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Dried Barberries
Dried Barberries is a traditional British recipe for a classic method of air-drying barberries for later uses. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic British version of: Dried Barberries.
prep time
20 minutes
cook time
10 minutes
Total Time:
30 minutes
Additional Time:
(+5 days drying)
Makes:
1 jar
Rating: 
Tags : Wild FoodBritish Recipes
Today, dried barberries are mostly produced in Iran as the fruit of the seedless barberry,
Berberis vulgaris var asperma. Indeed, the country is the largest producer of dried barberry. However, dried seeded and seedless barberries were used in British cuisine at least from Elizabethan to Victorian times (probably earlier) and the fruit was valued for its acerbic nature as a kidney tonic. Whether the medicinal benefits have any merit, this is still an useful dried store-cupboard staple, especially as so many gardens have barberry hedges. Typically barberry dries at a ratio of 4:1, so that 4kg of ripe barberries yield 1kg of dried fruit.
Method:
Though they can be dried at any time after the fruit sets, it's best to dry barberries when the are fully ripe. The fruit themselves (from the wild and ornamental plants) hand in bunches and it's best to collect them this way, as the plant has sharp spines. When you get home, break off the tails of the fruit as close to the fruit itself as possible then spread the hips out on a clean surface (I tend to spread newspaper on a table and spread them out there). Allow to dry partially (when the skins begin to wrinkle) then, if they are varieties or species with seeds, gently split the stalk end of the fruit then remove all the seeds with a needle or a pointed knife (typically there will be between one and three seeds).
Return the fruit to your drying surface and allow to dry our completely (they must be completely dry, or they will not store) then either freeze in bags (they will keep indefinitely) or place in a clean jar and store in the refrigerator (they will keep for several months).
As well as being used as replacement for more common fruit in cakes you can add these to trail mixes, eat them as snacks or use as toppings for salads. Barberry fruit are very high in vitamin C and make an excellent winter supplement.
