Low Sugar Fig Jam Recipes

LOW SUGAR FIG JAM RECIPE

Steps:

• Add figs and sugar to a deep pan and set on the stovetop. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. let it boil for 5 minutes.
• Turn the heat to medium-low and keep cooking the jam while stirring frequently. It might take anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes for your fruit to soften and for the jam to start to thicken (depending on how juicy the fruit was to begin with).
• When the fruit is soft use a potato masher to mash the fruit as much as you'd like. Add the juice of half a lemon right into the jam. Then add 4-6 lemon seeds to the jam (they have natural pectin in them and will help to thicken the jam). Stir and cook 5-10 more minutes or until the jam reaches your desired thickness.
• To process your jam in a waterbath canner fill the canner with enough water to cover the jars by at least an inch. Set the caner on the stovetop and bring the water to a rolling boil.
• Wash the jars, lids, and rings with hot water and dish soap.
• Fill the jars with the hot jam leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Use the bubble remover to remove air bubbles by scraping it along the inside of the jar. Use a damp paper towel to clean the rim of the jars before you center the lid and close the jars with the bands finger tight.
• Place the filled jars on the rack of the canner, lower them into the boiling water, cover the canner and process the jars in the boiling water for 15 minutes (both pints and half-pints). Make sure to adjust processing time according to the table below if you live above 1000 feet in elevation.
• Once processing time is up, turn the heat off and uncover the canner. Let the jars rest in the hot water for five minutes before you remove them. Set them on a kitchen towel on the counter to cool completely overnight.
• In the morning, check that your jars sealed by pressing the center of the lid. If there is no movement there, your jars have sealed and are ready for storage. Wipe the jars and remove the bands (cause they tend to rust and make it hard to open the jars down the road) and store the jars in the pantry. They should last 12-18 months.

HOMEMADE FIG JAM WITH CHIA SEEDS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 1 cup apple juice to a boil and add in fresh figs.
• Boil for 15 minutes, covered.
• Remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes.
• Using your immersion blender (or carefully with a regular blender), puree figs, using caution not to splatter the hot liquid onto your skin.
• Pour pureed figs into a medium bowl or large mason jar with a lid. Add in the 1/2 cup apple juice, chia seeds, and sugar. Stir together with a spatula or shake mason jar vigorously with a lid. Refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours.
• Store jam in the refrigerator and use within 10 days for best quality.
• Freeze extra jam for up to one month. Use defrosted jam within 7 days for best quality.

FRESH FIG FREEZER JAM

Steps:

• Mix sugar and figs together in a large glass or plastic bowl; set aside for sugar to slightly dissolve, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
• Stir lemon juice and pectin together in a glass or plastic bowl. Stir lemon juice mixture into fig mixture until sugar is fully dissolved. Pour fig mixture into sterilized plastic canning containers, leaving 1/4 inch at the top. Cover containers and refrigerate or freeze.

LOW SUGAR / NO SUGAR STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Prepare waterbath canner, jars and lids according to manufacturers instructions, if preserving. Prepare and measure ingredients for recipe.
• Combine prepared fruit with fruit juice in a large saucepan. Gradually stir in Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin
• Add sugar, sugar substitute or honey, if using. Return mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
• Ladle hot jam into hot jars, one at a time, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars. Apply bands and adjust to fingertip tight.
• Place filled jars in canner ensuring jars are covered by 1 to 2 inches of water. Place lid on canner. Bring water to gentle, steady boil.
• Process jars for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude*. Turn off heat, remove lid and let jars stand for 5 minutes.
• Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed. Clean and store according to manufacturers instructions.

SURE.JELL FOR LESS OR NO SUGAR NEEDED RECIPES - FIG JAM

Steps:

• Bring boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.
• Trim stem ends from figs. Finely chop or grind fruit. Measure exactly 2-1/2 cups prepared fruit into 6- or 8-qt. saucepot. Stir in water and lemon juice.
• Mix 1/4 cup of the sugar (from the measured amount in the bowl) and pectin in small bowl. Add to fruit in saucepot; mix well. Add butter to reduce foaming. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in remaining 3-1/4 cups sugar. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
• Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 min. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middles of lids with finger. (If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)

SUPER STRAWBERRY FIG JAM (LOW-SUGAR)

Steps:

• Place figs and 1/4 cup bottled lemon juice in a 3 quart saucepan & bring to a boil. Simmer until figs fall apart easily when stirred, about 20 minutes.
• Add strawberries to figs, along with grape juice & the 3 T lemon juice - put the 3 T lemon juice in the one cup measure then fill with grape juice to the one cup measure.
• Sprinkle the pectin into the fruits & mix well to avoid any lumps.
• Bring the fig, strawberry, juice mix to a hard boil that can't be stirred down - watch & stir to avoid scorching.
• Add the sugar & bring to a boil. Boil hard for 3 minutes & then place in hot sterilized jars (I use the boiling water bath to sterilize the jars when they come out of the dishwasher).
• Lid & process 10 minutes for 1/2 pints & 15 minutes for pints.

BLUEBERRY AND FIG JAM-LOW OR NO SUGAR

Steps:

• Mix the dry pectin with about 1/2 cup of sugar or other sweetener.
• Place the blueberries and figs in a heavy non reactive pot with the pectin mixture and cook to a full boil. Stirring often. Add the remaining sugar and bring to a hard boil for 3 minutes. Stir in grand marnier off the flame if using.
• Fill the jars to 1/4 inch head space. wipe any spilled jam off the top, seat the lid and tighten the ring around them.
• Place the boiling water canner covered by at least 2 inch of hot water and process for 5 minutes. Shut off flame, uncover and leave for 5 more minutes. Remove to a draft free spot and cool for 12-24 hours.
• Check for sealing and store out of direct light for 1 year.

FIG JAM

Steps:

• Place the figs in a large pot or a Dutch oven and add the water. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then decrease the heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook until the figs are completely soft and tender, about 15 minutes.
• In a food processor fitted with the metal blade or in a blender, purée the figs and their cooking liquid (if using a blender, don't fill the jar more than halfway, as the hot liquid might burst through the top when the blender is turned on). Or, pass the figs through a food mill.
• Return the purée to the pot. Stir in the sugar and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly to prevent the mixture from burning on the bottom, until the jam is thick appears slightly jelled. (Because figs are low in pectin, the wrinkle test, page 256, won't work with this jam.)
• Ladle the jam into clean jars. Cover tightly, let cool, and refrigerate.
• Storage
• The jam will keep for at least 6 months in the refrigerator.
• Variation
• Before ladling into jars, stir in 1/2 cup (80 g) coarsely chopped Soft-Candied Citrus Peel (page 253) made with lemons.