Dark fruits, such as blackberries, figs, plums and blackcurrants, play a special role in culinary creations during the autumn months. These fruits add not only rich colors, but also depth and complexity to cocktails as well as mocktails and various dishes.
In cocktails, dark fruits bring a refreshing, yet deep and robust flavor profile. Consider an autumnal blackberry cocktail with gin, lemon and rosemary, where the sweet and slightly earthy flavor of the blackberries works perfectly with the fresh herbs. Blackcurrants, with their sharp sweet-sour balance, can give a classic spritzer or sangria an interesting autumnal twist. These fruits are also ideal in mocktails; a combination of plum puree with ginger beer and lime juice creates a delicious non-alcoholic fall drink.
Culinary dishes also benefit from the versatility of dark fruits. They can be incorporated into rich sauces, such as a fig sauce to accompany roasted meats or as a topping on a cheese board. Blackberries and plums do great in desserts such as crumbles, as well as in savory dishes such as game ragouts, where their deep flavor offers a nice contrast against powerful flavors.
Dark fruits give both drinks and dishes a sophisticated, autumnal sophistication.
