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Jujube is one of the most useful plants on earth. Oriental medicine considers fruits a panacea for many diseases. Chinese healers called it the “tree of life.” Unfortunately, in our country this is a rare fruit crop, few people know about it. Berries can be eaten not only raw, but also delicious cooked. Jujube jam retains almost all the beneficial properties of the original product and is an excellent home remedy for seasonal colds and other illnesses.
What is useful jujube jam
The fruits have several names. Unabi, or Chinese date, is famous for its medicinal and dietary properties. Jujube is not afraid of drought and frost down to -30 degrees. The content of vitamin C in fruits is higher than in lemons. The fruits are also rich in magnesium and potassium. Those who suffer from cardiovascular diseases can eat them in unlimited quantities. Ziziphus normalizes blood pressure, restores the rhythm of the heart. Traditional medicine knows many other medicinal properties of the plant:
- hypotensive;
- hypoglycemic;
- laxative;
- diuretic;
- soothing;
- choleretic;
- stimulating lactation;
- cleansing.
The fruits of jujube cleanse blood vessels, blood from cholesterol, remove all unnecessary from the body. With their help, you can get rid of toxins, salts of heavy metals, excess fluid, bile and cholesterol. You can talk endlessly about the benefits of jujube jam.
How to cook unabi jam
Zizizfus berries are harvested in September. To taste, they vaguely resemble an apple, a little cherry plum. They can be sweet and sour, sweet or very sweet. The taste of unabi jam (see recipe with photo) will largely depend on the selected fruit variety. In China, where these fruits are most grown, there are about 700 different varieties.
Berries collected or brought from the market must first be sorted out, twigs, leaves, other debris must be removed, and rotten berries must also be disposed of. Then weigh the number of berries indicated in the recipe. Prick each fruit with a fork, you can start making jam.
The scheme is very simple:
- Make syrup from sugar and water.
- In a boiling form, pour them with a berry mass.
- Boil for a few minutes over low heat.
- Let it brew for 7-8 hours.
- Boil the berry mass again.
- Pour into banks.
Store in a cool place away from direct sunlight.
Classic unabi jam recipe
Collect jujube fruits, cover with the same amount of sugar. Pour a little water into the bottom of the pan so that the fruits from below do not burn and stick to the walls until the berries release their own juice. You need to cook jujube until the state when it begins to stretch like honey or even thicker.
Ingredients:
- zizifus – 2 kg;
- sugar – 2 kg;
- water – 50 ml.
So, cover the fruits with sugar and cook like regular jam over low heat for about 1,5 hours. Berries are obtained in a thick syrup, as if in honey. The output should be about 3 liters of jam. Pour the hot mass into clean, sterile jars, roll up.
Delicious jujube jam with cinnamon
There are different options for making jujube jam. One of them with cinnamon. These aromatic sticks will not only add an exquisite touch to the taste of the finished dish, but will also help to more efficiently absorb glucose, prevent a sharp increase in blood sugar levels, and also reduce the likelihood of new fat deposits in the form of additional folds on the body.
Ingredients:
- berries – 1 kg;
- granulated sugar – 0,8 kg;
- citric acid – 10 g;
- water – 0,5 l;
- ground cinnamon – on the tip of a knife.
Remove stems from berries, wash and dry. Blanch for about 5 minutes. Boil the sugar syrup and pour over the fruit while it is still boiling. Insist 5 hours, no less. Then boil over low heat for 20 minutes, add cinnamon, citric acid, hold on the stove for another 5 minutes.
Candied unabi jam with honey
To give a unique aroma, taste and valuable healing, nutritional properties, jujube jam can be prepared in honey. To do this, wash the berries, prick them with a wooden toothpick in several places, so that they do not crack when they get into the boiling syrup.
Ingredients:
- fruits – 0,75 kg;
- sugar – 0,33 kg;
- honey – 0,17 kg;
- water – 0,4 l.
Leave the berries overnight in syrup for impregnation. In the morning, bring the mass to a boil for 5 minutes, then insist again for 8 hours. Then boil the jam again for a few minutes, add honey and boil until the desired consistency.
Seedless jujube jam
To make jujube jam, it is better to take slightly unripe fruits.
Ingredients:
- berries – 1 kg;
- sugar – 0,8 kg;
- water – 1 l.
Pour the chopped fruits with hot sugar syrup, boil on the fire for a few more minutes. Infuse for 7 hours, then remove the seeds and grind the pulp of the fruit in a blender. Bring the berry mass to a boil and keep on fire for 5 minutes.
How to cook unabi jam in a slow cooker
Pour the berries into the pressure cooker. Pour sugar on top and mix everything well with a silicone spoon. Close the lid, set the timer to 15 minutes.
Ingredients:
- zizifus – 2 kg;
- sugar – 1,2 kg.
After the end of cooking beep, wait 10 minutes for the pressure to decrease slightly. Jam can be taken out and poured hot into pre-prepared jars. The output should be 3 cans of 3 liters.
How to store jujube jam
Jujube can be harvested for the winter in different forms, for example, dried, frozen, marinated, prepared compotes, jam. In order for the spins to be stored all winter, a number of recommendations must be followed:
- jars for preservation must be sterilized and dried; jam cannot be poured into wet dishes;
- the most suitable container for storing jam for the winter is 0,5 l jars;
- so that the jam does not get moldy, add lemon juice or acid to it;
- the denser, thicker the consistency of the jam, the longer it will be stored.
Properly cooked and canned jam can be stored for a very long time at room temperature. A pantry, a basement, a locker on an insulated balcony can serve as a suitable place.
Conclusion
Jujube jam is a tasty and healthy accompaniment to tea. Its use will serve as an effective prevention of many diseases, strengthen the immune system, and become a source of vitamins and trace elements in the cold winter period.