Kissel is a fruit-based beverage, its name comes from the ancient Slavic word meaning ‘sour,’ because many of the Russians fruits are sour fruits. In Russia the most popular are gooseberries, cranberries, cherries and black currants…
History has it, kissel saved one ancient Russian city from a siege and starvation. The city elder gathered all the wheat and honey and cooked the drink in a pot buried in the ground. When the enemies saw the food coming straight from the earth itself, they retreated, as it seemed that an endless supply of food was available to the city from the gods…
I decided to make black currant kissel because we have so much delicious black currant in the village that we have a home in. It is a plentiful berry in Russia and everyone seems to have a bush of it growing in the yards…
Ingredients:
1/2 lb black currant (my favorite and they are good for diabetes)
1 quart water or a liter will do…
For those that have to have sugar, add sugar, if desired. I like the drink with just the sour fruit taste…
2 tablespoons potato flour or cornstarch…
Lets Make:
Rinse black currant or whatever fruit you desire and put fruit to boil in a pan of water. When all the berries have burst from heat, strain and force through a sieve back into the water. Other words remove the skins and keep all else except seeds or pits of course. This is the juice from the black current for the base of the drink. Reheat the juice while mixing in the sugar to taste if you so desire. Mix the potato starch or cornstarch with cold water and slowly stir into the juice, until the juice thickens. It should be the consistency of thick syrup. Cover and cool…
Enjoy…
Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…
Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given…