How To Make Lemon Ginger Jam With Honey
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If life has given you lemons, don’t just settle for making lemonade. Instead, make lemon jam! And if you want to add honey and ginger to the lemon jam recipe, why not make lemon ginger jam instead? That’s where this lemon jam canning recipe will come in handy! We make our lemon jam without pectin and substitute most of the sugar with honey. In addition to being healthy, our lemon jam is a versatile spread that can be used in many different ways. For instance, it is perfect for your morning toast, but it also makes a great addition to a cup of black tea. And if you’re feeling under the weather, mix some of this lemon jam with boiling water for a soothing and holistic hot drink that can provide relief to your sore throat without the need to use NeoCitran. Trust us: once you try this lemon jam, you will keep asking for more lemons.
Lemons to use in this lemon jam recipe
As with everything citrus there are plenty of options when it comes to picking lemons for your jam. Two of the most common varieties are the Eureka lemon, a type of a true lemon, and the Meyer lemon, a cross between a true lemon and a mandarin orange. The main difference between the hybrid and true lemon is the sweetness and acidity level of their fruits. For this recipe, we picked true lemons because we wanted our jam to have high acidity level. Reason being, high acidity is ideal for this jam as it was intended mainly as an additive to hot drinks. We also selected lemons with thin skin and no seeds. If you can’t find seedless lemons, you’ll need to remove the seeds before pureeing the lemons in your blender.
Yield:
The specified in this jam recipe quantity of ingredients should yield enough of jam to fill two 8 oz. (250 ml.) mason jars. The final yield may vary based on your preferred level of jam doneness.
You will need a blender for this recipe
These are some of the blenders to consider
Healthy Lemon Jam With Honey And Ginger
Ingredients
- 1 lb. 453 g. of lemons, whole (unpeeled)
- ¼ cup 50 g. sugar
- 1 cup 339g. honey
- 2 small knobs of ginger
- Water as needed
Instructions
Prepare the fruit:
- Begin by thoroughly washing the lemons and removing the fruit crown (calyx).
- Place the washed lemons in a suitably sized pot and cover them with cold water.
- Set the pot on the stove over medium-high heat and bring the water to a rolling boil. Once the water is boiling, let lemons boil in water for 1 minute, then remove the pot from the heat.
- Drain the water while keeping the lemons in the pot. Cover them with cold water again and repeat the boil and drain process two more times.
- For the final round of preparing the fruit, cover the lemons with cold water and bring them to a boil.
- Lower the heat to medium-low and continue boiling the lemons in the water for 1 hour. Then, drain them and set aside to cool slightly for about 10 minutes.
Cooking the lemons jam:
- While the lemons cool, grate ginger and set aside.
- Using an immersion blender or a regular mixer, carefully blend the lemons until you achieve a homogeneous mixture.
- Then add sugar, honey and grated sugar and blend everything together again.
- Pour blended lemon ginger jam mixture into a suitably sized pot
- Place the pot back on the stove. Bring the jam mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat. Stir occasionally to ensure the sugar dissolves completely.
- Once the lemon jam mixture is boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and burning.
- Perform a chilled plate test to check the jam’s consistency and adjust if necessary.
- Once satisfied, pour lemon ginger jam into the jars and process according to your preferred canning method.
Choose your preferred canning method to preserve your jam
For those processing this preserve using water bath or steam canner, the processing time guidelines at various altitudes are as follows:
0 – 1,000 ft: 5 mins
1,001 – 6,000 ft: 10 mins
Altitudes Above 6,000 ft: 15 mins
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to adjust the batch size of this jam recipe?
You can scale up this lemon ginger jam batch easily. To scale up, proportionally increase the ingredients. To scale down, proportionally increase the ingredients. Additionally, keep in mind that you’ll also need a larger pot to accommodate the increased quantity of ingredients. Another key point is that the cooking time will be a bit longer due to the larger batch size. However, the consistency of this jam is such that making this jam with more than 3 lb. of lemons will require a very large pot, as this jam tends to burn at the bottom very easily.
Should I strain this lemon ginger jam?
Whether or not to strain your lemon jam depends on your jam texture preferences. If you prefer a smoother jam without any pieces of peel, then we recommend straining it. However, if you enjoy the texture and appearance of small fruit pieces in your jam, then you can skip straining it.
Can I freeze this lemon jam?
Freezing lemon jam that’s meant for canning might seem strange, as canning is a way to preserve it. But if you’ve made lemon jam using a canning recipe and later decide to freeze it instead, it’s totally okay. Just use containers made for freezing with lids that stop freezer burn. This way, you can save your yummy jam without having to go through the whole canning process again. Additionally, if you are planning to freeze it, consider skipping the step where you boil lemon jam mixture altogether.
How long does this jam last?
The shelf life of lemon jam depends on various factors, including how it’s stored and whether it’s been opened or not. Here’s a general guideline for this jam:
- Unopened Jar: If properly canned and stored in a cool, dark place like a pantry, unopened lemon jam can last for about 1 to 2 years.
- Opened Jar: Once opened, lemon jam should be refrigerated to maintain its quality. It can typically last for about 6 months to 1 year in the refrigerator. However, always check for any signs of spoilage, such as mold growth or off odors, before consuming it.
How to use lemon jam?
- We like to use this jam by mixing it with hot water and drinking it instead of hot tea when we are under the weather and need a liquid pick-me-up.
- That being said, this lemon jam is a versatile preserve that can be used in various sweet and savory dishes. Here are some delicious ways to enjoy lemons jam:
- Glaze for Meat or Fish: Use lemons jam as a glaze for roasted chicken, pork, or fish to add a citrusy twist to your main course.
- Mix into Desserts: Incorporate lemons jam into desserts like cakes, cupcakes, or thumbprint cookies for a burst of flavor.
- Fillings for Pastries: Use lemons jam as a filling for pastries, turnovers, or crepes for a delicious treat.
- Marinades and Sauces: Mix lemons jam with soy sauce, ginger, and garlic to create a flavorful marinade or dipping sauce for meats or tofu.
