Peach jam

Peach jam is a quick and simple dessert, perfect for adding a touch of summer to any season. This recipe will give you a delicious and fragrant result, ideal for serving on toast or as a topping for yogurt. Additionally, peach jam can also be used in various desserts, bringing a unique flavor. Let's get started!

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Total time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Number of servings: Approximately 4 jars of 350 g

Ingredients:
- 1 kg ripe but firm peaches
- 1 kg sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Step 1: Selecting the peaches
Choose quality peaches with smooth skin and no blemishes. It is essential that they are ripe but not too soft to achieve a jam with a pleasant texture. Firmer peaches will give you a better consistency.

Step 2: Preparing the peaches
Wash the peaches well under cold running water to remove any impurities. Cut each peach in half, remove the pit, and then slice the flesh into thin wedges. This even cutting will help with uniform caramelization of the peaches during cooking.

Step 3: Marinating the peaches
Place the peach slices in a large bowl and add the sugar. Gently stir to coat each slice with sugar. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for about an hour. This step is crucial as the sugar will draw out the juice from the peaches, forming a natural syrup that will enhance the flavors.

Step 4: Cooking the jam
After the peaches have marinated, put the mixture in a large pot and add the lemon juice. The lemon juice will not only enhance the flavors but also help preserve the color and taste. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent sticking. Once it starts to boil, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for 40-50 minutes, or until the mixture thickens and reaches a syrup-like consistency.

Step 5: Testing the consistency
To check if the jam is ready, you can do the drop test: place a drop of jam on a cold plate and let it cool for a few seconds. If it gels slightly and does not run, it is ready. If not, let it cook for a few more minutes and retest.

Step 6: Bottling
Once the jam has reached the desired consistency, pour it hot into sterilized jars, leaving 1 cm of headspace at the top of the jar. Seal the jars tightly with lids and let them cool to room temperature.

Serving suggestion: You can enjoy peach jam on a slice of toasted bread with butter or as a topping for pancakes. You can also use it as a filling for pastries or even in combination with cottage cheese for a refined dessert.

Variations: You can experiment with adding spices like cinnamon or vanilla for an even more interesting flavor. You can also replace some of the sugar with honey for a more natural note.

Now that you have all the necessary information, all that's left is to get started on making this delicious peach jam! You will surely bring a touch of summer into every jar!