How to make homemade blueberry pastille: an idea from Aleks Yakutov

Fruit pastille is a healthy and nutritious dessert that has become quite popular in recent years. This superfood is made from fruits and berries and can be a great alternative to candy. Homemade marshmallows are especially delicious. Besides, all the ingredients are in season right now.

Chef Aleks Yakutov shared the idea of making healthy blueberry pastille with the press service of the New Channel (novy_channel) on its official Instagram page.

Ingredients:

• blueberries - 1 kg (you can take other berries or make a mix of several types)

• sugar - 200 g
• zest of one lemon
• basil - a few leaves

Method of preparation:

1. Wash the berries, put them in a colander, and let them drain. Tear off the tails.

2. Transfer to a container and blend in a blender until smooth. Put it into the saucepan.

3. Add sugar and cook over low heat for 30-40 minutes, just like jam. You can skip this step, but then there will be too much water in the mixture, and the pastille will take longer to dry.

4. At the end of cooking, add the lemon zest and finely chopped basil. Mix well. You will get a bright aroma and flavor.

5. Turn on the oven to 60 degrees. Spread the mixture in an even, thin layer on a baking sheet covered with parchment. Smooth it out with a spoon.

6. Dry in the oven with the door ajar for 6-8 hours.

7. When you take out the pastille, it will be soft. Wrap it in a "cigar" and wait until it cools completely. You can cut it into pieces or eat it like this.