Jujubes are a fruit widely used in Chinese medicine and Asian cuisine. Before ripening they have a flavor that is very reminiscent of apples, while after ripening the taste becomes more similar to that of dates, consequently it is possible to cook them in a similar way to these fruits. They are generally available in Asian and Indian supermarkets, fresh or dried.
Ingrediants
Candied Jujube
- 900 g of dried jujubes
- 800 ml of cold water
- 830 g of granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons of cornstarch
Giuggiole herbal tea
- 4 l of water
- 450 g of dried jujubes
- 1 small piece of fresh, unpeeled ginger root
- 1 handful of cinnamon bark bits
- 1 large Japanese pear with peel and core, cut into 4 parts
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Buying and Storing Jujube
Step 1. Buy jujubes in a specialty store
Unless you live in an area that has plenty of them, you can have a hard time finding them at the supermarket. Try to find them at the most well-stocked fruit and vegetable or natural product stores. Many Asian and Indian supermarkets also sell them.
Step 2. Learn to select jujubes
There are several varieties. They usually generally have a round or oval shape, with a length of about 5 cm. Unripe jujubes are light green. As they mature, they turn yellow. Sometimes reddish or brown spots may appear on the peel. Once ripe they take on a reddish-brown color and a soft and wrinkled texture.
If you plan to eat them fresh, buy them just before they turn red, soft and wrinkled
Step 3. Store them in the fridge
Jujubes can last a long time, especially once dried. Whether they are fresh or dry, you should keep them refrigerated in an airtight container.
Method 2 of 4: Using and Eating Jujube
Step 1. Use fresh jujubes instead of apples
Before they ripen and become more like dates, jujubes have a flavor that is very reminiscent of apples. If a recipe calls for apples, then you can easily replace them with jujubes. You can also use them to make jujube butter, a variant of apple butter.
Step 2. Use dried jujubes in place of dates or raisins
Dried jujubes look and taste similar to dates; this is why they are also called red dates. You can add them to compotes, desserts and jams. You can also use them to make sauces, soups and fillings. They are excellent for both sweet and savory recipes.
Step 3. Find out which foods go best with them
They can accompany dried fruit, such as almonds, pistachios and walnuts. It is also possible to use them together with sweeteners such as muscovado sugar, chocolate and honey. They also go particularly well with coconut, cream cheese and oranges. Here are some other tasty ideas:
- Brown the jujubes along with peppers, eggplant, greens, onion, or summer squash.
- Combine with black cabbage, diced onion, olive oil, a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Grilled with chopped root vegetables, apples and pears.
Step 4. Eat them dried
To start, wash them and let them soak to soften them. If you have a dryer you can do the procedure at home; it will take about 24-36 hours. Be sure to discard any jujubes that have dark spots.
Step 5. Eat them fresh
To start, wash them carefully, then cut them vertically along each side of the stem. Locate the pit and cut the pulp from the sides, then discard it. Eat the pieces you made or cut them further.
Make sure you are buying the right variety. Fresh jujubes ideal for drying are dry and floury on the palate. The fresh ones designed to be eaten raw have a sweet and sour taste, similar to an apple
Method 3 of 4: Prepare Candied Jujube
Step 1. Pour 800ml of cold water, 830g of sugar and 2 teaspoons of cornstarch into a large pot
Bring the water to a boil over medium or medium-high heat to dissolve the sugar and cornstarch.
Step 2. Prepare the jujubes
Wash and dry 900 g of dried jujubes. Pierce each of them with a fork several times. This will make it easier for the fruit to absorb the water and sugar.
Step 3. Place the jujubes in the pot and let them simmer over medium-low or low heat for 30 minutes without covering them
Stir them once in a while.
Step 4. Wait for them to cool and come to room temperature, then put the lid on the pot and keep them in the fridge overnight
Step 5. Heat the jujubes
Place the pot on the stove and remove the lid. Bring to a boil over medium or medium-high heat. As soon as the mixture comes to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes without a lid.
Step 6. Remove the jujubes from the pot using a skimmer
Spread them on several rimmed baking sheets lined with aluminum foil. Try not to cram them into a single pan or they will not dry properly.
Don't throw the syrup away. Let it boil until it has reduced to about 300ml. Pour it into a glass bottle and use it to garnish pancakes or waffles. Keep it in the fridge
Step 7. Dry the jujubes in a hot oven
Preheat it to 135 ° C, put the baking sheets in the oven and let the jujubes dry for 2-5 hours. Turn them occasionally to dry them on the other side as well. They will be ready when they have assumed a consistency similar to that of dates.
Method 4 of 4: Prepare a Jujube Tea
Step 1. Prepare the water, ginger root, cinnamon bark and Japanese pear
Put a large pot on the stove and pour 4 liters of water into it. Slice a ginger root into about 3 cm pieces and place them in the pot. Add cinnamon sticks and a sliced Japanese pear.
Do not peel the ginger root or Japanese pear
Step 2. Before putting the jujubes in the pot, prick them several times with a fork or make cuts in each of them with a kitchen knife
Step 3. Let the water simmer for 4 hours
Do not bring it to a boil, otherwise you risk nullifying the beneficial properties of ginger. Instead, let it simmer patiently.
Step 4. Filter the herbal tea
Remove the ginger root, cinnamon, pear and jujubes with a skimmer. Carefully pour the herbal tea into a clean bottle, carafe or jar, depending on the container you prefer.
To preserve the flavor of the herbal tea you should use glass or ceramic containers
Step 5. Drink the hot herbal tea
The leftover can then be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. It can be heated or eaten cold.
Advice
- Jujubes are rich in vitamin C and potassium.
- Dried jujubes have several synonyms, including red dates, Chinese dates and zao dates. In Persian cuisine they are called annab.
- Fresh jujubes are also called Chinese apples.
- Although called red dates, jujubes are not related to dates. This name is due exclusively to the appearance they take on once dried.
