Naturally Sweetened Strawberry Jam (with photo)

[quirkycooking]

I adapted this recipe from the jam recipe in "My Way of Cooking" - I'm so pleased that I can make jam without all the refined sugar now!!  To see more details on how to make jam with agar-agar, see my blog post.

1.  Before you begin, place a saucer into the freezer for testing the jam on.  Wash out your jam jars thoroughly with warm soapy water and rinse well.  Set aside.

2.  Place fruit in Thermomix bowl and chop roughly on speed 4 for 3-5 seconds, depending how chunky you want it:
- 500g strawberries (or other fruit)

3.  Add and cook 8 minutes, 100 degrees, reverse, speed 2:
- 150g Rapadura (or other sweetener)
- 1 level teaspoon agar-agar powder
(If you prefer your jam smooth and un-chunky, cook without the reverse, and puree on speed 8 when you're done.)

4.  Test if the jam is set by placing 1/2 tsp of jam onto the cold saucer.  When it is cool, push it with your finger.  If the jam wrinkles, it's ready.  If not, add a pinch more agar-agar, cook for another 2 minutes, then re-test.

5.  When jam is set, pour into 2 hot rinsed jars with twist-off lids and close immediately.  Turn jars upside down for 10 minutes.  Your jam will keep in the fridge for up to one month.

Note: If you want to make jam without any Rapadura at all, you may need an extra teaspoon of agar-agar.

[earth mumma]

Thanks again Jo for another fabulous recipe. I found this on your blog yesterday.   I'm off to buy some strawberries and give it a whirl, already have the agar agar ans sugar so it will be easy.  Really 8mins!! Thats amazing.   

[zebraa]

You are, quite simply a legend. Thankyou. I have agar agar too so I will now be on the lookout for some fruit.

[cookie1]

I've been meaning to try this as were nearly out of strawberry jam. But we ate all the strawberries I bought. I will get some more and put a sign on them!

[zebraa]

I made honeydew and ginger jam tonight with this recipe. Used 400g fruit, 100g sugar and cooked it for 10mins and it was fabulous. Thankyou again.

[Very Happy Jan]

I made honeydew and ginger jam tonight with this recipe. Used 400g fruit, 100g sugar and cooked it for 10mins and it was fabulous. Thankyou again.

This sounds lovely zebraa. How much ginger did you use? This could be something to add to the christmas hamper thread as it's a bit different.

[zebraa]

About a cm of fresh root. Could probably have doubled it - didn't want to scare the kids off though.

[judydawn]

Sounds nice -  Mum would like that.  How long would it keep zebraa?

[quirkycooking]

If it's sealed, it would probably keep a while in the fridge - it's supposed to keep about a month once opened in the fridge.  I didn't have much luck storing jam made this way in the cupboard - it went mouldy - maybe it wasn't sealed well enough, but I think because of the lack of sugar it doesn't preserve as well.  Anyway, I just make small batches now and store them in the fridge - it's so quick to make it doesn't really matter if you have to make it more often. 

That jam sounds good Zebraa - my mum would like that one too!

[earth mumma]

Hi Jo

Made this last night with some rapadura.  It came out very thick and with a lovely texture and consistency.  I am not sure about the flavour with the rapadura - this batch of rapadura is dark brown and very treaclely in flavour and it seemed to dominate the jam so you can't taste the fruit so much.  Have you experienced this.  I am just starting to use rapadura so maybe it is just a tastebud adjustment thing 

[quirkycooking]

Hi Earth Mumma - we actually LOVE the brown sugar flavour of Rapadura... I have an old recipe which uses brown sugar on top of strawberries, and you bake them quickly in a hot oven and it kind of caramelizes (delicious!) so I thought the Rapadura would go well in strawberry jam - we really liked it.  But maybe it is a matter of taste... You could use any other sweetener you prefer - maybe 100g of a mild honey, or for a 'cleaner' taste, agave syrup?

[earth mumma]

Thanks for that Jo.  Oh and we had your lentil bol last night over rice (my kids loved it this way - better than spagetti).  I love having some quick and easy vegetarian recipes on hand.  Thanks for posting such wonderful recipes. 

[quirkycooking]

You're welcome   

[Thermomixer]

Good one Jo- great little idea.  Thanks.

[earth mumma]

We used some of this jam on our breakfast cada over some plain yoghurt - very yum.