Blackcurrant Jam Recipes

Blackcurrant jam is a natural delicacy that has a pronounced taste and smell. The thick consistency of the product makes it an excellent filling for pastries and pancakes. And for morning tea, it’s great to spread jam on a crust of crispy bread with butter. Unfortunately, modern housewives do not often make this wonderful preparation, considering the cooking process too laborious. But do not be afraid of difficulties, and then the family will definitely say thank you very much for the sweet dessert.

The benefits of blackcurrant jam

Blackcurrant jam not only has a pleasant taste, but also benefits the body. This product is especially relevant in winter, as 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 contributes to the rapid removal of substances unnecessary to the body – microbes, toxins. Fiber stimulates the intestines and lowers cholesterol levels. Also, the sweet product contains a large amount of minerals, which are a source of energy and help the absorption of other nutrients.

Blackcurrant Jam Recipes

Blackcurrant 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 crop, because the shelf life of the berries is limited. Here family recipes come to the rescue, which are carefully stored for many years and passed 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, the taste of the sweet product only benefits from this.

A simple recipe for blackcurrant jam

This recipe is called classic. It is he who, first of all, should be mastered by novice housewives in order to understand the nuances of working with a berry 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. For him, you just need:

• 1 kg of blackcurrant (even slightly overripe berries can be used, they contain more pectin);
• 1 kg of sugar.

Before starting the process, the raw materials must be prepared:

• sort out blackcurrants, remove large debris and rotten berries, cut off the stalks;
• then fill with water to get rid of the remnants of plant debris that will float to the top;
• then the berries should be washed several times under running water.

The next step is to get berry puree. Blackcurrants first need to be softened, for this, blanching is carried out. A colander with berries is lowered into boiling water. In order for them to soften, 5 minutes will be enough. After that, the currants need to be slightly cooled, mashed with a pestle or spoon (you can grind in a blender) and grind through a fine sieve.

The final stage is the preparation of goodies:

1. Pour the berry puree into a wide saucepan with a thick bottom and sprinkle with sugar.
2. Bring to a boil, remove the foam and, with constant stirring, boil down to the desired consistency. Usually, to obtain jam, the mass is boiled down by 2/3, this will take about 1,5 hours. You can check the density of the product by dropping a little on a clean, dry saucer. If, after cooling, the mass does not spread, the jam is ready.

Pour hot jam into pre-sterilized jars and cork. Put the jars upside down, cover with a warm blanket and leave to cool completely.

Blackcurrant jam with gelatin

Blackcurrant contains a large amount of pectins, which thicken jam well. But when cooking this delicacy, no one forbids experimenting and, for example, adding gelatin to berry puree. Thus, you can get an excellent dessert, which will resemble marmalade in consistency. Such a delicacy will not only please with a delicate, melting structure. This is a good alternative to store-bought marmalade.

Necessary ingredients:

• the amount of berries and sugar is the same as for the classic jam;
• lemon juice – 1,5-2 tbsp. l.;
• gelatin – 30 g;
• cold boiled water – 2 cups.

Method of preparation:

1. Add sugar, lemon juice and water to the berry puree, bring to a boil.
2. After boiling, boil for 20 minutes, stirring constantly.
3. Then add the swollen gelatin and, without letting the mass boil, mix well until it completely disperses.

Such a delicacy can be sealed in jars. But you can do otherwise – pour the mass into a food tray and let it cool. Cut cold marmalade into pieces, roll each in sugar, dry at room temperature and put in jars. Keep refrigerated.

Blackcurrant jam with lemon juice

Lemon juice added to the jam will help emphasize the taste of blackcurrant. To prepare this delicacy you will need:

• 1 kg of blackcurrant;
• 1,3 kg of sugar;
• juice of half or whole lemon.

Grind prepared berries in any way possible, add sugar and put on fire. After boiling, cook for about 15 minutes, then add the 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, cork.

Jam from blackcurrant and plums

Plum, like blackcurrant, contains a large amount of pectin, so the jam will have a good density. In addition, plum pulp will add tenderness to the delicacy. Required products:

• 500 g black currant;
• 400 g plums (any variety) and sugar.

Method of preparation:

1. Blanch currants and plums in hot water, then puree.
2. Add sugar to the fruit and berry mixture, bring to a boil and, stirring constantly, cook for about 40 minutes.
3. Cork the finished product in pre-prepared jars.

But there are varieties of plums that are easier to blanch as a whole, since when the pit is removed, the flesh simply spreads. So that the skin of such plum varieties does not burst during the thermal procedure, it should be pierced in several places with a sharp object, for example, a toothpick.

Blackcurrant and apple jam

This recipe is sure to be loved by many. The consistency of the product will allow it to be used for baking, and the combination of spicy blackcurrant with a mild apple flavor will appeal to even those who are not very fond of currants. This delicious treat is made with just three ingredients:

• 1 kg of apples;
• 300 g black currant;
• 1,2 kg of sugar.

Method of preparation:

1. Wash the apples, peel, cut into quarters and remove the seed chambers. After you need to blanch and grind through a fine sieve (you can grind with a blender).
2. Grind blackcurrant in a blender or pass through a meat grinder twice. But still it would be better to blanch and rub through a sieve in the same way.
3. Combine both masses and add sugar.
4. Bring to a boil and cook for about 30-40 minutes over medium heat with constant stirring. It is not necessary to cover the pan with a lid, so the moisture will evaporate faster and the cooking time will be reduced.
5. Pour the hot mass into sterilized jars and seal.

Quick blackcurrant jam

This express recipe is suitable when the harvest is rich, and there is sorely not enough time to process it. The ingredients and their proportions are the same as for the classic recipe. But the cooking time is significantly saved due to the fact that some stages of the process are skipped:

1. Put the sorted and washed berries into a blender container and turn into puree.
2. Transfer the mass to a saucepan with a thick bottom, add sugar and bring to a boil.
3. Boil until the desired density, then decompose into jars and roll up.

Caloric value

This information will be of interest to those who count calories and monitor weight. If you use a treat in moderation, then it will not cause much harm to the figure. The calorie content of 100 g of the product is 284 kcal or 14% of the daily value. Therefore, a morning toast with blackcurrant jam and a cup of fragrant 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 qualities for 2 years, provided that it is stored at a temperature of 0 °C to + 25 °C. After opening the jar, it is desirable to use the product for 4-5 days. Store an open jar in the refrigerator. If mold has appeared on the surface of the jam, it is best to get rid of it.

Conclusion

Blackcurrant jam can be prepared even by a novice hostess. This delicacy is popular with both adults and children. Jam, which combines berry and fruit notes, is distinguished by especially interesting taste nuances.