My little Diary: home-made strawberry crush

There is something about a strawberry crush or jam. It takes me back to a trip I made to Mahabaleshwar as a kid with my family. We had visited the Mapro (manufacturer of fruit jams and fruit concentrates) plant where they manufacture fresh jams and crushes. One could taste these products and had the option to choose the one of their choice and buy it accordingly. I remember they had a small café that served shakes and ice-cream made from fresh strawberries. It was one of the best childhood trips and the memories of the plant visit and the aroma of fresh strawberries experienced then somehow stayed with me.

Now in a city like Delhi we do not get fresh strawberries throughout the year. Come winters and only then can one spot boxes full of beautiful blushing strawberries with the fruit vendors. So, the other day when I made a brief trip to the market my eyes fell on one such box of strawberries and an imaginary cloud popped over my head visualising strawberry crush and strawberry shake. The mundane toast topped with a layer of fresh strawberry crush…aaahhhh!! Pure bliss!

I picked up two boxes and could not wait to reach home and start preparing home-made strawberry crush. I did not know the exact recipe (now I do know) so I followed a hit and trial method. Luckily it worked just fine.

I pruned the leaves off the fruit and washed the strawberries well. I then poured some water in a pan just enough to cover the strawberries that would be going into it. I tipped in a few spoonfuls of sugar to it. When the sugar dissolved I added chopped strawberries into the pan. Once the mixture started to boil; I swear the entire kitchen smelt SO good. The fruity whiff of strawberries was a pleasant change from the aroma of Indian cooking that generally takes place in every Indian household. I had let the mixture boil and kept stirring it every now and then, till its consistency was as thick as any sauce.

I could not take my eyes off from the mixture with its chirpy pink bubbles bobbing to the pan’s brim as if students wanting to get out of the class the moment the school bell rings. The sight of that bubbly mix with the mellow fragrance of fresh strawberries being poached to make a crush made an absolutely wonderful combination. Once the consistency was like that of any sauce I took the pan off the flame and let it cool.

I could not wait to get hold of a spoon and dipped a finger into the pan only to lick off the sticky lip-smacking crush off my finger the next second. It was yum! And just the way I had imagined it. I must confess that I was more than happy:D

I transferred the crush into a dry bowl. I am now planning to use it for shakes, lemonades and with toast. And I know my dear husband with absolutely love the crush with vanilla ice-cream packed and topped with the crunchiness of nuts. I have other ideas too and I will share them soon ;)

This is what you will need to make your own fresh home-made strawberry crush.

Ingredients to make a bowl of strawberry crush

9-10 strawberries
Water just enough to cover the strawberries
5-6 spoons of sugar

Recipe

Remove the leaves of the strawberries and wash them properly.
Chop the strawberries into chunks.
Heat water in a pan and add sugar to it
Once the sugar dissolves add strawberries to it.
Let the mixture boil.
Keep stirring it off and on to check the consistency.
Once the strawberries nearly dissolve in the water and the consistency is like that of any chutney (sauce) take the pan off the flame.
Let the mixture cool down.
Transfer it to a clean and dry glass jar.