Sticky Gooseberry Sauce For The Soul Food

GOOSEBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare gooseberries by using scissors to snip each end. Rinse to remove dirt and debris.
• Transfer berries to a pot and add onion, sugar, and enough water just to cover. Cover and cook gently over medium heat until soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Taste and adjust level of sweetness. Remove from heat and transfer carefully to the bowl of a food processor or blender.
• Puree the mixture. Serve sauce warm or cold.

STICKY GOOSEBERRY SAUCE FOR THE SOUL

Steps:

• Put all ingredients in a small saucepan and turn hotplate onto its highest heat.
• Use a fork or potato masher to squish down on gooseberries. Keep doing this occasionally until the mixture comes to the boil. (We do not want the gooseberries to be completely pulverised, but we do want to help release their flavour, and help the skins to cook down/soften).
• When the mixture has come to the boil, turn the hotplate down by half. Continue stirring occasionally so as to prevent burning.
• Keep it on this heat for 5 minutes, before turning down by half again. Leave it on this heat for 5 minutes, continuing to stir occasionally.
• Turn it down by half again, letting it gently simmer for an additional 10 minutes, stirring now and then to make sure it is cooking down appropriately. When the skins of the gooseberries appear translucent - similar to the appearance of the skins of glace cherries - and the liquid has reduced and appears to be sticky/coat the back of a spoon, take saucepan off the heat.
• Spoon mixture into a small, clean glass jar.
• Attach lid of jar, screwing it on tight. Carefully tip the jar upside down so the scorching hot jam creates a natural heat seal (effectively sterilizing top of jar/lid).
• Allow to cool for 20 mins, then open jar and spoon compote over dessert of your choice.
• Re-seal jar and refrigerate for future use.

GOOSEBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Drain gooseberries, reserving the syrup.
• In a small saucepan combine gooseberry syrup, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, cloves (if using) & salt, cooking & stirring constantly, 4 to 5 minutes, until chickened & glossy.
• Stir in gooseberries & heat through, 1 to 2 minutes, then serve warm with meat or poultry, as a spread (great on bagels & whole wheat toast), or . . . !

SMOKED MACKEREL WITH GOOSEBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the mackerel fillets on the lettuce and garnish with lemon and tomato wedges.
• Finely chop the poached gooseberries (or puree them) and mix with the cream to make a gooseberry sauce.
• Serve with the mackerel fillets.