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Blackcurrant jam is a natural delicacy that has a distinct taste and smell. The thick consistency of the product makes it an excellent filling for baked goods and pancakes. And for morning tea, it’s great to spread jam on a crust of crusty bread with butter. Unfortunately, modern housewives do not often make this wonderful preparation, considering the preparation process too labor-intensive. But don’t be afraid of difficulties, and then your family will definitely thank you very much for the sweet dessert.
Benefits of blackcurrant jam
Blackcurrant jam not only has a pleasant taste, but also benefits the body. This product is especially relevant in winter, since the vitamin C contained in blackcurrant increases the body's defenses and helps in the fight against colds. In addition, jam contains a large amount of pectin, which promotes the rapid removal of substances that the body does not need - microbes, toxins. Fiber stimulates intestinal function and lowers cholesterol levels.The sweet product also contains a large amount of minerals, which are a source of energy and help the absorption of other nutrients.
Recipes for blackcurrant jam
Black currant is a fairly prolific crop that annually gives gardeners a bountiful harvest. The first berries are eaten fresh with pleasure, but something needs to be done with the rest of the harvest, because the shelf life of the berries is limited. This is where family recipes come to the rescue, which are carefully stored for many years and passed on from mothers to daughters. Of course, every housewife is familiar with the recipe for making simple blackcurrant jam. But this berry is good because it can be combined with other berries and even fruits; this only improves the taste of the sweet product.
A simple recipe for blackcurrant jam
This recipe is called classic. This is what beginner housewives should first master in order to understand the nuances of working with berries and learn how to bring the jam to the desired consistency. The classic recipe is good because it does not contain a large number of ingredients. All you need is:
- 1 kg of black currants (you can even use slightly overripe berries, they contain more pectin);
- 1 kg sugar.
Before starting the process, the raw materials must be prepared:
- Sort out the blackcurrants, remove large debris and rotten berries, and tear off the stalks;
- then add water to get rid of any remaining plant debris that floats to the top;
- Next, the berries should be washed several times under running water.
The next stage is obtaining berry puree. Black currants first need to be softened; this is done by blanching. Place a colander with berries into boiling water. It will take 5 minutes for them to soften. After this, the currants need to be cooled slightly, mashed with a pestle or spoon (you can grind them in a blender) and grind through a fine sieve.
The final stage is preparing the delicacy:
- Pour berry puree into a wide saucepan with a thick bottom and add sugar.
- Bring to a boil, skim off the foam and cook until the desired consistency is achieved, stirring constantly. Usually, to obtain jam, the mass is boiled down by 2/3, this will take about 1.5 hours. You can check the thickness of the product by dropping a little onto a clean, dry saucer. If after cooling the mass does not spread, the jam is ready.
Pour the hot jam into pre-sterilized jars and seal. Place the jars upside down, cover with a warm blanket and leave until completely cool.
Blackcurrant jam with gelatin
Blackcurrant contains a large amount of pectin, which thickens the jam well. But when cooking this delicacy, no one forbids you to experiment and, for example, add gelatin to the berry puree. Thus, you can get an excellent dessert, which will resemble marmalade in consistency. This delicacy will not only delight you with its delicate, melting structure.This is a good alternative to store-bought marmalade.
Required ingredients:
- the amount of berries and sugar is the same as for classic jam;
- lemon juice – 1.5-2 tbsp. l.;
- gelatin – 30 g;
- cold boiled water – 2 cups.
Cooking method:
- Add sugar, lemon juice and water to the berry puree and bring to a boil.
- After boiling, simmer for 20 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Then add the swollen gelatin and, without letting the mass boil, mix well until it is completely dispersed.
This delicacy can be sealed in jars. But you can do it differently - pour the mixture into a food tray and let it cool. Cut the cold marmalade into pieces, roll each one in sugar, dry at room temperature and place in jars. Keep refrigerated.
Blackcurrant jam with lemon juice
Adding lemon juice to the jam will help highlight the taste of blackcurrant. To prepare this delicacy you will need:
- 1 kg black currants;
- 1.3 kg sugar;
- juice of half or a whole lemon.
Grind the prepared berries using any available method, add sugar and put on fire. After boiling, cook for about 15 minutes, then add lemon, cut into thin slices. Boil lightly, remove from heat, let cool slightly and rub through a sieve. Put the resulting mass back on the fire and bring to a boil, pour into jars and seal.
Blackcurrant and plum jam
Plum, like blackcurrant, contains a large amount of pectin, so the jam will have good thickness. In addition, plum pulp will add tenderness to the delicacy. Required Products:
- 500 g black currants;
- 400 g of plums (any variety) and sugar.
Cooking method:
- Blanch currants and plums in hot water, then puree.
- Add sugar to the fruit and berry mixture, bring to a boil and, stirring constantly, cook for about 40 minutes.
- Seal the finished product in pre-prepared jars.
But there are varieties of plums that are easier to blanch whole, since when the pit is removed the pulp simply spreads out. To prevent the skin of these plum varieties from bursting during the thermal procedure, it should be pierced in several places with a sharp object, such as a toothpick.
Blackcurrant and apple jam
And this recipe is probably loved by many. The consistency of the product will allow it to be used for baking, and the combination of piquant black currants with a soft apple taste will appeal even to those who do not really like currants. This delicious delicacy is made from just three ingredients:
- 1 kg apples;
- 300 g black currants;
- 1.2 kg sugar.
Cooking method:
- Wash the apples, peel them, cut them into quarters and remove the seed chambers. Afterwards you need to blanch and grind through a fine sieve (you can grind it with a blender).
- Grind the blackcurrants in a blender or pass through a meat grinder twice. But it would still be better to blanch and rub through a sieve.
- Combine both masses and add sugar.
- Bring to a boil and cook for about 30-40 minutes over medium heat with constant stirring. There is no need to cover the pan with a lid, this will evaporate the moisture faster and reduce the cooking time.
- Place the hot mass into sterilized jars and seal.
Quick blackcurrant jam
This express recipe is suitable when the harvest is rich, but there is sorely not enough time to process it. The ingredients and their proportions are the same as for the classic recipe. But cooking time is significantly saved due to the fact that some stages of the process are skipped:
- Place the sorted and washed berries in a blender container and turn into puree.
- Transfer the mixture to a thick-bottomed saucepan, add sugar and bring to a boil.
- Cook until required thickness, then put into jars and roll up.
Calorie content
This information will be of interest to those who count calories and watch their weight. If you consume the treat in moderation, it will not cause much harm to your figure. The calorie content of 100 g of product is 284 kcal or 14% of the daily value. Therefore, morning toast with blackcurrant jam and a cup of aromatic tea will not harm, but, on the contrary, will improve your mood and energize you.
Terms and conditions of storage
Blackcurrant jam, packaged in glass containers, retains its quality for 2 years, provided that it is stored at a temperature from 0 ° C to + 25 ° C. After opening the can, it is advisable to consume the product within 4-5 days. The opened jar should be stored in the refrigerator. If mold appears on the surface of the jam, it is best to get rid of it.
Conclusion
Even a novice housewife can make blackcurrant jam. This delicacy is popular among both adults and children.The jam, which combines berry and fruit notes, has especially interesting flavor nuances.