Articles

The famous Fougerolles black cherry

Let's take a trip to the capital of cherries and Kirsch, Fougerolles, next to the Vosges mountains.

In this article, you'll discover all the essential information about the black cherry.

INTRODUCTION

The Fougerolles black cherry, an emblematic fruit of the Franche-Comté region, has a centuries-old heritage that the producers and farmers of Fougerolles have been able to perpetuate over the years.

All year round, the producers take care of the cherry trees, respecting the strict specifications imposed by the AOC label for Fougerolles Kirsch* obtained in 2010, to process the product in all its forms.

So the "guigne", as it is also known, is used in a variety of ways: liqueurs, jams, fruit in syrup, chocolate, pastries, not forgetting Kirsch de Fougerolles, a cherry brandy that is famous in France and abroad.

* The AOC label for Kirsch de Fougerolles now covers 11 communes, including Val d'Ajol, the home of our fine DE BUYER factory.

DID YOU KNOW ?

In Fougerolles, cherry trees rule! More in number than the population, almost 10,000 cherry trees are currently planted in the village.

Of these, 38 varieties are listed in the AOC specifications, including Béchat, La Chapendu, La Marie-Jean-Diaude, La Tinette, La Grande Queue... 

It is all these varieties of cherry that give the great taste to the traditional Fougerolles cherry fritters, celebrated every year during the cherry fritters festival in September, 3 months after the cherry festival.

THE BEST RECIPE OF BLACK CHERRY fritterS.
by la ferme Jechoux

Serves 6

Difficulty : easy

Price : moderate

Preparation time : 10 minutes 

Cooking time : 25 minutes 

Ingredients:

  • 3 eggs
  • 3 tablespoons caster sugar
  • 10 cl beer
  • 250g flour
  • 300mL milk
  • A tablespoon of Kirsch AOC of Fougerolles
  • Sunflower oil for baking
  • 500g Fougerolles black cherries (fresh or frozen)

La Ferme Jechoux

This recipe for cherry fritters comes from La Ferme Jechoux La Marandine in Fougerolles. Farmers and cherry growers, Christiane and Isabelle Jechoux are fervent defenders of the cherry fritter. For perfect cooking, they use de Buyer frying pans. Every Tuesday evening in summer, they prepare these delicious fritters at the Luxeuil-les-Bains night market.

La Ferme Jechoux

RELATED PRODUCTS 

Instructions :

Step 1: In a mixing bowl, beat the whole eggs and sugar until frothy and pale.

Step 2: Pour in the flour and milk in batches to homogenize and thicken the dough. Repeat until a thick texture is obtained.

Step 3: Once the mixture has thickened, add the Kirsch to flavor the dough.

Step 4: Heat the oil in a hot steel frying pan (feel free to be generous). Pour in a ladleful of batter, then arrange the cherries on top. Cook the doughnut until it comes away easily with a spatula, then carefully turn it over.

Step 5: Finish baking the doughnut until a golden crust appears on each side, pressing lightly in the center of the doughnut. If necessary, add more oil to the pan as you cook.

Step 6: Once the doughnut is cooked through, remove and sprinkle with sugar and/or Kirsch.

Then enjoy!

Black cherry VS red cherry: who wins?

Red and black cherries differ in their uses in cooking. The black cherry, which is sweeter and juicier, with less firm flesh, is ideal for cooked recipes such as clafoutis, fritters, tarts, juices and spirits. The red cherry, on the other hand, is firmer and less juicy, making it perfect as a table fruit and for preserving in syrup. As they are not juicy, they will tend to dry out your pastries if you use them as they are.

Why is a steel frying pan the ideal cooking utensil for making fritters?

There are several reasons why a steel frying pan is the ideal utensil for making cherry fritters:

Even heat distribution: Steel is well-known for its ability to distribute heat evenly across its surface. This distribution avoids the formation of hot and cold spots, ensuring that the fritters cook evenly.

Maillard reaction: Steel has excellent thermal conductivity, allowing it to heat up quickly. This characteristic is crucial for provoking the Maillard reaction. This reaction produces authentic aromas and flavours, as well as a beautiful golden colour, giving the fritters a crispy texture and appetising appearance, while preserving the softness inside.

Natural seasoning: Over time, steel frying pans develop a natural seasoning, a patina that enhances their non-stick properties. This coating prevents the fritters from sticking to the pan. 

1 Liked Share:
Related posts