The Best Red Pepper And Chilli Jam Food

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:

• 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.

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.

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.

THE BEST RED PEPPER AND CHILLI JAM

Steps:

• Place a small plate in the freezer (you will need this later to test the 'jamminess' of your jam).
• Blend the chillies (seeds in), peppers and garlic in a food processor until you have a fine, frothy paste - about 30 seconds. Add the tinned tomatoes to the mixture.
• Transfer everything to a sieve, allowing the sieved liquid to drop into a wide heavy-bottomed pan. Set aside the pulp for later.
• Bubble the sieved liquid over a medium-high heat until reduced to about a fifth of its original volume (this took me around 15 minutes). You can tell that it is ready when it does not immediately flood the space left by a spoon dragged along the bottom (see my photo for guidance).
• Add the reserved pulp back to the pan along with the sugar and cider vinegar. Bubble vigorously over a medium-high heat (it will look like bubbling lava), stirring every few minutes until it looks thick and 'jammy' - this took me around 30 minutes of bubbling. At this point the jam is ready. You can test it by placing a small blob on your frozen plate - this will instantly cool the jam, making it resemble its final texture. I like mine to be fairly thick.
• Take the jam off the heat and stir in the fennel seeds. Once the jam is cool enough to handle, divide between your sterilized jars and seal with the lids. If kept in a cool dark place the jars can last for up to a year (although always check before eating!). Once opened, keep in the fridge and use within a few weeks.

RED PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• Place red peppers, sugar and vinegar in kettle; heat rapidly to boiling, stirring continuously.
• Remove from heat, let stand 15 minutes.
• Reheat to boiling, add lemon juice.
• Let it come to a boil, then add the pectin.
• Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Bottle as any jelly.