Zhuravinavy Kisel (Belarusian Cranberry Jelly Drink)
Local name: Журавінавы кісель
In short: A glossy, tart-sweet cranberry jelly made from fresh berries and thickened with potato starch, served warm or chilled as a dessert or thick drink. It takes about 35 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 155 kcal
Cranberries grow wild in Belarusian bogs, and kisel is the old-fashioned way to turn them into a dessert. The berries simmer until they burst, the juice is strained and thickened with potato starch, and the result is a glossy, tart-sweet jelly somewhere between a drink and a pudding. It can be sipped warm from a glass, or set in bowls and served cold with a spoon.
Instructions
- Put the cranberries, 1 liter of water and the lemon peel in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes, until the berries burst.
- Mash the berries lightly, then strain through a fine sieve, pressing to extract the juice. Return the juice to the pan and discard the skins and peel.
- Add the sugar and stir over low heat until dissolved. Taste, since the kisel should stay quite tart.
- Mix the potato starch with the cold water until smooth. Bring the juice back to a gentle boil and pour in the starch in a thin stream, stirring constantly.
- Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until the kisel thickens and turns glossy. Remove from the heat at once.
- Pour into glasses to drink warm, or into rinsed bowls and chill for 2 hours until set. Serve warm or cold.
Tips
- Stir the starch mixture again just before pouring, because the starch sinks to the bottom. Pour it into gently boiling juice to avoid lumps.
- For a thicker, spoonable dessert use 5 tablespoons (38 g) of starch. For a thinner drink use 3 tablespoons (23 g).
Questions and answers
Can I make kisel with other berries?
Yes. Black currants, raspberries, cherries or rhubarb all work. Adjust the sugar to the sourness of the fruit.
How long does cranberry kisel keep?
Covered in the fridge it keeps for 3 days. It firms up as it chills, so stir in a splash of water if you want a thinner texture.
What do you serve with kisel?
Cold kisel goes well with plain biscuits or a few fresh berries. Warm kisel is simply drunk from a cup.
How long does it take to make Zhuravinavy Kisel (Belarusian Cranberry Jelly Drink)?
About 35 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Zhuravinavy Kisel (Belarusian Cranberry Jelly Drink)?
About 155 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 39 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 155 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 39 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 28 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
