Cornelian Cherry Marmalade (Kızılcık Marmelatı)

There are two Farmers markets in my hometown; one is on Tuesdays, the big one is on Fridays. We got these cornelian cherries from the Tuesday market so that my mom could make my favorite marmalade. My mom’s cornalian cherry marmalade is the best I know, so here’s the recipe–and this one is really Turkish.

1 ½ kilo cornelian cherry (after you pit them, you’ll have approximately one kilo)

2 kilo sugar (approximately 8 cups) 1 1

2 cups water

1/4 tsp citric acid

-Wash cornelian cherries and boil them in a big pot with 2 cups of water for 15-20 minutes or until they are soft.

-Once they cool down, smash them in a colander in small patches. You’ll have cornelian cherry puree in the end.

-Mix 8 cups of white sugar and the puree in a big pot, and cook on medium heat. Once it starts boiling, check the time; cornelian cherry marmalade will be ready in 6 to 7 minutes. Do not let it boil more than 7 minutes.

-When it starts boiling, there will be pink foam on top. Remove the foam with a spoon.

-A minute before you turn it off, put ¼ citric acid (it preserves that magnificent color and prevents crystallizing)