Gooseberry Jam Recipes

GOOSEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Remove blossom and stem ends from gooseberries. Force berries through food mill. Measure 4 cups of the berry mash into a large pot. Stir in the sugar. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in pectin at once. Skim off any foam with a large metal spoon.
• Sterilize jars and lids in boiling water for at least 10 minutes. Take turns with skimming foam, and stirring the berry mixture for 5 minutes to let it cool slightly. Ladle into hot sterile jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
• Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

GOOSEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Place a few small plates in the freezer. Put gooseberries and 1/4 cup water into a medium saucepan. Cover, and cook over medium heat, stirring halfway through, until berries are just beginning to soften, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in sugar, and mash berries against side of pan with the spoon. Cook, uncovered, stirring more frequently as jam thickens, until it is bubbling rapidly and the consistency of very loose jelly, about 30 minutes, skimming any foam that rises to surface. Remove from heat.
• Perform a gel test: Remove a plate from freezer, and drop a spoonful of jam on it. Return to freezer for 1 to 2 minutes, then nudge edge of jam with a finger. If jam is ready, it should hold its shape. If jam is too thin and spreads out, return to a boil, testing every minute, until done.
• Return jam to a boil before transferring to a jar. To seal and process, fill 3 hot, sterilized 4-ounce jars with hot jam, leaving 1/4 inch space in each jars neck. Wipe rims of jars with a clean, damp cloth; cover tightly with sterilized lids and screw tops. Transfer jars, using tongs or a jar clamp, to the rack of a large canning pot filled with hot water, being sure to keep jars upright at all times; cover with water by 2 inches. (Jars should be spaced 1 inch apart, and should not touch sides of pot.) Cover; bring to a boil. Process jars in gently boiling water for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool 24 hours. Press down on each lid. If lid pops back, it is not sealed; refrigerate unsealed jars immediately, and use within 1 month.

GOOSEBERRY-BLUEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Pick through and rinse gooseberries and blueberries, removing stems and leaves and discarding any bad berries.
• Add the lemon juice and water to a medium saucepan.
• Over medium heat, slowly add the sugar to the lemon and water, whisking as you go, until the sugar-water mixture is smooth. If necessary, you can add a bit more water.
• Heat on medium until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear. Just don't keep heating it, because you'll end up with caramel - in this case, not good! And yes, I've done it.
• Add the gooseberries, and cook (keeping the heat at medium) for about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the blueberries (and the nutmeg, if using).
• Bring the mixture to a boil, and allow to boil for about 5 - 10 minutes until thickened.Tip: How do you tell it's the right consistency? Do the spoon text. Dip a cold metal spoon into the mixture, and pull it out sideways. If the mixture drips off in one stream, it's not ready. When the mixture drips off in two drips, it's close. Then the two drips begin to form a sheet, it's ready! Keep in mind it'll keep thickening up after it cools.
• Allow to cool a bit, then pour into jars. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

GOOSEBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Remove and discard all the stems.
• Place the gooseberries in a jam pan or wide sauce pan. Add the water; cook over medium heat until gooseberries are just tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add sugar and lemon juice and keep stirring until the sugar dissolves.
• Turn up the heat; bring mixture to a boil.
• Continue to cook rapidly until setting point is reached, about 45 minutes.
• Ladle into warm sterilized jars and seal.