Full question
Can I make the Steeped Cristmas Fruits by using 8 x 150ml jars and then equally filling with 500g fruit? Then cover equally with the 400ml sherry? Do I put the lids on the first week whilst it absorbs the sherry or leave open?
Our answer
Nigella's Steeped Christmas Fruits (from NIGELLA EXPRESS) soaks mixed dried fruit in rich, dark Pedro Ximenez sherry. They are easy to make Christmas gifts and the fruits can be added to desserts such as bread and butter pudding, served with crepes or pancakes or simply spooned over vanilla ice cream. The fruits are put into jars for soaking and the jars (regardless of size) should be sealed to prevent the alcohol from evaporating.
The recipe uses 500g fruit for a 1.25L jar, so 8 x 150ml jars would be a close equivalent and you should divide the fruit and sherry equally between the jars. However, you want the fruit to be completely submerged in the sherry, so be prepared to add a little extra sherry to the jars as necessary, to make sure that the fruit is fully submerged. Once the fruit has absorbed some of the sherry you may need to add extra sherry again to make sure that the fruit stays fully covered with sherry.
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