MERUBA

Meruba is a jewel like preparation which is made with green apples or pears……. This is a very special sweet which is had during the blessings of new fruits (Barkot) on Rosh Hashanah.

INGREDIENTS : 2 large green apples, 1/2 – 3/4th cup sugar, 1/2 lemon juice, few drops rose water.

DIRECTIONS : Peel, core and cut apples into four pieces……. Place apples in a vessel….. Cover with sugar (don’t mix)….. Cover the vessel and keep in the fridge overnight…… Next day take out the vessel from the refrigerator…… Sugar will melt and will get mixed with the juices coming out of the apples…… Take out the apples from the liquid and keep aside….. Boil the liquid….. When the liquid reaches boiling point, add in the apples……. Cook for 10-15 minutes on medium heat….. Stir occasionally…… Take off from heat……Cool…… Again remove apples from the syrup…… Boil the syrup again….. Add apples, cook for 15 minutes & cool again….. Keep repeating this procedure for 2-5 times till apples become almost translucent……. Remove apples from syrup…… Now boil the syrup till it is golden & thick like honey……. Return apples to the syrup….. Simmer on low heat for 3-5 mins…… Cool…… Mix in few drops of rose water…… Store in tightly sealed jar.

NOTE : Sugar syrup should be boiled under supervision so that it does not caramelise…….. Adjust sugar according to taste…… Too much of rose water will make sugar syrup bitter….. If stored syrup hardens, one can soften it by warming a little.