Raspberry Currant Jam Recipes

RASPBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Toss the raspberries, sugar and lemon zest and juice in a medium saucepan to combine, then mash slightly to release some of the berry juice. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the raspberries to macerate and the sugar to dissolve. Meanwhile, place a small plate in the freezer to chill; this will be used to test the doneness of the jam.
• Place the saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium, stirring frequently. Continue to cook until the jam becomes thick and syrupy, about 25 minutes. To test doneness, place a small amount of the jam onto the chilled plate and freeze for 2 minutes. Drag your finger or spoon through it. If the jam holds its shape and thickness, the jam is done; remove from the heat. If it's runny, continue to cook and test again in 5-minute increments. Once the jam has reached the right consistency, transfer to jars and cool completely before storing, covered tightly. Jam will keep in the refrigerator up to 6 months.

OLD-FASHIONED RASPBERRY JAM

Steps:

• 1. Place sugar in an ovenproof shallow pan and warm in a 250°F (120°C) oven for 15 minutes. (Warm sugar dissolves better.)
• 2. Place berries in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a full boil over high heat, mashing berries with a potato masher as they heat. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• 3. Add warm sugar, return to a boil, and boil until mixture will form a gel (see tips, below), about 5 minutes.
• 4. Ladle into sterilized jars and process as directed for Shorter Time Processing Procedure .
• Tip: To make a small boiling-water canner, tie several screw bands together with string or use a small round cake rack in the bottom of a large covered Dutch oven. Be sure the pan is high enough for 2 inches (5 cm) of water to cover the jars when they are sitting on the rack.

RASPBERRY-CURRANT JAM

Steps:

• Wash the currants and put them in a sauce pan with the water.
• Cover the pot and bring to a boil, stirring gently, until the currants are all popped.
• Press them through a sieve, and reserve the puree.
• Discard the skins, stems and seeds.
• Gently rinse the raspberries and drain them well.
• Mix the currant puree, raspberries and sugar in a large pot.
• Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until the sugar dissolves.
• Boil hard until the mixture almost reaches the gell stage, about 20 minutes.
• Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
• Remove from the heat and skim.
• Seal in sterilized jars.
• Put in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes.

RASPBERRY CURRANT JAM

Steps:

• Place currants and water in a medium-sized non-reactive pan over medium heat. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until the currants burst and release their seeds. Press through a fine mesh sieve using the back of a ladle. This will produce approximately 3 cups currant pulp. Discard the seeds.
• Put the raspberries, currants and sugar in a heavy-bottomed, non-reactive pan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase heat to bring fruit to a full boil, reduce the heat, and continue to cook the fruit at a gentle boil. Stir occasionally, skimming off any foam, until the jam is set. Click here for details.
• Pour into warm, sterlized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Remove any air bubbles. Wipe rims clean. Place lids on the jars and secure bands until finger-tip tight. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and let jars sit for another 5 minutes. Using canning tongs, remove the jars and place of a heatproof surface where they won't be disturbed for 24 hours. Check to ensure the lids sealed have properly sealed.
• Consume the jam within a year - which shouldn't be difficult.

RED CURRANT & RASPBERRY JELLY

Steps:

• Using a potato masher, crush currants in a very large stainless steel or enamel saucepan.
• Add water& bring to a boil over high heat.
• Reduce heat, cover& boil gently for 10 minutes.
• Add raspberries, return to a boil& boil gently for 3 minutes.
• Strain mixture through a coarse sieve, pressing pulp to extract juice& discarding the solids.
• If you want, you can now pour the juice through a jelly bag (cheesecloth)- I'm lazy& don't do this!
• You should have 4 cups of juice - when I don't get that amount, I top up with cranberry cocktail - combine juice with sugar in a very large stainless steel or enamel saucepan.
• Bring to a boil& boil hard, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat, stir in pectin& ladle into sterilized jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space.
• Be sure to remove any air bubbles.
• Place jars into boiling water in canner, add enough water to cover lids by 2 inches& return to boil.
• Boil for 5 minutes.
• Remove from canner, cool, label& store in cool, dark place.

HOMEMADE RASPBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Before you start, sterilise your jars (see tip below) and put a plate in the freezer to chill. Tip half the raspberries into a preserving pan and add the lemon juice. Mash the berries to a pulp over the heat with a potato masher, then leave to cook for 5 mins. Tip the cooked berries into a sieve over a bowl, then once all of the juice has drained off, firmly work the pulp through the sieve with a wooden spoon until you are left with just the seeds.
• Tip the juice and pulp back into the preserving pan and stir in the sugar. Heat gently, then add the remaining whole raspberries. Bring to the boil, then boil rapidly for 5 mins. Remove from the heat and drop a little jam onto the chilled plate. Now push your finger through it - it should wrinkle and look like jam. If it doesn't, boil for 2 mins, then test again.
• The top of the jam may look like it has sediment on it, but I find that if you stir it well as it cools, a little of this disappears. Pour into the jars and seal. It will keep unopened for a year, although the lovely bright colour will darken a little. Once open, keep in the fridge.

REDCURRANT JAM

Steps:

• Put two small, sterilised saucers in the freezer - you will use these to test the setting point of the jam. You can sterilise the saucers by washing them in hot soapy liquid, rinsing and placing in an oven at 180C/160C fan/gas 4 for 5 mins. Remove carefully and allow to cool.
• Remove the stalks from the fruit, and place the fruit in a large saucepan. Pour in 150ml water, bring to a simmer and cook gently for about 10 mins until the fruit has softened and is starting to break down. Place a sieve over a mixing bowl and push as much of the fruit and pulp through the sieve with the back or a spoon as possible, discarding the seeds and any stalks. You don't need to sieve the fruit if you prefer a seeded jam.
• Weigh the liquid and add three quarters of the sugar to the total liquid (for example, if your liquid is 400g, add 300g of sugar). Place back in the pan over a low medium heat and stir to dissolve the sugar.
• Once the sugar has fully dissolved, turn the heat up and bring to the boil. Stir occasionally. If using a jam or digital thermometer, wait until the liquid reaches 105C. If not, after about 8 mins, remove a saucer from the freezer and spread a teaspoon of jam over it. Let it sit for 1 min before pushing your finger through the liquid. If it starts to wrinkle, the jam is ready. If not, return to the boil and check again after another minute. Continue to do this until the jam reaches setting point.
• Allow to cool slightly, then pour into sterilised jars and allow to cool completely. Store in a cool dark place.