Homemade Amarena Cherries – Traditional Italian Recipe
Homemade amarena cherries, a traditional Italian recipe, perfect for desserts or cocktails.
Steps
- 1
Wash the cherries thoroughly and remove the stems. Pit them using a cherry pitter.
- 2
In a saucepan, heat water and sugar over medium heat until sugar dissolves completely. Add lemon juice and let it simmer gently for 5 minutes.
- 3
Pour the hot syrup over the pitted cherries. Let them cool, then refrigerate.
- 4
Over the next 6 days, each day: remove cherries with a slotted spoon, boil the syrup for 2-3 minutes, return cherries to syrup, and let cool completely before refrigerating again.
- 5
On day 3 or 4, stir in the bitter almond extract.
- 6
After 6 days, place cherries in sterilized jars and cover with hot syrup.
- 7
Seal jars airtight. Store in a dark place for months, or refrigerate for 3-4 weeks after opening.
Shopping list
500g fresh sour cherries, 400g white sugar, 20 cl water, 1 coffee spoon bitter almond extract, 1/2 lemon
Recipe story
Amarena cherries originate from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, where they have been cultivated for centuries. The traditional recipe was perfected in the kitchens of Modena's nobility, prized for its distinctive bitter almond aroma. These cherries are a classic ingredient in Italian desserts and cocktails like the Negroni Sbagliato.
Ingredient Secrets
Lemon
The lemon is an ancient hybrid between citron and bitter orange, likely originating in northern India or China. In the Middle Ages, lemons were so valuable that they were given as gifts to kings. Fun fact: during the Gold Rush, British sailors were given lemons to prevent scurvy, leading to the nickname 'limey'.
