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Strawberry jam

Strawberry jam

James Martin

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Makes 3-4 jars

Easy

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 40 mins

Plus overnight macerating

A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.66 ratingsRate

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James Martin's homemade strawberry jam is easy to make and full of fruity flavour. The resulting jars are ideal for gift hampers

Freezable

Egg-free

Gluten-free

Nut-free

Vegetarian

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A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.8 ratings

Ingredients

Nutrition

Units:

MetricUS

1kg hulled strawberry
750g jam sugar
juice 1 lemon
small knob of butter

(optional)

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Nutrition: per tbsp

kcal34
fat0.1g

low
saturates0g
carbs8g
sugars8g
fibre0.4g
protein0.1g
salt0g

low

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Method

step 1

Prepare the strawberries by wiping them with a piece of damp kitchen paper. (Wiping the strawberries rather than washing them ensures the fruit doesn’t absorb lots of water – too much water and the jam won’t set easily.) To hull the fruit, use a knife to cut a cone shape into the strawberry and remove the stem. Cut any large berries in half.
step 2

Put the strawberries in a bowl and gently toss through the sugar. Leave uncovered at room temperature for 12 hrs or overnight. This process helps the sugar to dissolve, ensures the fruit doesn’t disintegrate too much and helps to keep its vibrant colour.
step 3

Before starting the jam, put 2 saucers in the freezer. Tip the strawberry mixture into a preserving pan with the lemon juice. Set over a low heat and cook very gently. If any sugar remains on the sides of the pan, dip a pastry brush in hot water and brush the sugar away.
step 4

When you can no longer feel any grains of sugar remaining, turn up the heat to start bubbling the jam and bringing it to the boil. (The sugar must be completely dissolved before increasing the heat, otherwise it will be difficult for the jam to set, and it may contain crystallised lumps of sugar.)
step 5

Boil hard for 5-10 mins until the jam has reached 105C on a preserving or digital thermometer, then turn off the heat. If you don’t have a thermometer, spoon a little jam onto one of the cold saucers. Leave for 30 secs, then push with your finger; if the jam wrinkles and doesn’t flood to fill the gap, it is ready. If not, turn the heat back on and boil for 2 mins more, then turn off the heat and do the wrinkle test again. Repeat until ready.
step 6

Use a spoon to skim any scum that has risen to the surface and discard this. Do this only once at the end, rather than constantly during the boiling stage, to reduce wastage.
step 7

Add a knob of butter, if you like, to the finished jam, and stir in to melt. This will help to dissolve any remaining scum that you haven’t managed to spoon off the top. Leave the jam to settle for 15 mins – this will ensure that the fruit stays suspended in the mixture and doesn’t all float to the top of the jam jar. Meanwhile, sterilise your jars.
step 8

Ladle into warm jars, filling to just below the rim. Place a wax disc on top of the jam (this prevents mildew forming), then cover with a lid or a cellophane circle and elastic band. Pop on a label (include the date), plus a pretty fabric top, if you like. The jam can be stored for up to 1 year in a cool, dry place. Refrigerate after opening.

RECIPE TIPS

STRAWBERRY & BLACK PEPPER JAM

Stir 1 tbsp cracked black peppercorns through the jam while it is cooling.

STRAWBERRY & TARRAGON JAM

Stir 2 tbsp chopped tarragon through the jam before ladling into jars.

STRAWBERRY & VANILLA JAM

Scrape the seeds from 2 vanilla pods into the strawberries as you toss with the sugar, then poke the scraped pods in, too. Take them out before ladling the jam into jars.

STRAWBERRY & ROSE WATER JAM

Add 2 tbsp rose water along with the lemon juice.

CHOOSE THE BEST

Use a preserving pan that is enamel-lined or made of nonreactive metal, such as stainless steel (copper is also fine). Cast-iron and aluminium pans will react with the acidity of the jam, tainting it with a metallic taste. A wide pan – big enough so that the fruit comes no more than halfway up the side – is better, as the jam will reach setting point more quickly. Also, pick slightly underripe berries, as their pectin levels will be higher. (Pectin helps the jam to set.)

Recipe from Good Food magazine, June 2013

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A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.66 ratings

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