medlars

[dandelion]

I have discovered a medlar tree laden with fruit. I've never used medlars before so here are my questions:
When is the best time to pick the fruit? How does this 'bletting' thing work? Can you eat them raw? Any recipes for cooking with medlars?

thanks  :) dandelion

[dandelion]

[Doris_Pinks]

Dandelion, I think "bletting" means to let the fruit rot a bit to improve the flavour  :o  Done in boxes of straw under spare beds? ;D

EJ will know the answer to this one!

Have a recipe for Medlar Jelly and Medlar & Lemon Jelly if you need them. Never tried them meself though!

DP

[Palustris]

Medlars are not really ready for picking until November and better after a frost. 'Bletting' means allowing them to basically go rotten. Store them stalk uo somewhere cool and dark and wait for them to go soft and brown. Then you make whatever you wish with them. Personally I think they taste disgusting no matter what you do with them.

[Mrs Ava]

My tree has a fair amount of fruit again this year.  I make medlar jelly for the olds as they love it with pork.  Me, I can't really see the appeal.  I wait until the start to fall from the tree, then pick them all and store them in the conservatory until they start to go soft.  I use apples as well as the medlars to get a nice set.  Smells horid when cooking but does make an attractive dark amber coloured jelly.

[flowerlady]

EJ & I had a chat about this last year ... my jelly turned out great  ;) 

... also made a batch with the juice and rind of a couple of lemmons added ... to sharpen the taste a bit ... have to say it really is nice with cold meats ... lamb too  ;D

[Jitterbug]

I purchased a recipe book on Hedgerow Produce at Eden Project and if anyone wants a recipe for medlar (or anything else) let me know and I will post it.  It also explains the bletting as correctly advised here.

Jitterbug