Move over blueberries! There’s a new tiny, tart, intensely-colored fruit in town!
Ok, maybe not so new, considering elderberries were commonly used by Native Americans as a form of holistic medicine. But the purple-blue berries are certainly experiencing a resurgence, and not just because of their perceived health benefits.
Can You Eat Elderberries?
Yes you can eat ripe and cooked elderberries. Unripe and raw elderberries can be poisonous and can cause you to be sick so be sure to always cook the berries before eating.
How To Use Elderberries
Early American settlers quickly recognized the edible appeal of the beautifully balanced berry, taking advantage of its sweet and tangy notes by integrating it into pies and wine. And the elderberry’s versatility is on full display today and can be found as tea, extracts and even pill form. In foods, you’ll find it incorporated into jams and jellies, cordials and syrups, ice cream, baked goods and more.
That's because elderberries are so easy to use in sweet and savory dishes of all sorts. So try substituting elderberries in the following lineup of diverse recipes, from creamy acai bowls, to Mediterranean lamb meatballs.
Elderberry Recipes
1. Gluten-Free Yellow Rice
Diminutive, jewel-like, sweet-tart dried elderberries would make an excellent swap-in for cranberries in a holiday-ready pilaf, perfect for serving with all manner of roasted meats.
2. Mixed Green Salad with Berries
Eating your greens has never felt so good, when you toss them with juicy elderberries and strips of zesty red onion, crowned with goat cheese croutons and drizzled with garam masala spiced mango vinaigrette.
3. Smoky-Sweet Pickles with Strawberries
Elderberries underline the sweet and savory interplay of cucumbers and strawberries. You'll love how they soak up every possible drop of smoky pickling liquid, and release a pure explosion of flavor by popping in your mouth!
4. Fresh Berries in Peppered Balsamic
This easy and elegant dessert is a great showcase for tender elderberries, bathed in a peppery reduced balsamic and finished with vanilla-scented mascarpone.
5. Orange White Chocolate Bark
An expanse of white chocolate makes an awesome backdrop for bright and tart dried elderberries, fashioned into a fast yet festive confection that's perfect for holiday gift-giving.
6. Spiced Lamb Meatballs
Barberries and elderberries actually have a great deal in common, from their size to their texture to their raisin-like fermented sweetness. That’s why dried elderberries would work wonderfully in a dish of Eastern Mediterranean meatballs, perfumed with mint and swiped with Greek yogurt.
7. Tropical Acai Bowl
Start your morning right with antioxidant-rich elderberries. An ideal addition to a colorful and satisfying acai bowl, they can either be pureed into the smoothie base, or used as an eye-popping topping, alongside a selection of fruit, nuts and seeds.
8. Mixed Berry Pie
My oh my, who doesn't love berries, baked in a juicy, jammy pie? Use this recipe as a jumping-off point, by combining bouncy elderberries with anything you please, from strawberries and blueberries, to peaches and blackberries, to cranberries and apples.
9. Black Pepper Berry Vinegar
Their natural tartness makes elderberries an inspired substitute for raspberries, when it comes to crafting homemade, fruity, black pepper-enlivened vinegar. Use it as a salad dressing, a marinade, or even a component in a uniquely flavorful cocktail.
10. Spiced Sangria
Speaking of cocktails, elderberries add serious pizzazz to a warming winter sangria. Especially since they play so nicely with mulling spices, such as clove and cinnamon. Add elderberry juice or syrup (which have a pomegranate-like quality) to a muddle of sweet wine and orange liqueur, then pop a few beautiful berries on top.
Try Our Other Berry Recipes & Tips:
- Strawberry Picking Guide & Top Strawberry Recipes
- How To Make The Best Blueberry Muffins
- 8 Great Pie Tips
- 5 Easy Breakfast Meal Prep Ideas To Kickstart Your Day
- Easy Snack Recipes And Ideas
- How To Store Your Produce So It Lasts Longer
Need help planning your weekly meals or using more berries in your cooking? Save your favorite food, dessert, drink recipes and organize your ingredients with McCormick Meal Planner.
