Homemade Fresh Fig Jam Food

HOMEMADE FRESH FIG JAM

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the figs, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
• Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
• While figs are cooking, prepare the jars and lids. Put the glass jars in a boiling water canner about half-filled with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and keep jars in the water.
• Put water in a separate saucepan, bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and add the jar lids. Keep in the hot water until ready to use. Do not boil.
• After cooking the fig mixture for 1 hour, attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan, making sure the tip of the thermometer doesn't touch the pan's bottom, and continue simmering, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens. When the mixture gets quite thick, begin to stir constantly to keep it from scorching.
• Cook to 220 F and remove from the heat. Or, test a small amount on a very cold saucer by putting the saucer in the freezer for a few minutes, adding a little of the fig mixture on it, and returning the saucer to the freezer for one minute. When a good gel stage is reached (220 F), the surface of the fruit mixture will wrinkle slightly when pushed with a finger or teaspoon.
• Fill the prepared jars with the hot fig jam mixture, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Wipe the jar rims and threads with a wet paper towel. Place the lids on the jars using tongs or a jar magnet then screw on the rings.
• Place the jars on a rack in the hot water inside of the canner. Lower into the water and add enough hot or boiling water to bring the water level to 1 to 2 inches above the jars. Bring jars to a boil for 10 minutes.
• Using canning tongs, remove the jars and place them on top of a clean towel on a flat work surface. Listen for a popping sound, which indicates a good seal, and tighten the rings.
• Let the jars cool to room temperature and store in a cool, dry, dark place.

FIG JAM

Steps:

• Place the figs in a large pot or a Dutch oven and add the water. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then decrease the heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook until the figs are completely soft and tender, about 15 minutes.
• In a food processor fitted with the metal blade or in a blender, purée the figs and their cooking liquid (if using a blender, don't fill the jar more than halfway, as the hot liquid might burst through the top when the blender is turned on). Or, pass the figs through a food mill.
• Return the purée to the pot. Stir in the sugar and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly to prevent the mixture from burning on the bottom, until the jam is thick appears slightly jelled. (Because figs are low in pectin, the wrinkle test, page 256, won't work with this jam.)
• Ladle the jam into clean jars. Cover tightly, let cool, and refrigerate.
• Storage
• The jam will keep for at least 6 months in the refrigerator.
• Variation
• Before ladling into jars, stir in 1/2 cup (80 g) coarsely chopped Soft-Candied Citrus Peel (page 253) made with lemons.

FIG JAM

Steps:

• Add figs, honey, and lemon juice to medium size saucepan.
• Bring to a boil, lower heat and cook until thick; approximately 1 hour, stirring frequently.
• Add walnuts and cook an additional 10 to 15 minutes.
• Pour hot jam into steralized 1/2 pint jars, put on cap, screw band firmly tight.
• Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes or as recommended for your altitude.

FIG JAM

Steps:

• Put the figs and 150ml water in a large heavy based saucepan. Bring to a simmer and gently bubble for 5 mins or until the figs have softened and released their juices. Add the orange zest, sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring regularly for around 5-7 mins or until thick, skimming off any skum that rises to the surface. Remove from the heat and leave to sit for 10 mins.
• Ladle the mixture into sterilised jars. Seal with the lids and leave to cool completely. Will keep for six months unopened and 2 weeks in the fridge once opened.

FREEZER FRESH FIG JAM

Steps:

• Place figs in pot and add the sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, cinnamon and salt.
• Combine ingredients and begin mashing them using a potato masher or fork. They should mash quite easily if they are ripe. (You can also use a blender) Leaving little chunks is nice to give the jam more interest.
• Turn heat to medium high and bring to a strong simmer. Stir occasionally.
• Cover the pot and turn the heat down so that the fig mixture simmers steadily for 1 hour.
• Give the mixture an occasional stir and make sure it does not burn or scorch. This is especially important in the last 1/2 hour. You'll see it begin to thicken.
• After an hour, remove the cover and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until the jam is thick.
• Cool completely - it will continue to thicken as it cools.
• Fill your containers and freeze the ones you want to use later.

FRESH FIG FREEZER JAM

Steps:

• Mix sugar and figs together in a large glass or plastic bowl; set aside for sugar to slightly dissolve, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
• Stir lemon juice and pectin together in a glass or plastic bowl. Stir lemon juice mixture into fig mixture until sugar is fully dissolved. Pour fig mixture into sterilized plastic canning containers, leaving 1/4 inch at the top. Cover containers and refrigerate or freeze.