Jelly
Honeyed Plum-Cardamom Jelly
Excerpted from Preserving with Pomona’s Pectin by Allison Carroll Duffy (Fair Winds Press, June 2013)
Allison says: “If you’re lucky enough to have a plum tree (or have a friend who does!), and you have access to a good quantity of fresh plums in season, give this gorgeous, deep-purple jelly a try! Laced with the subtle, quietly complex flavor of cardamom, this jelly is a sophisticated accompaniment to scones at breakfast or afternoon tea.”
Yield: 4 to 5 cups
Ingredients
4 pounds ripe, sweet plums
1¼ cups water
1½ teaspoons ground cardamom
¼ cup lemon juice
5 teaspoons calcium water
1 cup honey
5 teaspoons Pomona’s pectin powder
Before You Begin
Prepare calcium water. To do this, combine ½ teaspoon calcium powder (in the small packet in your box of Pomona’s pectin) with ½ cup water in a small, clear jar with a lid. Shake well. Extra calcium water should be stored in the refrigerator for future use.
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Directions
1) Wash your jars, lids, and bands. Place jars in canner, fill canner 2/3 full with water, bring canner to a rolling boil, and boil jars for 10 minutes to sterilize them. (Add 1 extra minute of sterilizing time for every 1000 feet above sea level.) Reduce heat and allow jars to remain in hot canner water until ready to use. Place lids in water in a small sauce pan, heat to a low simmer, and hold until ready to use.
2) Rinse, remove pits, and quarter plums, and then combine in a saucepan with the 11/4 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, for 7 to 15 minutes, or until fruit is soft, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and mash plums.
3) Transfer mashed fruit to a damp jelly bag or layered cheesecloth, suspend over a bowl, and allow juice to drip until dripping stops—at least 2 hours. Discard fruit pulp or save for another use.
4) Measure 4 cups of the fruit juice and combine in a saucepan with cardamom, lemon juice, and calcium water.
5) In a separate bowl, combine honey and pectin powder. Mix thoroughly and set aside.
6) Bring fruit juice to a full boil over high heat, and then slowly add pectin-honey mixture, stirring constantly. Continue to stir vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes to dissolve pectin while the jelly comes back up to a boil. Once the jelly returns to a full boil, remove it from the heat.
7) Can Your Jelly: Remove jars from canner and ladle jam into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace. Remove trapped air bubbles, wipe rims with a damp cloth, put on lids and screw bands, and tighten to fingertip tight. Lower filled jars into canner, ensuring jars are not touching each other and are covered with at least 1 to 2 inches of water. Place lid on canner, return to a rolling boil, and process for 10 minutes. (Add 1 extra minute of processing time for every 1000 feet above sea level). Turn off heat and allow canner to sit untouched for 5 minutes, then remove jars and allow to cool undisturbed for 12 to 24 hours. Confirm that jars have sealed, then store properly.
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Theresa Rider
Since pit size can vary how much plum after pits removed??
Nancy Lounsbury
I used this as a reference to make my plum jam tonight. I chopped my plums off the pits and coarse chopped about 16 cups – pulp, peels and all. I forgot the lemon juice. Started with 1 cup honey but taste tested during the boil and decided it needed another cup. Used 2 tsp cardamom but could have added another tsp I think. Used 4 tsp Pamona pectin powder and 4 tsp calcium water. After the boil I tested a spoonful for jell by dropping it on top of a container in the freezer. It jelled up fine. I also use a steam canner and processed my jars the same time as I used to in the water bath canner,
I’ve started using less pectin per batch as I was getting too firm a jell by following the recipes. Actually, I just double the amount of fruit as I have many trees.
I love using Pamona Pectin as I have complete control of the amount of sweetener. At 69 years old I’ve been canning for over 60 years, starting at my mom’s elbow. The days of boiling down fruit and sugar until it jelled are over. Commercial boxed pectin calls for more sugar than fruit and that just makes me crazy. I always label my lids, especially when using honey as I have friends that are allergic.
Dani
Sounds delightful. May I double this recipe?
Shelby Collings
You sure can!