Elderflower Fever

I keep seeing pictures of elderflowers popping up all over the internet, which makes me a bit anxious cause we have one of those elderflower bushes in my backyard, and it's taking a bit longer then expected to start blossoming but it finally made it. Well it's not really in my backyard pronto. It's more like the tree of my neighbour is growing over the wall on to our terrace and since he doesn't really care about it, I might as well use them to good purpose. If you ask me there's only one logical thing you can do with elderflowers and that's to make a cordial or syrup cause that will form the base of almost all the things you want to make with it from panna cotta to ice cream or even a vinaigrette. There could be one exception, And that's if you are that kind of person who likes to get his/her drink on once in a while. If that's the case I suggest you then spilt up your elder flowers in two equal parts and with one you make you're cordial which is great in some gin based cocktails or with champagne and with the other half you make elderflower liqueur which can be a good base for some of you're cocktails as well or just ice cold as a digestif on those hot summer evenings. If you feel like doing that, you can use the recipe from my earlier limoncello post.

So that leaves us with the cordial which is as simple as it sounds. It's an overnight job so prepare yourself for that. We start of by getting ready 1L water and depending on you're sweet tooth 1.5kg to 1.75kg sugar ready to make a syrup. Grab a large container big enough to fit the whole recipe and slice two lemons in medium thick slices and throw them in there, followed by the elderflowers. Again depending on flavour between 75gr to 150gr. Finally top with 50gr citric acid and start your syrup and bring to boil. Once boiled pour over the flowers. Mix it around a bit with a spatula and leave to infuse, when cold place in the fridge overnight. A second way would be to boil the syrup and add all the other ingredients to it and give it a stir and leave on a very low heat to steep overnight, going through it once every few hours.

Both methods work but I'm a fan of the last one since that will develop a better flavour and texture of you're cordial. That's leaves us with straining the cordial through a fine muslin cloth. Keep de flowers and lemon slices for later, don't throw them away. Fill up sterilised bottles with the use of a funnel. Once filled, seal and store them somewhere cool and dark for several weeks. It's also possible to store them in the freezer so you can keep them longer.

As I said earlier, Once bottled and stored away DON'T throw away those flowers. We can use them for decoration by letting them drip on a rack to remove the excess syrup, roll them in sugar and let them crystalise. Or you could just let them drip and dry so you can blend it into an elderflower powder, that u can use to sprinkle over meringue before drying it. Or something else that comes to you're mind, but don't throw them away, it would be a shame.

Don't forget that a few months later, let's says around August/September there will be ripe elderberries on those bushes which again leaves you with a whole lot of possibles for tasty creations like to ones I explained just now, But also things like elderberry vinegar and elderberry wine. Or different jams, chutney's or sauces. But I'm gonna stick to the blossoms for now, the berries are a bit more work but I promise they will pass by in august or so. If you guys feel like you want to see something special with elderberries later in august then just let me know. you can leave a comment, or find me on Instagram (jurgenwillems) or twitter (@JurgenWillems14). Have fun!