey. More starch makes a spoonable dessert kissel. Chef's tip: lay cling film or sprinkle a little sugar on the surface as it cools to stop a skin forming.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 4 ¼ cups water
- 3 ½ oz sugar
- 3 tbsp potato starch
- ½ cup cold water
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)
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What you'll need
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Put the 14 oz mixed berries or pitted cherries, fresh or frozen and 4 ¼ cups water in a pan and bring to the boil over a medium-high heat, then simmer for 5 minutes, until the berries are soft and the liquid deep red.
8 minStep 3: Stir the 3 tbsp potato starch into the ½ cup cold water until completely smooth and milky.
1 minStep 4: Bring the juice back to a simmer and pour in the starch mixture in a thin stream, stirring all the time.
1 minStep 5: Keep stirring for about 1 minute, just until it returns to a gentle simmer and turns glossy and slightly thick, then take it off the heat.
1 minStep 6: Add 1 tbsp lemon juice to taste and serve warm, or cool and chill for up to 2 days.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 95 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 24 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kissel take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 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.
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