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Berry Pudding

Berries are a big deal in Scandinavia. The farther north you go, the more precious they become. They are not only enjoyed fresh and preserved; they are celebrated, almost worshiped. This Jell-O-like dessert is a beaut.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

1 cup blueberries
1 cup raspberries
1 cup blackberries
3/4 cup sugar, plus more to taste
Juice of 1/2 lemon, more or less
One 1/4-ounce envelope unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
3/4 cup sour cream

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine the fruit with the sugar and about 1 cup water in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a gentle boil and simmer for about 10 minutes, until the mixture is mostly liquid and the berries are soft. Put through a medium-fine strainer, pushing to extract as much juice as possible. You will have about 1 quart; add a bit more water if necessary. Cool the liquid (if you are in a hurry, put it in a container and place the container in a bath of ice water). Add the lemon juice, taste, and stir in more sugar or lemon juice if you like.

    Step 2

    Put 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan and sprinkle the gelatin onto it. Cook over low heat, stirring, until dissolved; stir it into the fruit juice and pour the mixture into individual bowls or one large one. Chill until firm.

    Step 3

    When you’re ready to serve, whip the cream until it holds soft peaks; beat in about 1/4 cup sugar—the mixture should be sweet, but only just so. Stir in the sour cream and a bit more sugar if you like. Serve the pudding with the cream.

The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved. MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.
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