Strigging Currants

Redcurrants and blackcurrants can be the simplest and most stunning ingredients: ensure perfection by picking or buying perfect fruit, each one ripe and just tender.

Use a fork to scrape the berries off the stalks as shown. The term ‘strigging’ derives from the word ‘strigs’, which is the 16th-century name for the stalks of berries. Hold the stalks down in a basin when strigging to avoid scattering currants.