One of the great things about fruit and veg 'glut' seasons is that even if you don't have a garden or allotment of your own, you can often take advantage of the abundant crops via the overflowing bargain aisles at your local supermarket.
I don't usually shop on a Sunday but popped to our local Co-op for a few essentials, and found these gorgeous looking strawberries and figs reduced for quick sale to under a pound a punnet. Too good to miss, and I was in need of jam for some Wimbledon-watching scones.
I like my jam to taste fresh and fruity, rather than very sweet and over-cooked, so my two top jam tips are:
- Less sugar, more fruit - the old 'rule' is that you weigh the fruit and use the same weight of sugar, but I always use less, for a fruitier, tarter jam.
- Cook it as quickly as possible - jam really doesn't need long to cook for very long at all, and the quicker you get it up to setting point and off the heat, the fresher and fruitier it will taste. I help the process along and get a really smooth texture by blitzing two thirds of the fruit in a blender before cooking, but this is completely optional and depends what sort of texture you prefer.
I tend to err on the side of a soft set rather than 'one slice or two' jam, but of course that's the beauty of homemade preserves - you can make them exactly the way you like them.
Vegan
Fig & Strawberry Jam
Ingredients
- 600 g strawberries (2 medium punnets)
- 6 medium figs
- 800 g jam sugar (which has added pectin)
- Juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Remove the green tops from the strawberries, and the tough tips and bases from the figs. Blitz two-thirds of the fruit in a food processor or blender, (or mash with a fork), and cut the remaining third into chunks.
- Add the sugar and lemon juice and stir to combine.
- Tip the mixture into a large pan, and heat gently until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to the boil, and cook until setting point is reached - usually just 4-5 minutes, (either reaching a temperature of 102C or when a dollop on a cooled saucer 'wrinkles').
- Remove from the heat, and pour into warm, sterilised jars.
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
Nutrition
For instructions on how to sterilise jars, take a look at this handy guide from BBC Good Food: How to Sterilise Jars
You might also like to take a look at:
- My Morello Cherry & Raspberry Jam
- or Figgy Christmas Chutney
- Camilla's Rhubarb & Strawberry Jam
- or Strawberry, Raspberry & Redcurrant Jam from Fab Food 4 All
...or find more ideas on my Pinterest Board Preserving: Jams, Chutneys, Pickles & Relishes
What a gorgeous flavour combination Kate, now that I have made some space in the cupboard I am giving myself full permission to make some jams and chutneys again.
I love a soft set jam. Not made any for over a year, but nothing beats homemade jam. Never had this combo before. Beautiful photos Kate. Off to share now!
Thanks Jac - yes I don't often get around to jam making but am always pleasantly surprised at how quick and easy it is when I do! And so much better than shop-bought. Thanks for sharing! x
I adore fresh figs - can't wait for my little fig tree to start producing! I have made fig and peach jam and fig and raspberry before - both turned out amazing!
Thanks Heidi - I planted a little fig tree last year but the figs are so tiny I don't think I'll be making much jam from it for a few years yet!! Fig and raspberry sounds fab - I have a tayberry bush in full fruit at the moment so must give that a try!
I am totally intrigued by this jam as it's not a combination I would ever have thought of! Your photos are gorgeous and I love the ruby red colour. Thanks for linking to my jams:-)
Thanks Camilla - you've got me worried now that the 'Jam Queen' wouldn't have thought of this combination.... I really like it though, and yes the colour is pretty vibrant!