Home Trees - Strawberry Jalapeno Jam Recipe

Handy Conversions

3 Ounces of Liquid Pectin
equals 4 Tablespoons of Dry

Handy Tips

Liquid Pectin goes into the jam mixture after it comes to a boil.

Use gloves when chopping peppers.

Letting the jam rest 1-2 minutes after you take it off the heat will help reduce foam.

Use a large slotted spoon to remove foam before ladling the jam into the mason jars.

spoon

Adding butter to the jam will
help reduce foam.

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Strawberry Jalapeno Jam Recipe

Ingredients

4 Cups of Chopped Strawberries 1 Cup of Minced Jalapeno Peppers 1/4 Cup of Lemon Juice (Fresh or Bottled) 8 Tablespoons of Dry Pectin or 2 Boxes (2 Ounces Each) 1 Pat of Butter (1 Tablespoon) 7 Cups of White Sugar A Pinch of Salt Eight (8) Ounce Canning Jars with Lids and Seals

Directions

Remove the lids from the jars. Wash the lids in soapy water, rinse and place in a medium sauce pan covered with water. Put on low heat to simmer. Wash the screw lids, rinse and set aside.
Place the jars in your dishwasher and set to sterilize. This usually takes 2-3 hours so plan ahead.
Wash the berries and drain.
Fill your canner with water to within 3 inches of the top. Attach the jar rack, put the lid of and set on high so you get a roiling boil.
Remove the tops of the berries with a paring knife and any other spoiled spots.
You can chop the berries or use your food processor. I find that about 20 berries in the food processor works best. Just pulse a few times and place the chopped berries in a large bowl.
Wash the jalapeno peppers. Remove the stems, seeds and white pith. Dice using gloves.
Measure out the sugar and pectin in separate bowls. I add a small amount of sugar to the pectin and mix it in to prevent clumping.
Measure out a 1/4 cup of lemon juice.
Place a small plate in the freezer to test for jam consistency.

Time to Cook

Add the strawberries, jalapenos, pectin and lemon juice to a large heavy sauce pan and bring to a boil. Add the butter stirring constantly. Once the mixture is boiling add the sugar and return to a heavy boil, continue to stir constantly. Boil for one minute. Turn off the heat and add the pinch of salt, stir. Put a small amount of jam on your frozen plate and let stand for 1 minute. When you tilt the plate and the jam isn't runny you are good to go, otherwise add another tablespoon of pectin to the pot and boil for another minute.

Line up your mason jars so they are easy to reach. Remove any foam from the jam using a slotted spoon. Using the funnel, ladle the jam into each jar to within one 1/4 inch of the top. Wipe the jar rims with a clean paper towel or cloth. Use the magnetic wand to retrieve a lid for the top of each jar. Add a screw lid, tighten the lid but not too tight. Place 8 jars in the canner rack with the tongs, lower the rack, put the lid of the canner and boil (process) for 10 mins.

Remove the jars from the canner by lifting the rack to the rim of the canner. Take each jar out with the tongs and put it on a rack to rest. Let your jars rest for at least 24 hours then label and enjoy.

Notes

If your jam doesn't set I have had success pouring the contents from the 8 jars back into the heavy sauce pan, adding 1-2 tablespoons of pectin with a small amount of sugar into the jam and boiling for 1 minute. Repeat the canning process, resterilize your jars. I actually hate doing this so I routinely add 1/3rd more pectin than most recipes require.

Don't obsess over fresh lemon juice bottled works fine and has a more consistent ph.

I prefer powdered pectin but here is the conversion if you have liquid pectin. 1 ounce of liquid pectin = 4 teaspoons of powered pectin. So one box of liquid pectin would equate to 4 tablespoons of pectin. Liquid pectin is added after the mixture comes to a boil and then you boil for one minute.