Black Plum Ginger Jam Without Pectin Recipes

EASY PLUM AND GINGER JAM

Steps:

• Wash, pit, and roughly chop the plums, and add them to the pot.
• Add the sugar and the ginger to the pot and toss with the chopped plums to combine.
• Allow the plums and sugar to hang out together for an hour or so to draw out the plum juices and create a syrupy environment in the pot.
• Put the pot on the stove and bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Reduce the temperature to medium-high and cook, stirring, for 45 minutes to 1.5 hours until the mixture reaches 220 F.
• Meanwhile, sterilize the jars and lids by placing them in a large pot lined with a cloth or tea towel and covering them with water. Place the lid on the pot and bring the water/jars/lids to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and allow the jars to "cook" for 15 minutes. Keep warm until ready to use.
• When your jam is gelled and your jars are sterilized, carefully remove the jars from the water using the tongs (use caution) or a jar lifter (a much safer option).
• Carefully fill each jar leaving a centimetre of air in the top of each jar. Close very tightly with the lids. (Use a tea towel to hold the jar so you can really get it tight!)
• Carefully lower the jars back into the hot water in the sterilizing pot. Bring the water back to a boil then reduce the heat to simmer/steam the sealed jars for 15 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the simmering water. Double check that the lids are on tight, and set them upside down on a tea towel until cool.
• Slap on a label with the date and store in a cool dry place for the fall and winter.

PLUM JAM

Steps:

• Place the plums and sugar in a heavy-bottomed jam pot, ensuring that they fill it no more than halfway (the jam will foam up during cooking).
• Turn the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently to avoid scorching (8-10 minutes).
• Once the plum/sugar mixture is boiling hard, turn the heat down a bit to medium or medium-high to prevent scorching or overflows. Continue to stir frequently, and cook until the jam reaches gel stage. (That's 220 degrees when tested with an instant-read thermometer). It should take roughly 20 minutes at a boil, or 30 minutes total cook time, but can vary based on the fruit used.
• Once it reaches gel stage, ladle the mixture into prepared jars. Store in the refrigerator for immediate use, or freezer for up to 6 months. Or water bath can for long term storage.

BLACK PLUM & GINGER JAM (WITHOUT PECTIN)

Steps:

• Place the chopped plums, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, ginger and salt in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve over a bowl, pressing down on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Reserve the solids.
• Return the strained juices to the sauce pan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently to avoid burning. Boil until a candy thermometer reads 220 degrees (the gel stage). Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the reserved solids.
• Transfer the jam to sterile jars, or freeze whatever jam you don't intend to use right away.
• Enjoy!

PLUM-GINGER FREEZER JAM

Steps:

• Using a potato masher or fork, gently crush the plums in a large bowl to release some pulp and juices while keeping the fruit chunky. Toss with the sugar, then add the ginger and lemon zest and juice. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Measure the volume of your fruit mixture; you should have about 6 cups.
• If your package of pectin comes with calcium powder, stir 1/4 teaspoon of the calcium powder into 1/4 cup water to dissolve. Set aside. Place the 4 1/2 teaspoons pectin in a stand blender, or have it measured and ready if using an immersion blender. Bring 1 cup water to a boil, then pour it into the stand blender and blend. (If using an immersion blender, add the pectin to the saucepan and blend.) The mixture should become very smooth and look like a soft gel. Stir the pectin mixture into the fruit until evenly combined, then stir in 4 teaspoons of the calcium water, if using. The jam should thicken and be softly set. Add the salt, stir and taste. Adjust after tasting with more teaspoons of lemon juice, if necessary, for a good balance of sweet and tart.
• Transfer to clean airtight containers, cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours and up to 2 weeks before serving. Or, store in the freezer for up to 3 months; defrost completely in the refrigerator before serving.