Zucchini-Apricot Jam
"Update: This jam is very sweet, so I made another batch doubling the apricots to 1 pound. It's a much more balanced result. I've updated the quantity below.
This is a lovely, tasty and sweet way to use up some of those zucchini that are taking over your garden. Great for gifts.
It's an adaptation of a recipe I found in "A Passion for Preserves"."
- Ready In:
- 45mins
- Ingredients:
- 5
- Yields:
-
7 half pint jars
- Serves:
- 112
ingredients
- 1 lb dried apricot
- 2 lbs zucchini (trimmed, seeded and peeled before weighing)
- 2 lemons, juice and zest of
- 6 cups sugar
- 3 slices fresh gingerroot (optional)
directions
- Place the apricots in a bowl, cover with cold water, cover bowl and soak overnight in the refrigerator.
- The next day, simmer the apricots in the water until tender. Drain well and chop coarsely. Set aside.
- Get your canning equipment and jars ready.
- Prepare the zucchini - cut off the ends, peel, seed if large, cut into chunks and weigh.
- Microwave zucchini in a minimal amount of water in a covered, vented bowl 10-12 minutes.
- While the zucchini is cooking, wash the lemons, grate off the zest, cut in half and ream out the juice.
- Drain the zucchini well. Puree in food processor, blender or mash with a potato masher.
- Put the zucchini in a very large (3 quart)bowl, add the apricots, sugar, lemon zest and lemon juice.
- Stir well - it will become liquidy.
- Ladle half the mixture into a 2 quart microwave safe glass bowl. Don't use plastic - the jam gets too hot for plastic when it cooks.
- Microwave 7 minutes on 100% power, stirring every 2-1/2 minutes.
- Hint: Use a small note pad to note a tick mark for every stir so you don't lose track of how long it's been cooking.
- Add the ginger, if using.
- Microwave 12 - 16 minutes longer, stirring every 4 minutes until it will set a gel.
- I use the cold plate method to determine if it's ready to set: at the start of cooking place a small plate into the freezer. After you start timing the cooking in 4 minute intervals and the jam has cooked for a total of 8 minutes, take the plate out of the freezer. Place a drop (about 1/2 tsp.)on the plate. Return the plate to the freezer and wait 2 minutes. Don't cook the jam while you are waiting. Take the plate out again. Draw a line through the drop of jam. If the jam doesn't run back together, it's set. If it does, continue cooking and testing in 4 minute intervals.
- When ready to set, remove the ginger slices and ladle the jam into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4" headspace. Wipe the rims clean, put hot lids in place and tighten to just finger tight.
- Process in boiling water bath 5 minutes.
- Repeat steps for remaining mixture.
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Reviews
-
This is a wonderful recipe. I did make a few change, to take short cuts. I used the recipe for 3 half-pint jars. I hadn't soaked the apricots and wanted to start right away, so I poured boiling water over top and covered. I set aside while preparing other ingredients. I seeded the zucchini but didn't peel it, I cooked it a couple of minutes longer. While that was cooking, I quarted the lemon, removed the seeds and threw the whole thing in the blender. I chopped it up, then drained the apricots and added them. When both were coarsely chopped, I put them into the bowl I would cook them in, added the sugar, then threw the zucchini in the blender and puréed. I added to the rest, cooked for 7 minutes then put everything back in the blender. I processed until smooth, returned to the microwave and proceeded as directed. Since I left the skin on, the colour isn't too appetizing, but it tastes great, very lemony. -
When making it, I cut this recipe in half & did not go through with the actually canning, since I was gifting several half-pint containers to friends to begin using immediately! VERY, VERY TASTY JAM, & an enjoyable twist to regular apricot jam! Thanks for posting the recipe! [Tagged, made & reviewed in Healthy Choices ABC tag]
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
My husband, Walt and I live in Huntley, Illinois; about 1 hour west/northwest of Chicago O'Hare airport. I'm a stay at home wife with 3 adult children. I collect old cookbooks, enjoy reading, gardening, canning, candy making and jewelry making. I'm passionate about my savior, singing on the worship team and volunteering for a non-profit that provides free legal services to poor families.
My favorite cookbooks are Taste of Home Contest Winning and those authored by Rachael Ray.
A pet peeve is when a cook doesn't give an alternative for a difficult to find ingredient.
