Sultanas

Key facts

Larger than currants but smaller than raisins, sultanas are a staple of British baking. Sultanas were traditionally imported to Europe from the Ottoman Empire where they were grown extensively. Nowadays many sultana grapes are grown in California and Australia.

All year round

The sultana differs from the raisin in two ways, one of which is fairly apparent. It is lighter in colour – the lighter the better, in quality terms – but it is also the sun-dried grape of one variety alone, the green, seedless Sultana grape of ancient (possibly Persian) lineage.

The business of drying vine fruits has taken ancient names like Smyrna and Corinth, and Mediterranean families into the New World: the sultanas grown in the irrigated lands along the Murray River, in Victoria and South Australia, are especially fine and were developed by Greek immigrants from the 1920s onwards.

Related Recipes

---

 Serves 6-8

Sticky Tea Bread

Unbelievably easy to make, this classic teatime tea bread is even better after a few days in the cake tin! Spread it with butter and enjoy with your favourite tea.

 

 

 Serves 4

Marinated Chicken with Honey and Ginger served with Mango and Sultana Salsa and Saffron-roasted Potatoes

Limes, honey, mangoes, chilli and ginger do wonders for the humble chicken in this light and healthy supper dish, served with gorgeous golden saffron potatoes.

 

 

 Makes one 8 inch (20 cm) round cake

Virtually Organic Christmas Cake

This recipe, by food and wine writer Fiona Beckett, makes full use of organic ingredients, so the fruits are even more luscious, plump and full of festive flavour than usual.

 

 

 Serves 8-10

Christmas Easy: The Delia Christmas Pudding

For 40 years, the nation has been making this pudding, which tastes even better if you prepare it a few weeks before Christmas then leave it in a cool place to mature. Delia has also given instructions to make this gluten-free.

 

 

 Makes 6 lb (2.75 kg)

Christmas Easy: Home-made Christmas Mincemeat

Delia's mincemeat is, as you'd expect, totally brilliant. So make up some batches of this lovely mincemeat - you won't believe how easy it is and it puts anything you can buy well and truly in the shade!