Ready for a slew of awesome blackberries recipes? Though the pleasure of eating a single blackberry may have inspired an entire cell phone revolution of the same name, it’s still a simple, late summer into autumn treat to us. If you’re wondering, the BlackBerry name was given its name due to the resemblance of the keyboard’s buttons to the fruit’s drupelets. And though most of us can’t help but think of those drupelets crushed in comforting pies and cobblers, sweetly-tart blackberries are also delicious tossed into salads, served alongside cheeses, or cooked on top of meats.
The truth is blackberries add depth and nutritional perks to any dish. The personal trainer and health writer Maia Appleby wrote in the SFGate: “The dark color in blackberries makes them stand out in fruit salads and desserts, but it also indicates a high concentration of antioxidants. Research suggests that their vitamin content may help reduce your risk of heart problems, periodontal disease and age-related decline in motor and cognitive function.” So don’t think any further, pick up some fresh seasonal berries or even the frozen kind and get cooking with these 10 great blackberries recipes.
1. Blackberry Spinach Salad
Blackberries and raw spinach? But of course! This is the perfect salad to wow your brunch guests. In addition to the berries, you’ll need baby spinach, walnuts, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, green onions, and your favorite oil and vinegar dressing.
Read Related: Cran-tastic: 15 Awesome Things You Can Make with Cranberries
2. Ten Minute Blackberry Cream Pie
Did you just accidently invite friends over for tea time in an hour? Run and pick up a store-bought graham cracker pie crust, warm it up, mash up some fresh or frozen berries with blackberry jam, and spoon the mixture into the crust. Top with the whipped topping and eat.
3. Blackberry Crisp
In just ten minutes of prepping and 50 minutes in the oven, this gem of a dessert will sweep you off to a country house deep in the woods. All you need is some tapioca, sugar, butter, flour, fresh blackberries, and orange zest and juice.
4. Chunky Blackberry and Peanut Butter Crumble
Calling all peanut butter lovers: this easy to make dessert takes just ten minutes to prep and twenty five minutes in the oven. Just mix it up your fresh or frozen berries with flour, sugar, ground cinnamon, lemon juice, quick-cooking oats, chunky peanut butter, butter and kosher salt.
5. Blackberry Crush Cocktail
It’s the busy fall season and there’s been a lot on your plate. So do yourself a favor, grab a tall glass and mix yourself this potent cocktail tonight. With just four fresh blackberries, lemon juice, simple syrup, seltzer, mint and your favorite vodka, you’ll develop an instant crush on this one.
6. Blackberry Syrup
The danger in whipping out this blackberry syrup for your overnight houseguests is the danger of them moving in forever. You’ll need blackberry juice, sugar and powdered pectin. Pour generously over buckwheat pancakes. This is one of our fave recipes for blackberries there is!
7. Pork Chops with Blackberry Sauce
Though apple is the most common fruit to accompany pork chops, you will truly appreciate tartness of blackberries on a pork loin topped with a sweet port to make this balsamic vinegar, shallots, and chicken broth based sauce simply sing.
8. Blackberry Chip Ice Cream
Forget all those fancy supermarket brand ice creams and make your own tub. You’ll need two pints fresh blackberries sugar lemon juice, half-and-half, egg yolks, heavy cream, semisweet chocolate. Then pour into your ice cream maker and freeze overnight.
9. Venison with Blackberry Wine Sauce
The elegance of this dish lies in the richness of its red wine, shallot and garlic base. You’ll need fresh blackberries, blackberry jam, butter, and beef stock. Serve with green beans, your favorite rice, and a dry red.
10. Blackberry BBQ Sauce
Though fall is around the corner are you still using the outside grill? Try this BBQ sauce made with blackberry preserves, ketchup, red wine vinegar and cayenne pepper on beef ribs, pork or duck. Its sweet and fruity flavor will have your guests clamoring for your ‘secret’ sauce recipe.
Photos 2 & 4 courtesy of Food Network.com
