And the flavor of the year is…
| 2 min read
Purple has become the hottest color this year in fashion, florals and now food. Blackberry has just been named the flavor of the year by Firmenich, a company that specializes in analyzing thousands of flavor profiles each year. And blackberries are more than just a pretty face: They’re packed with powerful nutrients and antioxidants. Studies have shown that eating them can help reduce the risk of heart disease, slow the growth of cancer cells, help stabilize blood collagens in diabetics and even help improve night vision. And they taste pretty good, too!
The next time you’re in the frozen food aisle, grab a bag of blackberries and throw them into a smoothie or, better yet, one of these more unconventional recipes.
Gluten-free Blackberry Tart
Filling:
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 4 cups frozen blackberries
Crust:
- 1½ cups almond flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ cup macadamia nut oil (or vegetable oil)
- 1 tablespoon honey
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium saucepan, bring water, honey and berries to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Berry filling should reduce by a third and begin to thicken.
In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt, baking soda and nutmeg. In a small bowl combine macadamia nut oil and honey. Add wet ingredients to flour mixture, mixing well. Press dough in bottom and sides of an 8-inch round pie pan. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Pour blackberry filling into the crust and refrigerate several hours before serving.
Nutritional Information (Makes 6 servings)
Per serving: 255 calories; 19 total fat; 150mg sodium; 20g carbohydrates; 6g fiber; 5g protein
Per serving: 255 calories; 19 total fat; 150mg sodium; 20g carbohydrates; 6g fiber; 5g protein
Blackberry BBQ Sauce
Great for ribs, pork chops or hamburgers.
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups frozen blackberries
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until blackberries are pureed. (You may need to do this in batches.) In a medium saucepan, simmer mixture for 20 to 25 minutes or until thickened.
Nutritional Information (Makes 12 servings)
Per serving: 100 calories; 4g total fat; 219mg sodium; 17g carbohydrates; 3g fiber;1g protein
Per serving: 100 calories; 4g total fat; 219mg sodium; 17g carbohydrates; 3g fiber;1g protein
Photo credit: Jeremy Jenum
