Best 3 Damson Plum Cardamom Jam Recipes

DAMSON JAM

Steps:

• Wash your jars and lids in hot, soapy water, rinse, then place on a baking tray and put in a low oven for 10 mins or until completely dry. If you want to use rubber seals, remove the seals and cover in just-boiled water. Make sure you sterilise any funnels, ladles or spoons you're going to be using too.
• Put the fruit into a jam pan or a large, wide, heavy-based saucepan. Leave the stones in (see tip below). Add 150ml water and bring to the boil. Put a couple of saucers in the freezer. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 mins or until the fruit is soft.
• Tip in the sugar and stir over a very low heat until the sugar has completely dissolved, up to 10 mins. This step is vital - if you don't dissolve the sugar, the bottom of the pan may catch and burn. Raise the heat, bring to a full rolling boil, then rapidly boil for 10 minutes. Don't stir until the setting point of 105C is reached. If you don't have a thermometer, test the jam by spooning a little onto a cold saucer. Wait a few seconds, then push the jam with your fingertip. If it wrinkles, the jam is ready. If not, cook for a few mins more and test again, with another cold saucer. Once you have reached 105C or setting point, stir the jam thoroughly.
• Remove from the heat, skim off any excess scum, then stir a knob of butter into the surface (this helps to dissolve any remaining scum). Leave for about 15 mins so the fruit can settle - if you decant the jam too soon, all the fruit will sink to the bottom. Pour into sterilised jars, label and seal.

PLUM FREEZER JAM WITH CARDAMOM AND GINGER

Steps:

• Bring plums and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan, then reduce heat to low and simmer until plums begin to soften and liquid is reduced by about half, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, finely grate ginger, then squeeze juice into a small bowl; discard pulp.
• Combine sugar and pectin in a large bowl. Add plum mixture, lemon juice, pepper, cardamom, and 1 tsp. ginger juice (discard any remaining juice), then stir constantly for about 3 minutes to activate pectin. Using a potato masher or fork, break up any large plum pieces, then let cool at least 30 minutes.
• Ladle jam into sterilized jars, leaving 1/2" from the top to allow for expansion. Cover and chill.
• Do Ahead
• Jam can be made and chilled for up to 2 weeks or frozen for up to 1 year.

DAMSON PLUM JAM

Steps:

• Wash and pick over the plums.
• Combine the plums and the water.
• Bring to a boil and cook 15 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Allow to cool enough to handle - or completely, if you like - and fish out the pits (I put them through a food mill, and then removed the pits from the remaining pulp).
• Return the pulp to the rest of the jam once the pits are out.
• Meanwhile, put the jars into a canning kettle and cover with water to one inch above the tops of the jars.
• Bring to a boil, boil 10 minutes to sterilize.
• Return the plums to the jam kettle, and bring them back to the boil. Add the sugar to the plums, stirring to dissolve.
• Boil to jam stage, about 20 minutes. Test for the gelling point with one of the following methods: Temperature test - Use a jelly or candy thermometer, and boil until mixture reaches the following temperatures at altitudes of: Sea level to 1,000 feet - 104°C/220°F; 1,001 feet to 2,000 feet - 103°C/218°F
• Sheet or spoon test - Dip a cool metal spoon into the boiling jelly mixture. Raise the spoon out of the steam, about 12 inches above the pan. Turn the spoon so the liquid runs off the side. The jelly is done when the syrup forms two drops that flow together and sheet or hang off the edge of the spoon.
• I like the"sheet" test.
• As the jam cooks, remove any pits you may have missed.
• Remove from the heat and stir and skim 5 minutes.
• Pour into hot sterilized jars and seal with lids sterilized according to the manufacturers directions.
• (Generally, boiled for 5 minutes.) Place jars of jam back in boiling water bath and boil for 5 minutes.
• Let cool, and store when the jars have sealed.