How to make a delicious pumpkin jam? We propose the most traditional recipe, very easy to make. Discover the necessary ingredients and steps.
Autumn is characterized by being a time of transition, a season in which we go from the heat of summer to the pure cold characteristic of winter. They are a few months, therefore, of change, of diminution of light and also of the arrival of bad weather. A time why not? Wonderful, unique, in which the leaves fall to give space later in spring for a new birth.
As with any other season, during the fall we can find certain foods that we cannot consume the rest of the year. They basically consist of what is usually known as seasonal foods. That is to say, foods whose optimum point of maturation and therefore of consumption translates only during some months of the year.
And what are the typical autumn foods? Without a doubt, we can especially mention the delicious chestnuts, mushrooms, figs, persimmons. And the exquisite pumpkins. Although it is true that today it is possible to consume pumpkin practically all year round, the truth is that we are facing a food that is highly characteristic of autumn.
Despite being able to consume it all year round, there is no doubt that pumpkin is an autumn food, not only because we find it in its best season, but probably because it is the undisputed protagonist of the traditional Halloween night and also the day before. of All Saints (which, precisely, are celebrated in autumn).
Although it is possible to enjoy the pumpkin in a wide variety of recipes, whether sweet or savory, we can also make an exquisite and delicious pumpkin jam with it, which is also very easy to make at home. Do you dare to prepare it?
How to make pumpkin jam:
There is no doubt that pumpkin jam is an ideal option when it comes to enjoying pumpkin in its sweetest form, thus becoming a sweet way to preserve it and take advantage of it. It is very easy to make, as you will see in this recipe that we propose.
Ingredients:
- 1kg pumpkin
- 500 grams of sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Thickener (for example, agar-agar)
Preparation of pumpkin jam:
- Wash the pumpkin well, peel it, remove its seeds and cut it into small pieces with the help of a knife. Put some pieces of pumpkin in the bottom of the saucepan, alternating with layers of sugar.
- Squeeze the lemon to obtain its juice, add a tablespoon of lemon juice and let it macerate for 12 hours.
- After this time put the pumpkin on the fire and bring to a boil. Just when it starts to boil, add 6 grams of agar-agar, cooking until the jam has obtained the consistency that you like the most.
- To finish, once it’s ready, put the jam in glass jars, cover them and vacuum them by turning them over, and set aside for a few hours.
Some secrets to make a perfect pumpkin jam
The key to making perfect (or nearly perfect) pumpkin jam is using high-quality ingredients. To do this, it is best to always use pumpkin from organic farming. So that in this way we will be sure that no pesticides or chemical products have been used for its cultivation.
Also, another key is in the thickener although the ideal is to make jams with fruits that have high pectin content (which will provide a thick consistency, such as quince, plum or apples), pumpkin does not stand out precisely for its pectin content.
Although some cooks advise mixing the original ingredient (in this case the pumpkin) with some pieces of a fruit with a high pectin content (such as quince), we run the risk of altering the flavor of the original jam.
Therefore, it is best to use a natural thickener, such as agar-agar. In these cases, the ideal is to use a proportion of 6 grams per kilo of jam.
