Gooseberries: love 'em or hate 'em?

[DWSmith]

Does it seem that people either love them or hate them with no in between?

I see gooseberries mentioned on this site now and then. Most of the people (in the USA) I've mentioned them to don't know what they are. The others seem to hate them. I love 'em.

I grew up having cobbler made with wild gooseberries. My family liked them a lot and we seemed to all enjoy our times picking them even with scratching the chigger bites and picking off ticks afterwards.

Not sure why they're not popular here. Any ideas?

[WendyC]

Most plot holders on my site grow gooseberries. I planted a red one this year to complement the green one I have. However they are not readily available in supermarkets so I suspect there may well be a section of people who don't eat them. No idea why they are not more popular in the States.

[ancee]

I love them. The rest of the family do not! Apart from crumble I haven't done anything else with them, so recipe suggestions welcome!

[Guest]

Love red ones, hate green ones well someone had to be ruddy awkward. Somethings I disliked as a kid and have tried since, but my hate for green gooseberries has remained the same

[Jay-ell]

Really put off them as a kid. Therefore I have half a dozen red ones in pots waiting for me to clear their bed.

Cant wait to try a rumpot with gooseberry and currents.

[roitelet]

They are good made into jam with elderflowers.

[Nicos]

Love them.

I've never seen them for sale in our local markets...good job I grow my own!

Having said that, I know they don't keep very long once picked ( I used to work in my school hols at a greengrocers and they weren't sold for more than a couple of weeks.

I wonder if it's anything to do with climate ( too hot here???)...might be the same in different parts of the States?

Mine only do well in the shade.

Gooseberry fool and gooseberry curd got me hooked!
Gooseberry crumble and custard, gooseberry and ginger jam, gooseberry and orange ( Tropicana!!)jelly....mmmm

I think/pretty sure some varieties are sweeter than others and all seem to be best left until the birds start nicking them so you know they are at their sweetest?????

[scarey55]

I'm with NorfolkGrey I thought that I hated goosegogs until I moved here and bought a bush for myself. I was lucky and just happened to pick up a red variety and I have made another 2 bushes from cuttings I like them so much. they are really nice straight from the bush and I make a "thing"? with semolina and gooseberries into a sort of cake, tastes lovely

[Nicos]

^^^ you know that is just calling out for someone- like me - to ask for the recipe don't ya????

[scarey55]

I blimmin' knew that someone would ask me

Here you go Gooseberry Semolina Soufflé recipe - All recipes UK

I made them with fresh, slightly cooked goosegogs and I think mine was a little firmer than I expected but it was still delish

[noviceveggrower]

I love gooseberries. I like gooseberry crumbles and I think its called gooseberry fool, gooseberries with meringue on top.
I'm the only one that likes them so that's a bit of a poor excuse why I haven't one on the allotment.

[skeggijon]

Always loved gooseberries - both green and red, but consider red as eating gooseberries and green as cooking gooseberries

[sparrow100]

Absolutely love them and am really sorry that my moving a potted invicta from the shade to the sun for one day (one day!) seems to have shocked it to death...I have 2 red, 5 green (just moved from Mum's) and 2 red cuttings. Might just about be enough when they are mature...!

[Lumpy]

The world without goosegogs would be a very sad place indeed!

[Scarlet]

I love them. The rest of the family do not! Apart from crumble I haven't done anything else with them, so recipe suggestions welcome!

Gooseberry curd...absolutely delicious! I would use it for curd tarts but they don't last long enough.