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Homemade Mincemeat

The easiest fruit and nut mincemeat pie filling.
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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

This sugar-free and vegan mincemeat is made without any additional fats or sweeteners. It is a quick, no-cook recipe. It is delicious as a pie filling or served as an appetizer.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/2 lbs chopped dates (1 cup)
  • 5 oz currents (3/4 cup)
  • 10 oz raisins (1 3/4 cup)
  • 1 orange, zested, and juiced
  • 2 oz chopped walnuts (1/2 cup)
  • 1/2 lbs of apple (1-2 apples, grated with the peel on)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves

Options for finishing (choose one option)

  • 4 Tbsp brandy
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  • 6 Tbsp culture (see notes)

Instructions

  1. Mix all of the ingredients except for the finishing options in a large bowl.

Quick-finished mincemeat

  1. For quick mincemeat, stir in the brandy and/or lemon juice. Store the mincemeat in the fridge, and allow the flavors to blend for at least 2 days before serving. Use within 1 month.

Fermented mincemeat

  1. To ferment the mincemeat, mix in 4 Tbsp of a cultured liquid (see notes for recommended options).
  2. Pack the mincemeat into a quart (1 L) jar for fermenting. Be sure to press the fruit down so that all the air is squeezed out.
  3. Add the remaining 2 Tbsp of culture to the jar to keep the mixture below the liquid.
  4. Ferment in a dark location for 24 hours. Store in the refrigerator for at least 2 weeks before using.
  5. If you would like to add a bit of alcohol, stir in the brandy right before serving.

Notes

  • I usually ferment mincemeat with cultured apple cider vinegar. Just look for brands that are unpasteurized or contain a mother. Mincemeat can also be fermented with kombucha tea, ginger bug, or other probiotic beverages. 
  • Raw honey can also be used to ferment mincemeat is not recommended for pregnant women, children under the age of 1 year, or anyone who may be immunocompromised.

Keywords: Christmas, winter, holiday, tarts, pie, cookies, probiotic, sugar free, vegan, gluten free, meat free, lard free, fat free

Find it online: https://www.fermentingforfoodies.com/fermented-mincemeat/