Plant Potential: Camille Becerra - Cranberry
CRANBERRY
In this series, we spotlight the boundless potential of a single ingredient.
New York City-based recipe developer, food stylist, and contributor to Domino, Camille Becerra, has crafted a soothing cranberry elixir. The cranberry is not only a superfood, it’s one of the few native fruits to Northern America. Camille has always loved the astringent pucker you get from some fruits like the cranberry. She notes that some say cranberry may help protect from Covid due to its high antioxidant content, its deep vitamins, and how it lines the walls of intestines to protect it from viruses and infections.
Chef: Camille Becerra
Instagram: @camillebecerra
3 go-to ingredients that double as immunity: Ginger, garlic, and turmeric.
Must-have ingredient that delivers an energy boost: Sparkling water.
Ultimate comfort food: It’s a toss-up between a macro-bowl and fish paitan.
Favorite healing ingredient: Ginger.
Beauty mantra: Don’t worry, be happy.
CRANBERRY MORNING ELIXIR
“I switch out my morning lemon/shrub water routine with this Cranberry Morning Elixir when I need a real boost throughout the winter. A great way to use the leftover pulp from the elixir is to make a shrub with it (recipe below). This way, you can have cranberry magic all year long.”
2 servings
Press Pot Method
Make sure all the cranberries are popped with a muddler before adding into a press pot. Add a little boiling water to ensure an easier smash if need be. Add remaining ingredients in order. Cover and steep for 5 minutes.
Note: The elixir can also be made in a small pitcher and strained if you don’t have a press pot.
Tip: Any leftover elixir you have makes for a great afternoon pick me up mixed with sparkling water over ice.
CRANBERRY SHRUB
Add the pulp from the elixir into a sterilized glass quart container. Each time you add pulp to it, add enough raw apple cider vinegar to just cover fruit by half an inch. When you’ve filled the jar, store for a month in a dark place. Open the jar a couple times a week to expel gas. Use a fermentation airlock tool if you want to forget about “burping” it until it’s ready. Add 1 tablespoon of shrub per cup of cool, warm, or sparkling spring or filtered water each morning 15 minutes before drinking coffee/tea and/or eating food.