Raisin

About

This entry also covers Zante currants, the dried form of small, essentially seedless red grapes, and golden raisins, made mainly from seedless green Thompson grapes and dried using a sulfur dioxide and vegetable oil bath that softens, brightens, and sterilizes them. Raisins more broadly come from red or green grapes, with the Thompson variety common due to its prevalence in California, South Africa, and Australia; the ripe grapes are dried either in the sun or in an oven or dehydrator, producing fruit that is harder, more wrinkled, richer, and often sourer than golden raisins. Malaga raisins, used in rum raisin ice cream, come from Muscat grapes grown in Spain's Malaga region and hold Protected Designation of Origin status; they are large, very sweet, softer than most commercial raisins, and often sold still attached to the vine.

Pairs well with raisin

• CiLemonThe British steamed pudding Spotted Dick combines dried fruit, either currants or golden raisins, with citrus, though its lasting…
• CiOrangeCandied peel and dried vine fruits are commonly sold together for use in enriched breads and fruit cakes, the raisins sweet-sour, the peel…
• WoAlmondRaisins and almonds symbolize a happy, fertile marriage in Ashkenazi Jewish tradition, reflected in dishes like pizza ebraica, a dense…
• SpCinnamonA common pairing in hot cross buns, sticky buns, and cinnamon-raisin bread, including cinnamon-raisin bagels and Bermuda's fried-fish…
• FrAppleRaisin and apple share a chemical link, the compound beta-damascenone, partly responsible for the smell of cooked raisins, also smells of…
• RoChocolateChocolate-covered raisins are a well-known combination, evoked in literature as a childhood treat, though the pairing appears surprisingly…
• CrCoconutRaisins' brown-sugar sweetness works well folded into creamy coconut.
• CiGingerRaisins are often too large and soft for gingerbread decoration and can turn leathery or bitter in the oven, according to cookie-industry…
• ChCheeseRich, dark fruit cake studded with raisins and currants pairs well with tangy, creamy cheeses like Lancashire or Wensleydale, the fruit's…
• FfVanillaVanilla extract tastes boozy partly because it's often made with an alcohol base, but even alcohol-free vanilla paired with raisin carries…
• WoCarrotA shredded carrot and raisin salad is a familiar, somewhat dated dish, best made with organic carrots and vine-ripened raisins, which are…
• SuCauliflowerCauliflower and raisins, fried or roasted together in modest proportions, are a strong fruit-and-brassica pairing, and also work well…
• FrPlumIn medieval usage, "plum" could refer to any dried fruit, including raisins, which is why actual plums don't appear in plum (Christmas)…
• EaChickpeaDark, chewy raisins, likely untreated with the sulfur dioxide that otherwise lightens and softens dried fruit, carry a balance of sourness…
• GrBuckwheatBuckwheat's slightly winey character pairs well with fall fruits like raisins; the two are combined in fruit cakes, with buckwheat flour…
• EaRyeStale rye bread can be turned into ice cream: toasted rye crumbs with brown sugar are mixed into a vanilla custard base, then rum-soaked…
• SpAllspiceEccles cakes-puff pastry filled with dried currants spiced with allspice and nutmeg-illustrate the pairing well.
• EaBarleyMalt loaf is a dense, sticky cake studded with raisins, its sweetness offset by a savory undertone from barley malt syrup -- the same…
• WoCashewIn Indian desserts, raisins are fried in ghee until fragrant before being used to decorate elaborate milk-and-rice puddings alongside…
• WoPecanThe US, the largest pecan producer and second-largest raisin producer, has long combined the two in baking, pecan caramel rolls sent to…
• WoPine nutRaisins and pine nuts (passoli e pinoli in Sicily) season dishes like caponata, endive salad, sardine pasta and cauliflower pasta, adding…
• GrSpinachTourte aux blettes, a Provençal sweet pie traditionally eaten around Christmas Eve, has a sugar-dusted crust enclosing a filling of…
• WoWhole grain riceSmall, mild Zante currants can substitute for barberries in pilaf, being similarly sized and less sweet than raisins.
• BeElderberryElderberries are used to make a dark "country wine" sometimes called elderberry port, since their acidity, tannin and color resemble those…
• EaWhite beanGolden raisins and white beans (specifically lima beans) combine in a recipe by Madhur Jaffrey: soaked lima beans are cooked with fried…
• FfQuinceApple and raisin are a familiar mince-pie filling; substituting quince for apple intensifies the flavor considerably.
• GrCarawayRich cakes beyond plain fruitcake became popular around the 1730s, including pound cakes flavored with currants and caraway seeds.
• GrZucchiniRaisins soaked in red wine vinegar work well in a zucchini agrodolce, mixed with pan-fried zucchini and onion, or added to a rice, bulgur…