Stirred Lingonberries commonly grace the Scandinavian table. This simple mixture of lingonberries and sugar (sometimes cooked, sometimes not) is enjoyed as a sort of sweet relish. You will find it served alongside Swedish meatballs or potato pancakes and spooned over oat porridge or buttery Swedish pancakes. But did you know that the lingonberry is considered one of the most nutritious berries in the world? Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, lingonberries are now touted as a superfood. They are believed to reduce inflammation, prevent urinary tract infections and, according to Dr. Oz, may even reduce the appearance of age spots. Superfood indeed!
Lingonberries are very tart in flavor, much like a cranberry, which is why they are almost always paired with some kind of sweetener before eating. Here in the United States, fresh lingonberries can be very difficult to find. Frozen lingonberries are available, especially if you live somewhere with a strong Scandinavian cultural presence (I buy mine at Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace in Minneapolis or online from Sturdiwheat). You can almost always find preserved lingonberries or lingonberry jam no matter where you live, but they are not quite the same as Stirred Lingonberries.
Order some berries and give them a try! I think you are going to love them. They last forever in the freezer so you can look forward to using them in all sorts of different applications! For something a little different, try using them in my Nordic Wild Berry Almond Smoothie. It's a delicious way to start the day.
Stirred Lingonberries
Ingredients
- 1 cup frozen lingonberries thawed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Stir lingonberries and sugar together. Let sit at room temperature until sugar dissolves. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
I made these to go with your delicious veg meatballs and they were so tasty. I just couldn't get the sugar to dissolve completely even though I had them out at room temperature almost all day. So although delicious, and spot on with meatballs and gravy - yum, they were a bit crunchy/grainy. Is there a way to make them more smooth next time, heating them up maybe? Thank you!
Hi Victoria,
Thanks for your comment! Yes, if the sugar isn't dissolving you can always pop them in the microwave to help things along. I will make a note to add that to the recipe. Thanks again!
Kristi