What to do with Medlars?

researcher

They're being offered on my local freecycle - anyone got any recipes (tried & tested) for some thing delicious?

And what on earth do they taste like

thriftlady_2

I'd love to try them, all I know about them is they have to be rotten 'bletted' before you can eat them. You can make jelly with them or eat the puree with cream and sugar.You could try this http://www.historicfood.com/medlar%20cheese%20recipe.htm

researcher

thriftlady wrote:

I'd love to try them, all I know about them is they have to be rotten 'bletted' before you can eat them. You can make jelly with them or eat the puree with cream and sugar.You could try this http://www.historicfood.com/medlar%20cheese%20recipe.htm

If you fancy a trip to Herefordshire the lady posted on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freecyclehereford/ I know she has a tree full!

The website link you gave is really interesting - I might try a couple of the recipes - pity there aren't 48 hours in a day, (or two of me) :rotfl:

Herbaholic

researcher wrote:

They're being offered on my local freecycle - anyone got any recipes (tried & tested) for some thing delicious?

And what on earth do they taste like

Lucky you, medlars aren't so easy to find near me, I think they were popular in Victorian times but lost favour as the years went on, the only place I've seen them is in one of the gardens of a local National Trust place and I can't go raiding that tree lol! They are a fruit I'd like to experiment with though. They're supposed to taste like a cross between baked apple and bread pudding they're not to sour and not to sweet.

I have recipe books that contain recipes for medlar jelly on it's own, medlar & apple jelly, medlar cheese (like lemon curd) and Medlar wine, none of them are tried and tested by me so can't really comment. I'd be interested to know what you do with them and how things turn out, I'll stick to making chutney with the apple glut for now

thriftlady_2

Maybe I should offer my quince glut on freecycle ?

This book has recipes for medlars, quinces, rosehips, sloes, damsons,crab apples, mulberries, bilberries, rowan berries and blackberries.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fruits-Hedgerow-Unusual-Garden-Gather/dp/1899470271/sr=1-2/qid=1160661020/ref=sr_1_2/202-4560088-2422211?ie=UTF8&s=books

Ruby_Pudding

I'm 38 years of age and I have NEVER heard of these in my life - is that wierd?

Lillibet_2

Ooohhh...medlar jelly....FAB with cheese or game pie:drool::drool::drool:

Sorry I don't have a recipie but no trees near us, we buy it from our local country market & it's delish:drool:

thriftlady_2

Yes, you are weird Seriously though, medlars are very uncommon nowadays and they are an acquired taste. I have never seen them in any kind of shop. Mulberries are really difficult to find too, although quinces are available in Waitrose from Turkey. All these fruits were popular in Elizabethan England.

furrypig

We have a Medlar tree in our garden.

When we moved here we had no idea what it was but both sets of parents recognised it.
My dad takes them every year and makes medlar jelly and gives us a couple of jars, it is similar to jam (which he also makes) and we have had it on toast etc before.

Good Luck!

Ruby_Pudding

thriftlady wrote:

Yes, you are weird Seriously though, medlars are very uncommon nowadays and they are an acquired taste. I have never seen them in any kind of shop. Mulberries are really difficult to find too, although quinces are available in Waitrose from Turkey. All these fruits were popular in Elizabethan England.

Mulberries and quinces I know (am a big fan of quinces) but never heard of these - what a brilliant name though, makes me what to rush out and try them

researcher

Ruby_Pudding wrote:

I'm 38 years of age and I have NEVER heard of these in my life - is that wierd?

No, well maybe, as I think I'm a little weird too - and I hadn't heard of them until today either!