Chile Jam Food

CHILLI JAM

Steps:

• You will need 6 x 250ml / 1 cup sealable jars, with vinegar-proof lids, such as Kilner jars or re-usable pickle jars. Sterilize your jars and leave to cool. Put the cut-up chillies into a food processor and pulse until they are finely chopped. Add the chunks of red pepper and pulse again until you have a vibrantly red-flecked processor bowl. Dissolve the sugar in the vinegar in a wide, medium-sized pan over a low heat without stirring. Scrape the chilli-pepper mixture out of the bowl and add to the pan. Bring the pan to the boil, then leave it at a rollicking boil for 10 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and allow it cool. The liquid will become more syrupy, then from syrup to viscous and from viscous to jelly-like as it cools. After about 40 minutes, or once the red flecks are more or less evenly dispersed in the jelly (as the liquid firms up, the hints of chilli and pepper start being suspended in it rather than floating on it), ladle into your jars. If you want to stir gently at this stage, it will do no harm. Then seal tightly.

CHILLI JAM

Steps:

• Trim, halve and deseed the red chillies (use rubber gloves to protect your hands, if you like), and peel the garlic cloves, then place in a food processor with the peppers and pulse until finely chopped.
• Scrape the chilli mixture into a high-sided pan over a medium-high heat, add the sugar and vinegar, then give everything a good stir.
• Prick the Scotch bonnets with a sharp knife and add to the pan with 1 teaspoon of sea salt. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat down to low and simmer gently for 20 to 25 minutes, or until thick, glossy and reduced by half.
• Pour into sterilised jam jars (leave the Scotch bonnets in, if you like it hot, otherwise remove) and store in a cool dark place until needed.

CHILLI JAM

Steps:

• Process chillies, oil, capsicum, garlic and shallots until smooth.
• Heat wok on medium, and add chilli mixture. Stir occasionally for 15 minutes.
• Add sugar and tamarind and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Use as a stir-fry sauce or grilling marinade.

CHILI JAM

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a saucepan.
• Add garlic and onion and cook on a low slow heat until the onions are transparent.
• Note: do not brown the onions and garlic.
• Add chillies to the garlic and onion mixture and cook until the chillies are soft.
• Again being careful not to brown or burn the garlic, onion and chilli mixture.
• Next, to the mixture in the saucepan, add the tamarind paste, fish sauce and the sugar.
• Simmer for ten minutes then turn off heat.
• Cool for a few minutes and then pour the mixture into a blender or food processor and blend until the mixture is the consistency of jam.
• (Blend to a smoothiish texture) Pour into sterilised jam jar and store in fridge.
• The Chilli Jam will last for a couple of weeks in the fridge.

CHILI PEPPER JAM

Steps:

• In a pot, combine the chili peppers, red bell peppers, and apple cider vinegar. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for about 20 minutes or until the peppers have softened. In a colander, drain the pepper mixture and with the back of a wooden spoon, press on the peppers to extract any excess liquid.
• Transfer the peppers to a food mill or a blender and puree. Press the puree through a sieve to remove the pepper skin. Discard the skin. In a saucepot, over medium heat, add the pepper puree and add the sugar a little at a time and mix until the sugar has dissolved. Continue to cook the mixture for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat when the mixture resembles a jam texture. Allow to cool and transfer into jars.

PEACH-CHILE JAM

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cut a small X in the bottom of each peach; add to the boiling water for 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl of ice water to cool; drain and peel off the skins with a paring knife. (Or for harder peaches, remove skins with a vegetable peeler.)
• Chop the peaches. Combine with the sugar, salt and chile in a medium saucepan. Toss and let stand until the sugar dissolves and the liquid is syrupy, 10 to 20 minutes.
• Add the syrup to the pan and bring to a rapid simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring frequently and skimming off any foam, until the peaches soften and the juices thicken, about 15 minutes. (Gently mash any large peach chunks.) Remove from the heat and let the jam cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
• Transfer the jam to a jar or other airtight container and refrigerate until cold and fully jelled, 1 to 2 hours. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

TOMATO CHILE JAM

Steps:

• Open the can of tomatoes and drain the liquid into a food processor or blender. Reserve the tomatoes.
• Slice 3 to 6 fresh red chile peppers (depending on their heat) and add to the blender or processor with garlic, ginger and fish sauce. Blend until smooth.
• Pour into a pan, add the diced tomatoes and vinegar and sugar. Simmer until thick and syrupy, about an hour. Natural pectin in the tomatoes gives the sauce its jammy consistency.
• When cool, transfer to containers or jars, and keep refrigerated.

GARLIC ANCHO CHILE JAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Cut off and discard tops of garlic heads to expose cloves and rub each head with 1/2 tablespoon oil. Wrap heads together in foil and bake in middle of oven until tender, about 45 minutes. Cool to warm.
• While garlic is roasting, toast chiles in a dry heavy skillet over moderate heat, turning, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Soak chiles in hot water until softened, about 20 minutes, then drain.
• Squeeze garlic from skins into a food processor and purée with chiles, vinegar, honey, remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and salt to taste. Force purée through a sieve into a bowl.
• Available at Latino markets and Kitchen/Market (888-468-4433).

MONTE CRISTO WITH APPLE-HATCH CHILE JAM

Steps:

• To make the jam, combine apple, jalapeño, chiles, sugar, vinegar, salt, and 3 Tbsp. water in a small saucepan or pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low. Cook at a low simmer, stirring every so often, until most of the liquid has cooked off and apples are soft, 25 to 30 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring frequently and mashing apples with a wooden spoon or potato masher, until apples have completely broken down and mixture has thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• In a wide, low dish, combine eggs, milk, and a pinch of kosher salt. Whisk until very well combined, then set aside.
• To assemble the sandwiches, spread a heaping tablespoon of jam on all four slices of bread. On two slices, layer half the grated cheese (or one slice), two slices ham, and then the remaining cheese. Top with the other slices of bread. Compress each sandwich slightly.
• Working one at a time, place the assembled sandwiches in the dish of beaten egg. Let the bread soak up the egg for 30 seconds, then flip and repeat on the other side. Repeat with the remaining sandwich, transferring the soaked sandwiches to a separate plate.
• Heat butter and olive oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high until melted. Add sandwiches; cook 2-3 minutes per side, pressing down slightly, until browned and crisp. Transfer to a cutting board to halve before serving.

SWEET CHILLI JAM

Steps:

• Tip the peppers, chillies (with seeds), ginger and garlic into a food processor, then whizz until very finely chopped. Scrape into a heavy-bottomed pan with the tomatoes, sugar and vinegar, then bring everything to the boil. Skim off any scum that comes to the surface, then turn the heat down to a simmer and cook for about 50 mins, stirring occasionally.
• Once the jam is becoming sticky, continue cooking for 10-15 mins more, stirring frequently so that it doesn't catch and burn. It should now look like thick, bubbling lava. Cool slightly, transfer to sterilised jars, then leave to cool completely. Keeps for 3 months in a cool, dark cupboard - refrigerate once opened.