STRAWBERRY & RED CURRANT JAM WITH NATURAL PECTIN BOOST

For those who love unique jam combinations, here’s a surprise to end strawberry season! Adding red currants to classic strawberry jam brings a pleasant tartness and natural pectin, helping the jam set faster. This vibrant jam pairs wonderfully with toast, desserts, or cheese.

🕒 Prep Time: Overnight maceration

🍳 Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
🍽️ Yields: About 2 jars (300 ml each)

Ingredients

650 g strawberries (washed, hulled, and cleaned)
650 g red currants (on the stems)
500 g sugar
Juice of ½ lemon

Instructions

Select and hull the strawberries. Small berries can be left whole; larger ones may be halved. Wash well.
To remove stems from red currants, gather 2-3 clusters in your hand and pull the stems through the tines of a fork over a bowl. The berries fall off, leaving stems behind. Wash the berries.
Pass red currants through a food mill or tomato press to separate juice and seeds. Reserve a few whole currants to add texture later.
If no mill available: boil currants in a small amount of water for 5 minutes, mash, and strain through a sieve.
In a large bowl, combine strawberries, red currant juice and berries, and sugar. Stir gently and refrigerate overnight.
Sterilize 2 jars (300 ml each) by washing, drying, and heating in a 200°C oven for 20 minutes.
Transfer the fruit mixture and juice to a wide pot (30 cm diameter or larger for faster cooking).
Cook over low heat until sugar dissolves—do not stir. When pink foam covers the surface, sugar is dissolved. Check by stirring the bottom with a spoon.
Increase heat and boil gently for 30 minutes. Skim foam as needed to prevent overflow.
In the last 5 minutes, add lemon juice.
Test jam set by dropping some on a chilled plate; if it doesn’t run when tilted, it’s ready. If not, boil longer and retest.
Pour hot jam into sterilized jars, wipe rims, seal tightly. Invert jars on lids for 20 minutes to redistribute fruit evenly to the bottom.
Cover jars with a blanket and let cool overnight in a draft-free place.
Store in a cool cellar or pantry.

💡 Tips

Removing stems from red currants this way keeps berries intact and clean.
The natural pectin in red currants helps jam set faster.
Skimming foam prevents overflow and ensures clear jam.
Inverting jars while hot prevents fruit from floating to the top.

🍽️ Perfect For

Unique, fresh fruit jams
Flavorful breakfast spreads
Cheese and dessert accompaniments

📝 Final Thoughts

This strawberry and red currant jam blends bright sweetness with a refreshing tartness and thicker texture thanks to natural pectin. It’s a colorful, tasty way to extend strawberry season and delight your taste buds.