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Mostarda di Cremona
Candied fruit in mustard syrup
Mostarda di Cremona: Lombardy's whole candied fruit in mustard-spiked syrup
Mostarda di Cremona is a jar of jewel-like whole fruits, pears, cherries, figs, clementines and apricots, candied slowly in sugar syrup and then spiked with mustard oil so that each sweet mouthful ends with a sharp, nose-tingling heat. In Cremona and across Lombardy it is served at Christmas with bollito misto (boiled meats) and with cheese, and it fills the tortelli of Cremona and Mantua. Pure mustard essence is hard to buy, so this home version uses strong mustard powder. Chef's tip: candy the fruit over three days, bringing the syrup to the boil each day; slow candying keeps the fruit whole and glossy.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 20
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ lb mixed firm fruit (small pears, quinces, apricots, cherries, clementines, figs)peeled where needed, small fruit left whole
- 1 ½ lb sugar
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 1 lemonjuiced
- 2 tbsp strong English mustard powdermixed with 2 tbsp water
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Prick small whole 2 ¼ lb mixed firm fruit (small pears, quinces, apricots, cherries, clementines, figs) with a needle; cut pears and quinces into wedges. Layer the fruit with 1 ½ lb sugar in a bowl, add 1 lemon, cover and leave for 24 hours, until syrup forms.
Step 2: Drain the syrup into a pan with 1 ¼ cups water, bring to the boil, pour over the fruit and leave for 24 hours. Repeat once more the next day.
10 minStep 3: On the last day, simmer the fruit gently in the syrup for 15–20 minutes, until glossy and translucent. Lift out the fruit, then boil the syrup for 5–10 minutes, until thick.
30 minStep 4: Cool the syrup to warm, then stir in 2 tbsp strong English mustard powder. Taste carefully: it should be fiery. Common mistake: adding the mustard to boiling syrup; heat kills the heat.
Step 5: Pack the fruit in clean jars, pour over the syrup and close. Leave for 1 week before eating. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 months.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 120 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mostarda di Cremona take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 60 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 20 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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