Strawberry Balsamic And Black Pepper Jam Recipes

STRAWBERRY, BALSAMIC AND BLACK PEPPER JAM

Steps:

• If you will be testing your jam with the Cold Plate Test (see below), place a small plate in the freezer to cool before starting your jam.
• Prepare the strawberries by hulling, washing, draining well, then halving or quartering, if large. Weigh the prepared strawberries, recording the weight, then place in a large, non-reactive saucepan (not aluminum). *Mixture will bubble up considerably when it boils, to be sure to use a large pot).
• Weigh out an equal amount of white sugar as the weight of the prepared strawberries. (So if your prepared strawberries weighed 15 oz., weigh out 15 oz of white sugar. Add the sugar to saucepan with the strawberries. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon and stir to combine.
• Turn heat to medium under the saucepan and heat the mixture, stirring regularly until the sugar dissolves. Once mixture comes to a boil, increase the heat to medium-high. Use a potato masher to break down the strawberries a bit. Continue to boil the mixture, stirring occasionally, until mixture reaches 221F on a candy thermometer or the mixture passes the Cold Plate Test (see below). This usually takes about 10 minutes. *Mixture will produce some foam as it cooks. You can spoon off and discard if you like. I don't usually bother myself.
• Remove pot from heat. Add balsamic vinegar and black pepper and stir to combine. Carefully spoon jam into a clean jar (careful, it's hot!!). Fill to within 1/2-inch of the top. Place lid on jar and invert jar on a tea towel and allow to cool completely at room temperature. Place jar in the refrigerator and keep refrigerated at all times. Will keep in the fridge for 4-6 months. (Note that to store this jam at room temperature, you would need to follow safe canning procedures with sterilizing jars and lids and then processing the filled jars of jam in a hot water bath. Refer to a reputable canning source for instructions on how to do that.)
• *Testing for set with a cold plate: Set a dinner plate into your freezer before you start to make your jam. As your jam is coming close to setting, remove the plate from the freezer and drop a small puddle of hot jam onto the plate. Let stand a few second, then run your finger through the middle of the puddle. If the puddle runs back together, it is not set and you need to cook longer. If the path remains and doesn't run back together and the edges of the line are raised and/or wrinkled your jam is done.

STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC BLACK PEPPER JAM

Steps:

• Crush or finely chop strawberries 1 layer at a time. Measure 6 cups.
• Mix pectin with 1/4 cup of sugar. Stir pectin mixture into berries and continue stirring while bringing to a boil over high heat.
• Add remaining sugar. Continue stirring and boil hard for 1 minute.
• Remove jam from heat. Add balsamic vinegar and pepper.
• Ladle into sterilized jars. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Prepare the strawberries by wiping them with a piece of damp kitchen paper. (Wiping the strawberries rather than washing them ensures the fruit doesn't absorb lots of water - too much water and the jam won't set easily.) To hull the fruit, use a knife to cut a cone shape into the strawberry and remove the stem. Cut any large berries in half.
• Put the strawberries in a bowl and gently toss through the sugar. Leave uncovered at room temperature for 12 hrs or overnight. This process helps the sugar to dissolve, ensures the fruit doesn't disintegrate too much and helps to keep its vibrant colour.
• Before starting the jam, put 2 saucers in the freezer. Tip the strawberry mixture into a preserving pan with the lemon juice. Set over a low heat and cook very gently. If any sugar remains on the sides of the pan, dip a pastry brush in hot water and brush the sugar away.
• When you can no longer feel any grains of sugar remaining, turn up the heat to start bubbling the jam and bringing it to the boil. (The sugar must be completely dissolved before increasing the heat, otherwise it will be difficult for the jam to set, and it may contain crystallised lumps of sugar.)
• Boil hard for 5-10 mins until the jam has reached 105C on a preserving or digital thermometer, then turn off the heat. If you don't have a thermometer, spoon a little jam onto one of the cold saucers. Leave for 30 secs, then push with your finger; if the jam wrinkles and doesn't flood to fill the gap, it is ready. If not, turn the heat back on and boil for 2 mins more, then turn off the heat and do the wrinkle test again. Repeat until ready.
• Use a spoon to skim any scum that has risen to the surface and discard this. Do this only once at the end, rather than constantly during the boiling stage, to reduce wastage.
• Add a knob of butter, if you like, to the finished jam, and stir in to melt. This will help to dissolve any remaining scum that you haven't managed to spoon off the top. Leave the jam to settle for 15 mins - this will ensure that the fruit stays suspended in the mixture and doesn't all float to the top of the jam jar. Meanwhile, sterilise your jars.
• Ladle into warm jars, filling to just below the rim. Place a wax disc on top of the jam (this prevents mildew forming), then cover with a lid or a cellophane circle and elastic band. Pop on a label (include the date), plus a pretty fabric top, if you like. The jam can be stored for up to 1 year in a cool, dry place. Refrigerate after opening.