Apricot Jam Recipe Delia Smith Food

APRICOT JAM

Steps:

• Mix apricots and lemon juice in a large pot; add sugar. Slowly bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cook and stir until apricot mixture thickens, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat and skim foam if necessary.
• Meanwhile, prepare jars, lids, and rings by cleaning and sterilizing in dishwasher or boiling water bath. Leave lids in simmering water until ready to seal jars.
• Ladle hot jam into hot sterilized jars, leaving about 1/4 inch of space on top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 15 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

HOMEMADE APRICOT JAM

Steps:

• Halve and pit apricots. Wrap half the pits in cheesecloth, and crack the remaining ones open with a hammer. Pick out the kernels and set aside. Discard the cracked shells.
• Heat the oven to 200 degrees. Place sugar in a large shallow pan and put in oven. Turn off oven and let sugar warm for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, combine the apricots and water in a large kettle over low heat. Cook until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Then add the warmed sugar and wrapped pits and simmer for 30 minutes; remove pits and continue cooking until mixture reaches 221 degrees on a candy thermometer or falls in sheets from a spoon, about 15 minutes more.
• Remove from heat. Skim off and discard foam. Stir in reserved kernels, then ladle jam into hot, sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch head space. Wipe excess jam from inside and outside rims, then seal.

APRICOT JAM

Steps:

• Toss the apricots, sugar, lemon zest and juice and vanilla in a large saucepan to combine, then mash slightly to release some of the apricot juice. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the apricots 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. (See Cook's Note for suggested add-in.) 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 35 minutes. To test doneness, place a small amount of the jam onto the chilled plate and freeze for 2 minutes. Drag your finger or a spoon through the jam. If it 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, tightly covered. The jam will keep in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

DRIED APRICOT JAM

Steps:

• Put the apricots in a large pan, add 1.5 litres water, cover and leave overnight to soak.
• Next day, place a small plate in the fridge to chill. Put the apricots and water on the hob, then add the lemon juice and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, then simmer for 30 mins or until the apricots are tender and starting to break up.
• Remove from the heat and add the sugar, stirring until it dissolves. Return to the heat and boil rapidly for 20 mins or until setting point is reached. To check this, remove the plate from the fridge, put a spoonful of jam onto the plate and pop it back in the fridge for a few mins - the jam should wrinkle when you push it with your finger. A sugar thermometer will also give you the setting point of jam, which is 105C.
• Carefully pour the jam into hot sterilised jars, top with a disc of wax paper or baking parchment, seal with a lid, then leave to cool and set. The jam will last for 6 months unopened in a cool, dark cupboard.

APRICOT CONSERVE

Steps:

• Put a couple of small plates in the freezer. Halve and stone the apricots, chop the flesh, then put in a large pan with the apple juice. Crack some of the kernels to extract the nut inside (this is easy to do if you crack with the flat side of a heavy saucepan), then add them to the pan - this is optional, but gives extra flavour. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 mins, until the apricots are softened.
• Stir in the sugar and lemon juice, then stir well over a moderate heat to dissolve the sugar. Increase the heat and boil for about 20 mins until jam has set. Test by spooning a little jam onto one of your cold plates. After a moment push the jam with your finger; if the jam wrinkles, it is ready. If not, return to the boil for a further 5 mins, then test again.
• Remove from the heat, skim off any scum, then stir in the butter to dissolve any remaining scum. Cool for 10 mins, stir again, then ladle into warm sterilised jars. Seal, label, then store in the fridge for 4-6 weeks.

APRICOT JAM

Steps:

• Sterilize your canning jars by boiling for 10 minutes in a hot water canner.
• You will need 5 pint jars or 10 half-pints.
• Combine all ingredients in a large stock pot.
• Bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves.
• Once mixture reaches a rolling boil, continue to boil it for 30 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent it from sticking.
• Remove from heat and fill jars, leaving 1/4 head space.
• Wipe rims clean and put the 2-piece metal canning lids in place.
• Process in boiling water canner for 10 minutes.

APRICOT " JAM"

Steps:

• Chop the dried apricots into very small pieces.
• Put the apricots, water and syrup/fructose into a small saucepan and bring to the boil.
• Boil rapidly for a few minutes, but don't let it boil dry!
• Take off the heat and allow to cool.