Recipes: Philippa Cameron’s elderflower cordial

It's a great time of the year to make elderflower cordial. Photo / Philippa Cameron

Otematata Station’s cook and the woman behind What’s for Smoko has a series of go-to recipes for people short on time and energy.

Here, Pip shares one of her favourites with The Country.

This cordial recipe is refreshingly sweet.

Perfect for a refreshing hot day thirst quencher.

My children can spot an elderflower bush in full bloom – road side – anywhere between Otematata and Ōamaru.

They are pretty much a weed down here in the South Island.

The girls have their eyes zoomed in, as they love to pick the blooms and help cut up the fruit to make cordial.

This cordial recipe will last up to three months in the fridge.

Or simply place in the freezer for up to 12 months.

What ingredients will l need?

• Lemons
• Oranges
• Sugar
• Water
• Citric acid
• Elderflower blooms

What Equipment will I need?

• A large pot or jam pan
• Muslin cloth and sieve
• Clean sterilised bottles (you choose the size)

I like to keep glass bottles with screw lids when I buy a cold drink at a cafe. I keep the bottle for making gifts.

Otherwise, any glass bottle with a screw lid will be able to be used.

Elderflowers are "pretty much a weed" in the South Island (left). Sterilising bottles to make elderflower cordial. Photos/ Philippa Cameron

How do I sterilise a bottle?

Simply wash your bottles in clean soapy water and drain.

Preheat the oven to 160 degrees Celsius.

Place the bottles into the oven and heat for 15 minutes or until completely dry.

Carefully remove the bottles one at a time and pour the syrup into the bottles.

Because the syrup is cold they will not seal but will last up to three months in the fridge of 12 months in the freezer.

How do I freeze the cordial?

Pour the cordial into the bottles leaving a gap of 3-4cm at the top.

This allows the cordial to expand when frozen and won’t break the seal of the lid.

Philippa Cameron’s elderflower cordial

Philippa Cameron's elderflower cordial recipe is refreshingly sweet. Photo / Philippa Cameron

Prep time - 20 minutes

Cook time - One day

Equipment

• 1 large pot or jam pan
• 1 sieve
• 1 muslin cloth
• glass bottle with screw lids
• 1 clean tea towel

Ingredients

• 20 Elderflower flower heads
• 1.5kg white sugar
• 1.2 L water
• 2 lemons
• 2 oranges (or add 2 extra lemons)
• 50 grams citric acid

Instructions

Prepare the flower heads by removing as much stalk as you can. Place them into a bucket of cold water and swish them gently about to remove any bugs and dirt. Place on a dry tea towel while you prepare the cordial.

Wash and thinly slice the lemons and oranges (if you have no oranges you could use simply lemons).

Place the sugar and water into the large pot. Bring to the boil (or until all the sugar has dissolved).

Place the flower heads into the syrup and bring back to the boil. Once it begins to boil – take off the heat.

Add the lemons, oranges and citric acid, stir and cover with a clean tea towel.

Leave the cordial to steep for 24 hours before straining. Place a muslin cloth over a sieve. Strain the cordial through the cloth into a large bowl or measuring jug). Do not squeeze the muslin cloth contents. Allow it to drip.

Pour into the sterilised bottles.

Notes

If you do not have any citric acid you could substitute it for the following suggestions:

12.5 grams of tartaric acid

or

200 grams of white vinegar.

This recipe was reproduced from Philippa Cameron’s What’s for Smoko? website with approval. You can find more of her recipes on her Instagram page as well.