Discover the joy of homemade strawberry vanilla jam with this simple and flavorful recipe. As a seasoned culinary enthusiast, I’m excited to share with you how effortless it is to create this delightful spread. Trust me, following these straightforward steps will yield a jam that’s bursting with the fresh essence of strawberries and the subtle aroma of vanilla.
Prep time: 10 minutes | Cooking time: 15 minutes | Total time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 punnets (500g) strawberries
- 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1½ cups sugar
Instructions:
- Prepare the Strawberries: Start by hulling the strawberries and cutting them in half.
- Cook the Fruit: Place the halved strawberries in a heavy-based saucepan along with the scraped seeds from the split vanilla bean and lemon juice. Cook gently for a few minutes until the fruit is warmed through and softened.
- Add Sugar: Stir in the sugar until it dissolves completely. Once the sugar has dissolved, increase the heat and bring the mixture to a rapid boil.
- Boil Rapidly: Allow the mixture to boil rapidly for 10-15 minutes or until it reaches the desired setting point. Stir the jam frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Check for Setting Point: To check if the jam has reached the setting point, place a teaspoon of jam on a cold saucer and put it in the freezer for two minutes. The jam is ready if a skin forms when gently pushed with your finger and if it separates into two parts when your finger is run through it. If not set, continue boiling and recheck after a few minutes.
- Remove from Heat: Once the jam has reached the desired consistency, remove it from the heat. Remove the vanilla pod from the mixture.
- Pour into Jars: Carefully pour the hot jam into hot, sterilized jars. Seal the jars tightly.
- Cool and Store: Allow the jam to cool completely before refrigerating. Once opened, store the jam in the refrigerator.
How to Serve:
Spread this delightful homemade strawberry vanilla jam generously on toast, scones, or freshly baked biscuits. It also makes a delightful filling for pastries and cakes.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 60
- Total Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 0mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 15g
- Dietary Fiber: 1g
- Sugars: 13g
- Protein: 0g
Enjoy the exquisite flavor of fresh strawberries infused with aromatic vanilla in every spoonful of this delightful homemade jam. Once you try this recipe, you’ll never go back to store-bought jam again!