GROW IT, COOK IT
Roll up homemade fruit leather, and how to prep your garden for autumn
This month, I gave fruit leather a go – it’s a project I’ve never tried. I assumed I’d need a dehydrator, but this recipe by our own Lulu Grimes doesn’t require one, and is simple to follow. I made mine with blackberries – it’s a fabulous way to deal with a glut. The result is a chewy, intensely fruity snack.
MAKES 1 large sheet (about 10 strips) PREP 10 mins COOK 3 6 hrs
MORE EFFORT
V400g fresh or frozen strawberries or blackberries (defrosted if frozen), any stalks removed
1 dessert apple, cored and cut
into chunks
1 Tip the berries and apple into a saucepan. Cover and cook over a low heat until the berries start to break down and release their juices and the apple is soft – how long this process takes will depend on the type and ripeness of the fruit.
2 Remove from the heat. Tip the fruit mixture into a food processor and blitz to a purée, then use the back of a spoon to push the mixture through a sieve into a clean pan. Discard the seeds left in the sieve. 3 Put the pan over a low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the purée has thickened – you should be able to drag a spoon over the base of the pan and leave a clear trail that remains for a few seconds.
4 Heat the oven to its lowest setting. Pour the purée over a baking sheet lined with baking parchment or a silicone baking mat, and spread out to a thin layer that remains opaque. 5 Bake for 3 hrs, or until the surface is no longer tacky but the leather is still flexible (don’t overcook it or it will become brittle). Depending on your oven, the drying process could take up to 6 hrs, so check it often. Alternatively, use a dehydrator, if you have one, following the manufacturer instructions.
6 Leave to cool until just warm, then peel away the parchment. Trim the edges, roll up the fruit leather and cut into sections before unrolling into strips. Wrap the strips individually. Will keep in an airtight container for up to one month. Enjoy as a snack, or see tip, right, for more ideas.
GOOD TO KNOW vegan • low fat • vit c • gluten free PER STRIP (10) 20 kcals • fat 0.2g • saturates none • carbs 3g • sugars 3g • ibre 2g • protein 0.3g • salt none