Page 153 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods
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Gooseberry, Ribes spp.
(GROSSULARIACEAE)
Nadiatalent, CC-BY-SA-3.0
Nadiatalent, CC-BY-SA-3.0
Nadiatalent, CC-BY-SA-4.0
GOOSEBERRY is a deciduous shrub found in many min C and rich in antioxidants.
habitats, from fields, woodland clearings, and riv-
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Gooseberries do not
er-edges to bogs, swamps, forests, and rocky heights.
ripen all at once. Their picking season begins as ear-
Shrubs may be sprawling, loosely spreading or up-
ly as June and ends as late as September. Slightly un-
right, growing 1.6-5 ft. (0.5-1.5m) tall. There are derripe berries are best for jams, pies, sauces. Fully
over 50 species in the Ribes genus and all are edible. ripe berries are great fresh. Gooseberries come in all
Common North American species include: American sorts of colors, but the same ripeness test applies to
Gooseberry, R. hirtellum, Northern Gooseberry, R.
every species: give the fruits a gentle squeeze - fully
oxyacanthoides, and Prickly Gooseberry, R. cynosbati.
mature fruits are soft and may burst their juices. Any
FLOWER AND FRUIT: Between April and August, spines present on berries can be removed by cooking.
light green to purplish flowers emerge in elongated Gooseberries They pair excellently with fish, meat,
bunches. Each flower is 0.4 inches (1cm) long with and poultry, or eaten with cream as dessert.
5 petals. Slightly oval fruits appear in June-Septem-
ROASTED MACKEREL WITH GOOSEBERRY SAUCE:
ber. They may be covered in bristly hairs or smooth-
In a saucepan, combine 1 ½ cup gooseberries, ½ tbsp.
skinned, ranging in hue from greenish-yellow to red
white wine vinegar, 3 tbsp. sugar, 1 finely chopped
to purplish-black.
shallot, 4 tbsp. olive oil, 4 tbsp. water, salt, and ground
LEAF: Foliage is three-lobed with coarsely toothed black pepper. Simmer for 15-20 min. Place a whole,
edges. 0.5-5 inches (1.2-12.5cm) long leaves are al- gutted, and cleaned mackerel on a sheet of alumi-
ternate, commonly greyish-green, and often covered num foil and cover with gooseberry sauce. Fold over
in very fine hairs. Thorns grow at the bases of the leaf the foil’s edges and wrap up the fish tightly. Secure in
stalks. another layer of aluminum foil. Roast for 5-8 min. on
EDIBLE PARTS: fruit each side. Sauce should be enough for four fish.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Gooseberries are high in vita-
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