Whatshot
Foodie - Heavenly Scents - The Rose Petal Jelly
Foodie - Heavenly Scents - The Rose Petal Jelly
Date: 2017-03-03
My recent trip to the Natal Midlands inspired this week's recipe. There is nothing like foraging and finding fragrant treasures in strangers' gardens. With their permission off course!
I always wait for my day off to prepare this rose petal jelly. Making sure that I take my time about it. I play my favourite music to set the tone for something magnificent to arrive and allow the gentle scent of sweet rose to permeate through my home - I call it my scented home cleansing, nothing beats the smell of steamed rose petals, if you have not smelled it before, you have to do it ASAP!
Scent plays a vital role in the sensation of taste. But highly fragrant ingredients, particularly plants whose essential oils are released by bruising and or cooking, play even more intensely with our senses.
Did you know that intoxicating aromas stimulate the limbic system in our brains, the seat of emotion Which is perhaps why fragrant food can be so evocative and seductive. Sure it can be a turn-off, of course, if it's overdone, like the fake lavender flavour they sometimes add to a crème brûlÈe, or that crude chunky mint leaf of your cheesecake - but get the degree of fragrance just right and you can create very beautiful food experience indeed.
Cooking with rose petals is an age-old practice associated more closely with Middle Eastern cuisines. But it found its way into the Eastern European kitchens and we mainly use it in desserts. I add it to my stews, desserts and it tastes awesome on a cheese platter.
3 cups water
2 cups chamomile tea
5 cup fresh, fragrant rose petals, lightly packed
Juice from one lime and the finely grated lime rind
1 teaspoon Agar-Agar
6 cups sugar
1. Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan and stir in the roses. Boil the leaves for 40 minutes.
2. Add the sugar and boil for further 30 minutes until the sugar water bubbles.
3. Dissolve one teaspoon of Agar-Agar in a cup of warm water and add to the boiling rose mixture cook for another 5 minutes and remove from heat.
4. After couple of minutes, transfer the jelly to hot, sterilized glasses and seal.
5. The Rose petal jelly will last for up to 6 months in the fridge
Try this scent of sweetness and let me know how you like it.