Blueberries Are an Eastern European Favorite
If you've had the pleasure of tasting wild blueberries, you know what I mean when I say there's nothing like them. They are much smaller than cultivated varieties and have a distinct, almost winey, flavor similar to cassis, a French black currant liqueur. That's probably why the two pair together so well!According to Nature Ripe Farms, blueberries are the oldest known plants living and have been traced back 13,000 years. Blueberries are one of the only fruits native to North America, but are found on almost every continent. Wild blueberries bushes are abundant in Eastern Europe and the fruit finds its way into recipes for everything from soup to sauces to salads to desserts.
Eastern European Blueberry Recipes
The Miracle Berry
Cultivated blueberry varieties, while slightly different in taste, are just as delicious, and their health benefits and nutrition values make them guilt-free indulgences.One cup of fresh blueberries has just 70 calories, 0g fat, 0g cholesterol, 0g sodium, 7g fiber and 1g protein. Blueberries have often been recognized as the fruit with the highest antioxidant activity -- twice as much as spinach, more than three times as much as oranges, red grapes and cherries, and more than four times as much as grapefruit, white grapes, bananas and apples. Blueberries are also thought to be helpful in improving memory function, reversing the aging process and protecting the body from stress, cancer, weak eyesight and urinary tract infections!
Blueberries are grown in many locations throughout North America from April through October, with July prime blueberry time in the Midwest and on the East Coast. But plantings are staggered so berries can be available as late as November in some states.
Blueberries in Disguise
Blueberries are available in myriad guises -- dried, salsa, barbecue sauce, juice, syrup, tea and even coffee.Blueberry Blues
Beware blueberry stains! Like beet stains, they're virtually impossible to get out. So wear gloves when working with these dark beauties.Blueberry Tips
- Fresh blueberries are fully ripe when they are picked and won't continue to ripen at home.
- Refrigerate blueberries after picking or purchasing. Once chilled, they will maintain their quality from 10 days to two weeks.
- When purchasing from a supermarket, look for berries that are firm and plump with a nice silvery bloom, which is the fruit yeast and indicates a good berry.
- Fresh Blueberries can be frozen right in the clamshell container. Just wrap the container in plastic wrap, covering all the holes or put the berries in a freezer bag.
