The Blackberry Issue
Berry-saving tips, blackberry syrup, homemade fruit powder, and a call to protect public lands. Summer's here and it's a "berry" big celebration.
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TL;DR:
🥵 Give your berries a hot water dunk 👉🏽 Thermotherapy helps them stay fresher, longer
🧪 Testing blackberry syrup 👉🏽 This version is made with stevia extract for a sweet-tart simple syrup without added calories
💡Turn leftover blackberries or blackberry pulp into powder 👉🏽 Your blackberry pieces don’t need to go in the trash can. Blackberry powder has lots of uses.
🗳️ Take action 👉🏽 Join REI in calling upon Congress to pass legislation preventing the sale of our public lands without congressional approval.
Summer always feels like it’s officially arrived once the little red berries on our blackberry bushes start to darken. One of my favorite summer breads is blackberry lemon bread with a delicious blackberry glaze. Our next-door neighbor has extensive patches in her yard and was kind enough to gift us with probably $30 worth of blackberries a few days ago.
So, I’ve had a blast playing with new recipe ideas centered around this sweet-tart berry and this digest is dedicated to incorporating more of these black berries into our sustainable kitchens.
Did you know blackberries can help solve murders? They’re prized in the science of forensic botany (which is a thing) because bramle/branch growth reveals growth pattern timestamps. Even pollen can easily stick to evidence, linking items to a crime scene.
🔄 Sustainable Swap
Method swap: prolong the life of your berries using thermotherapy
Skip the store-bought vegetable cleansers. And, storing berries without removing any spoiled ones, washing and storing again in a moisture-laden container, and pushing the limits of their freshness can lead to berry heartbreak.
Enter thermotherapy. Ever heard of it?
I mentioned this in last week’s digest as a tip from author Harold McGee. If anyone has a cooking recommendation I’ll listen to, it’s Harold (and Miyoko Schinner, of course).
He recommends giving berries a quick dip in a hot water bath (120 degrees) for 30 seconds, drying completely, and then storing in a refrigerated container with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture. The brief hot-water treatment helps reduce mold spores on the berry surface, which may slow spoilage.
You do need a thermometer to measure the temperature; though, I’ll admit I use my electric kettle set to its lowest temperature (160 degrees), pour the water in a large bowl, and let it cool briefly.
Here’s what I do to keep this process sustainable:
Heat the water using an electric kettle instead of the stovetop.
Dry the berries with a cotton tea towel that you don’t mind staining. I even place them on a baking sheet to completely dry before moving to their container.
Store the berries with another thin towel for storage.
Of course, if you know you won’t be able to use the berries for more than several days, go ahead and freeze for longer term storage.
If you'd like to explore more low-waste cooking ideas, you'll find plenty here:
🧪 Testing in Progress
Blackberry Simple Syrup
If you’re familiar with any of the unique simple syrup recipes from Inspired Epicurean, like strawberry top simple syrup or thyme simple syrup, you know I love a good infusion.
And while I will enjoy sugar in moderation, it’s really hard for me to bring myself to make a simple syrup with equal parts fruit and sugar. So, I hack my syrups using stevia extract.
With the bounty of fresh blackberries gifted to us by our neighbors and not already scavenged by the birds (they deserve it, too), I made a list of all the test recipes I’d like to try with blackberries.
This simple syrup is just the start.
It’s seasonal, sweet, tart, and perfect for summer recipes. It’s perfect for:
blackberry lemonade
iced tea
pancakes
oatmeal
cocktails and mocktails
If you want to try a batch today, use:
1 1/2 cups water per cup of blackberries
1/4 tsp pure stevia extract
1 tsp arrowroot powder (mixed with water for a slurry if you add it when the liquid is very hot)
Then,
Bring the berries and water to a boil before reducing to a simmer.
You can just stir the berries to keep the liquid clear, or use a potato masher to mash the berries in the water.
Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes.
Strain, but reserve the leftover blackberry pulp.
Return liquid to saucepan over low heat and stir in stevia and arrowroot powder.
Simmer for about 5 minutes before cooling and enjoying or storing in an airtight container.
NOTE: Add more stevia extract to taste. Sweetness varies by brand.
This makes about a cup of simple syrup.
For the soda, I usually add about a quarter cup of the syrup to a glass with ice and top with seltzer water. Stir to combine.
Remember to keep the blackberry pulp. Here’s what I propose doing with it 👇🏽
💡 Food Scrap Idea
Homemade Blackberry Powder
This delicious blackberry simple syrup led me to a new food scrap idea that’s easy enough for everyone to make.
When you give the syrup a try, don’t toss out the blackberry pulp. You can use that to blend into smoothies or mix with some chia or flax and maple syrup to dry in the oven and turn into a fruit leather.
My recommendation? Dry the pulp on the lowest possible oven temperature and blend in a spice grinder to make a homemade blackberry powder.
Specifically:
Spread it on a parchment-lined baking sheet and dry for 3-4 hours in a low-temperature oven (mine was 170 degrees Fahrenheit), turning over with the help of a spatula halfway through. As I check its progress, I like to break it into smaller bits.
Allow to cool.
Add to your spice grinder and blend for about 30 seconds, or until the pulp is pulverized into a powder.
(By the way, if you don’t already have a spice grinder, I highly recommend getting one. Especially if you like a finer grind when working with small batches.)
Why turn blackberry pulp into powder?
I love blackberries, but if there’s an opportunity to grind the seeds down a little more, I’ll take it. The more even texture means we can easily use this in a variety of dishes. Here’s my list:
Stir/fold into baked goods for flavor and color
Sprinkle over vegan chocolate bark (I picture melted vegan white chocolate to really let the blackberry color pop)
Dissolve into powdered sugar and plant-based milk for blackberry frosting (here’s how to make your own vegan powdered sugar at home in 30 seconds)
Infuse hot and cold drinks
Stir into oatmeal, vegan yogurt, or homemade granola
Stir into warm maple syrup for a maple-blackberry flavor combo
Sprinkle over vegan ice cream, or fold into ice cream ingredients when making a homemade version. You can do the same with whipped cream.
Blackberry aquafaba ice cream, anyone? (Check out last week’s digest for more. 😉)
How will you use blackberry powder? I’d love to hear your ideas!
If you care about the pollinators helping your blackberry bushes produce fruit, it's worth remembering that healthy food systems depend on much more than what's happening in our kitchens. Clean water, native plants, wildlife habitat, and protected public lands all play a role.
So, here’s a call-to-action on a larger scale👇🏽
🗣️ Take Action: Petition Roundup
Please read the details of each petition and determine if any are a good fit for your support. Every platform has different terms and conditions and requires varying levels of data. Only share what you feel comfortable and sign at your discretion.
Public Lands in Public Hands Act: Show support for keeping public lands public and banning the sale of lands without congressional approval.
Summary:🌲 This week's petition looks beyond the kitchen and into what supports it. Healthy food systems depend on healthy ecosystems, clean water, pollinators, and protected public lands. If these spaces matter to you, consider supporting the petition.
💬 I’d love to hear from you
Now that almost every berry is in season now, which is your favorite? Are you team blackberry, strawberry, blueberry…or something else?
Your friendly neighborhood vegan,
Melanie