How best to observe the superfood celebration
On Monday, November 23rd, households across the USA and UK will shun fast-food fries, creamy doughnuts and chocolate cake and instead search out an antioxidant-rich red berry. National Eat A Cranberry Day isn't really a thing here in the UAE, but we can still join in. And what better way of adding some much-needed winter nutrients to your family’s diet than with the tiny red berry punching well above its weight in both vitamin C and fibre. Here are five ways that you can approach the red berry festivities.
Fresh, as nature intended
Raw cranberries are one of the most underrated of fruits and are often completely overlooked thanks to their much sweeter citrus cousins. Cranberries, with their bitter, slightly acidic taste may not be as palate-pleasing as a juicy peach or a handful of crisp blueberries, but thanks to only 4% sugar, that sour taste is worth it for the health benefits. Fresh cranberries, straight from the vine are packed with vitamin C and beneficial fibre along with manganese, vitamins E and K1 and trace elements of copper. That’s a big dose of goodness in a little fresh package.
In a delicious sauce
Cranberry sauce is a side dish staple of both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Served chilled or at room temperature, it’s the first condiment you reach for once the turkey’s been carved. Unlike raw cranberries, the sauce needs an extra helping of sugar to complement the succulent bird, but complement it does, and if you make enough of it, it can be enjoyed in a sandwich with the turkey leftovers for days afterwards.
The classic juice
When it comes to soft drinks, cranberry juice is rightly regarded as one of the healthiest in the supermarket. As cranberries are grown on the water’s surface in bogs and marshes, they reap the natural benefits of having a constant supply of both water and direct sunlight. This packs each berry with huge amounts of goodness which can easily be squeezed into a refreshing drink. A fresh glass made from raw berries is the most nutritious, however, processed cranberry juice with added sugar is notably less bitter to the taste. Either way, you’re all set for a thirst-quenching treat that is known to help soothe upset stomachs and help with liver problems.
Dried delights
Made by partially dehydrating fresh cranberries (similar to how grapes are made into raisins) dried cranberries are simply perfect for snacking, or for adding to salads, cereals and desserts. Although a substantial amount of vitamins A and C are lost in the drying process, these tiny red treats keep their manganese content, which adds up to 5% of your daily recommended intake. Added sugar should be taken into consideration with processed dried cranberries, but making them at home without a sweetener is as a simple as placing them on dehydrator sheets in the oven for 9 hours at 115 degrees.
Baked to perfection
Thanks to being small, red and rather cute, cranberries have become an in-demand dessert dressing. They’re also just as popular used in bakes. From a classic cranberry cheesecake to a vegan cranberry orange loaf, the little chewy fruits add texture and a contrasting sour taste to any sweet treat. For an extra fruity crunch, frozen cranberries can be added to the mix, making them one of Spinneys’ most versatile fruits.
