Pressure Cooker Elderberry Syrup

Serves 32 in about 55 minutes. The pressure cooker brings organic elderberries and honey together.

Ingredients

• 1 cup organic dried elderberries, (or 3-cups fresh)
• 4 cups filtered water
• 2-inch knob fresh ginger, chopped
• Peel of 1 organic lemon (try not to get any of the white pith)
• 2 cinnamon sticks, organic
• 8-12 whole cloves
• 2 tablespoons rose hips, dried
• ¾ - 1 cup raw honey
• Juice of 1 lemon, organic

Method

1. Measure out the ingredients, peel, then juice the lemon, chop the ginger, etc. Lift out and discard any bits of elderberry stems or leaves.
2. Tip in all ingredients except the honey and lemon juice to the inner liner of the pressure cooker.
3. Set lid on and set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
4. Press the Pressure Cook (or Manual) button or dial and then the +/- button or dial and select 15 minutes. When the cook cycle finishes, turn off the pot so it doesn't go to the Warming setting. Leave it to it fully Naturally Release the pressure.
5. Open the lid and carefully take out the inner pot and strain out the berries and any solid bits. Return the liquid to the inner pot, and return the inner pot to the pressure cooker.
6. Turn on the Sauté setting to the LOW temperature. Leave it to the syrup simmer uncovered for a minimum of 10-15 minutes, while stirring now and then, to finish cooking out possible remaining cyanogenic glycosides. It will reduce and thicken a bit.
7. Stir in the liquid to a heat-safe glass bowl to cool. When cooled to about room temp, add the honey and whisk until fully incorporated (if you add the honey to hot syrup, it will kill off the good properties of the raw honey).
8. Tip in the juice of 1 lemon and whisk. Taste and add more honey if you like it sweeter, or more lemon if you like it tart.
9. Move the elderberry syrup to a sanitized bottle or mason jar with a lid and refrigerate for up to 2 months.
10. Elderberry Syrup Suggested "Dosage":For intensive use:Adults: 2 teaspoons 4 times dailyChildren: 1 teaspoon 4 times dailyFor daily maintenance:Adults: 2 teaspoons dailyChildren: 1 teaspoon dailyExcerpt from: The American Botanical Council THE ABC CLINICAL GUIDE TO ELDER BERRY European Elder Berry Sambucus nigra L. Family: Caprifoliaceae
11. Tip in elderberries, water, ginger, lemon peel, cinnamon, (and cloves and rose hips, if using), to a medium saucepan and bring to a low boil. Lower heat to a low simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
12. Mash the berries while still in the pan, then strain through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
13. Leave it to the mixture cool, then whisk in the honey until dissolved.
14. Tip in the lemon juice, if using, and stir.

More instant pot ideas are in the instant pot collection.