Authentic fruit jerky / fruit leather: LAVASHAK recipe
Growing up in a typically British primary school in the 1990s meant one thing - lunchboxes were guaranteed to contain Kellogg's Fruit Winders. Sticky and sweet, they were a fun novelty as kids in the playground we used to show off which flavours our mum’s had bought that week, and pose with them like along tongued lizard before devouring in mere moments!
The link to my YouTube VIDEO if you want to watch along first :)
It's Persian!
When my dad laid eyes on these commercially concocted sweets, posing as a natural fruit leather, he immediately pointed out how these were not only full of artificial rubbish, but that they were also a copy of LAVASHAK - a naturally dehydrated fruit leather, cherished in Persian culture.
Here’s how to do it:
I have tried and tested this fantastic, natural and sugar free recipe and can assure you, this fruit jerky is SUPER easy to make!
All you need is about 1-1.5kg of pitted fruits (can be fresh or frozen). If using fresh, then add about 1/4 cup of water.
Simmer it in a deep saucepan over a medium heat for 10-15minutes until it is soft and pulpy.
Blend with a hand blender, and give it a taste.
Add the juice of 1 regular sized lemon to enhance the natural flavours of the fruit blend you've chosen, and if you like, add some sugar, one tablespoon at a time (stirring in between each addition and testing) until its at YOUR perfect sweet spot!
Pour out your thick and blended paste onto a lined baking tray and spread out thinly. (you can use cling film - it wont melt, or baking paper for a more eco friendly alternative)
Bake on the lowest temperature fan setting your oven offers, for about 12 hours (yes, 12!) until its is no longer tacky to touch.
Once dehydrated, slice with a sharp knife or pizza cutter, and roll up.
These make for a super cute and delicious home-made gift. Go impress your friends and family with some homemade lavashak. Or you can simply order our Persian Kitchen fruit jerky here
Enjoy!
The Persian Kitchen