Wild Blackberry Jam

 Ingredients: 3 kg blackberries 1,8 kg sugar 2 lemons (only their juice) vanilla powder optional and to taste

To prepare a delicious berry jam, we start with an essential first step: carefully washing the fruits. They must be cleaned of any remnants of dried leaves, stems, or even tiny insects that may be hiding among them, considering they are organic fruits. Therefore, we place the fruits in a colander and rinse them under a stream of cold water, ensuring we change their position with sudden movements of the sieve to make sure each fruit is well washed. After draining, we let them rest on a deep plate or a box to eliminate excess water.

Once the fruits are well drained, we transfer them to a jam pot, adding sugar over them. We cover the pot with a sieve lid or a piece of cheesecloth and let the mixture sit overnight in a cool place. The next day, the fruits will have released their juice, and the sugar will have partially dissolved, changing its color from white to a beautiful shade of pink.

Next comes the boiling stage. We place the pot on the stove, setting the heat to high until the mixture starts to boil. Once it boils, we reduce the heat to medium-low, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. It is important to stay close to the pot, as the jam will start to foam. We collect the foam formed with a spoon and, if it becomes too abundant, we remove the pot from the heat to clean it, then put it back.

After about 15 minutes of boiling, we turn off the heat and cover the pot with the cheesecloth or the sieve lid, letting it cool until the next day. Before covering, we use a clean, damp cloth to wipe the edges of the pot. This prevents contamination of the jam. For example, I put the jam to boil in the morning and let it cool until evening, when I put it back on the heat for another 15 or 20 minutes. At the end of this time, I added lemon juice and vanilla, continuing to boil for about 5 minutes.

The consistency of the jam is a matter of experience. The sound of boiling is a valuable clue for more experienced housewives. One method to check the thickness of the jam is to let the pot cool overnight. The next day, we use a spoon to check. If the jam flows slowly off the spoon, it is ready; if it flows easily, it needs more boiling.

Once we have achieved the desired consistency, we prepare the sterilized jars. In the meantime, it is essential to cap or screw the lids, then place them upside down between pillows, allowing them to cool. After they have completely cooled, the jars can be placed upright on shelves in a cool pantry. Thus, in winter, we can enjoy the unmistakable aroma and taste of berry jam, which will bring a touch of summer to the cold days.

 Tags:  sugar lemon gluten-free recipes lactose-free recipes vegetarian recipes fat-free recipes