Rote Grütze
(Raspberries, Red and Black Currants, and Cherries)
Rote Grütze is a specialty from Northern Germany. It is a dessert made with fresh red fruits, along with sugar, thickeners, fruit juice, and often liquors. It is often served with whipped cream or a vanilla sauce.
Historically, this dish was made with grits and fruit juice (without the addition of whole fruits), which made it very grainy and heavy. This is where the name Rote Grütze came from - it means "Red Grits" in German.
The recipe below is a traditional one, which uses liquor and a variety of seasonings. For an easier recipe, please see the recipe
for Rote Grütze #2 (Simplier Version).
1/2 cup Sugar
6 tablespoons Water
4 teaspoons Orange Juice
1 - 2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
2 tablespoons Cornstarch
2/3 cup Red Wine
2 tablespoons Black Currant Liquor
2/3 cup Red Port Wine
1 Cinnamon Stick
1 Star Anise
Seeds from 1 Vanilla Bean
Strip of Orange Peel and Lemon Peel
2 tablespoons Orange Liquor
1/4 pound of each: Strawberries, Red Currants, Black Currants, Cherries, and Raspberries
1/8 pound Boysenberries
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Mix the sugar with the water in a pot. Heat to boiling and allow to thicken to a light caramel color. Remove from heat. Mix in orange and lemon juices.
Mix the cornstarch with a few tablespoons of red wine. Mix until smooth.
Add the remaining red wine, black currant liquor, port wine to the caramalized sugar and mix together. Add cinnamon stick, star anise, vanilla bean seeds, and orange and lemon peels. Heat mixture over a low heat for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add orange liquor.
Wash fruit. Remove stems from currants and remove stones from cherries. Arrange fruit in a casserole dish. Pour the warm wine mixture over the fruit.
Bake in pre-heated oven for 10 minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick, star anise, and orange and lemon peels. Allow to cool slightly. Serve in small dessert glasses.
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