Juniperberries

Dried Juniper berries from Bulgaria are a citrusy woodsy spice with a distinctive flavor popular in Scandanavian and Northern Eruopean cuisine.

It is the juniper berry that gives gin it’s unmistakable fresh pine flavor. It is also used in the Finnish beer Sahti.

Crush the dark purple berries lightly before using them to release their sharp clear flavors. For an even stronger flavor lightly toast dried berries before using.

Use them with Scandinavian Spices on wild meat dishes, especially wild birds like thrush and game meats like boar and venison. Or for milder fare, use juniper berries to season cabbage and sauerkraut. The vinegar will highlight the citrus notes of the berries. Other meal ideas that are enhanced by juniper berries include prunes with roast duck, venison with tart apples, or roasted eggplant with garlic. Blend with lemon juice and rosemary for a fresh, tart, bold flavor useful in marinades.

Enjoy discovering this pungent northern berry in your winter holiday dishes this year.