Homemade jelly fruit is a delicious and versatile option to enjoy at any time of the day. Not only is it a healthy and refreshing dessert, but it can also be the ideal complement to different dishes and desserts. Its unmistakable texture and variety of flavors make it an ideal ingredient in the kitchen.
In this post, we are going to give you all the keys to make homemade jelly fruit step by step and recommendations to use it for multiple uses, both in home and professional cooking.
What do you need to make quality homemade jelly fruit?
Basic ingredients
To prepare delicious homemade jelly fruit, you will need the following ingredients:
- 500 ml. of natural fruit juice (can be orange, lemon, strawberry, etc.)
- 100g. of sugar (adjust according to preferences).
- 15g. of unflavored gelatin (approximately 2 sachets).
- 250 ml. of cold water.
- Fresh fruits cut into pieces.
These are the necessary kitchen utensils:
- Pan or saucepan.
- A big bowl.
- Jelly molds.
- Wooden spoon.
- Hand whisk.
Step by step to make homemade jelly fruit
Let’s see all the steps to prepare a delicious gelatin at home:
Step: prepare the fruits
The first step is to prepare the fruits. If you are using fresh fruits, wash them well, peel them and cut them into small pieces. If you prefer fruit juice, it should be fresh and pulp-free.
Step: prepare the unflavored gelatin
In a large bowl, pour 250 ml of cold water and sprinkle the unflavored gelatin over the water. Let it sit for 5 minutes so the gelatin can hydrate and become fluffy.
Step: heat the fruit juice
In a saucepan or frying pan, heat the fruit juice over medium heat. Add the sugar and stir constantly with a whisk until completely dissolved. This should take about 2 or 3 minutes. It is important to prevent the juice from boiling, it should only be hot.
Step: dissolve the gelatin
Once the juice is hot and the sugar has dissolved, remove the saucepan from the heat. Then, add the hydrated gelatin and stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved and the mixture is homogeneous. If you are using fresh fruit, now is the time to add the fruit pieces.
Step: sweeten to taste
Taste the mixture and add sugar if desired. The amount of sugar will depend on the tastes and preferences of each person and the sweetness of the fruits used. Once the sugar is added, it is very important to stir well until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Step: add a touch of lime or lemon
To enhance the flavors of the fruit, you can add a tablespoon of lime or lemon juice. This will not only improve the flavor, but will also help the gelatin have a firmer texture.
Step: pour into molds
Once you have the mixture with all the ingredients, you just have to pour it into molds; They can be individual or a large one, depending on your preference. Make sure the molds are clean and dry before doing this. Finally, let it cool to room temperature for about 30 minutes.
Step: Refrigerate
Once the gelatin has cooled to room temperature, place the molds in the refrigerator and chill for at least 4 hours, or until the jelly is completely firm. If you use a large mold, it may take longer to complete the process.
How to use jelly fruit in cooking?
In the home kitchen
Homemade jelly fruit is a very versatile dessert that can be used in many ways. These are just some of them:
- Refreshing dessert: Jelly fruit is widely used as a light and refreshing dessert after a meal.
- Snacks: You can cut the gelatin into cubes and serve as delicious and refreshing snacks.
- Cake decoration: Jelly fruit can also be used to decorate cakes and pies, adding a very attractive touch of color and flavor.
- Fruit salads: Jelly cubes can be introduced into fruit salads, along with yogurt, to give them a unique texture and flavor.
- Dessert layers: we can use jelly fruit to create layers in desserts like parfaits and trifles.
In the professional cooking
In professional cooking, jelly fruit is often used creatively to surprise customers. These are some of its uses:
- Gourmet dishes: Chefs use jelly fruit to create gourmet dishes, such as wine jellies or jellied cocktails.
- Buffets and events: Jelly fruit is a great option for buffets and events as it can be prepared in advance and presented attractively.
- Innovative desserts: Pastry chefs can experiment with different flavors and presentations to create innovative and sophisticated desserts.
- Bases for cheesecakes: Professionals often use jelly fruit as a base or top layer in cheesecakes.
- Drink garnish: You can use jelly fruit in decorative shapes and use it as a garnish in drinks and cocktails.
Recommendations and some other tricks
These are some ideas for making homemade jelly fruit:
Choose the right juice
To choose delicious homemade jelly fruit, it is important to choose high-quality fruit juices. You can use freshly squeezed juice or natural juice without added sugar for a more authentic flavor.
Add fresh fruits
Adding fresh fruits to gelatin not only improves its flavor, but also gives it a more attractive appearance. You can try it with strawberries, kiwis, grapes or any fruit of your choice.
Experiment with flavors
It is important to experiment with different flavors, mix different fruit juices or add a touch of fresh herbs such as mint or basil to give your jelly a unique touch.
Highest quality jelly fruit
As we can see, it is easy to make homemade jelly fruit, but professionals who continually use this product prefer to choose reliable suppliers capable of satisfying all their demands and needs. In this way, they ensure that they always have the product ready to be used in their preparations.
Brands like Lazaya Preserved Fruits, which has been on the market for more than 80 years, is undoubtedly a reference for all professionals who use candied fruit, fruit in syrup, jellies and fruit gels, among many other products, in their creations. Don’t hesitate to contact us to customize your order, we will be happy to help you.