There are many different recipes for making jam from ripe watermelons. You can cook the delicacy not only from the pulp, but also with the addition of crusts. Jam is valued for its healthy composition, pronounced aroma and unusual taste. Watermelon jam helps remove waste and toxins from the body, cleanses the kidneys and liver, maintains tone and improves immunity.
Features of making watermelon jam
If you want to make watermelon jam, you should consider several features.
Among the nuances of preparation are the following:
- To avoid burning, you need to constantly stir the berry mass in the pan.
- For cooking, it is better to choose ripe fruits of late varieties. They contain more glucose and sucrose, which allows for a thicker consistency.
- During cooking, the berry mass forms a large amount of foam, so you should use a large container.
Pulp recipes
A significant part of the recipes involves the use of watermelon pulp. Due to its sweetness and vitamin composition, the finished product has high taste characteristics and is beneficial. The delicacy made from the pulp takes longer to prepare than from the rinds, but has a more pronounced taste.
With lemon
To balance the taste of the jam, you can add lemon to it, which will add a slight sourness.
There is a simple step-by-step recipe for preparation:
- cut the pulp from the watermelon rinds, mix with chopped lemons and 1/3 sugar, then leave to stand for 2 hours;
- add the rest of the sugar and leave the ingredients in the refrigerator for about 8 hours;
- Cook the mixture over low heat until a thick consistency is formed;
- Place the finished product in sterilized jars.
With orange
Using orange will add a light citrus aroma to the jam. To prepare this jam, you need to mix watermelon pulp with peeled and pellicle-free oranges, add sugar to the ingredients and boil for 15 minutes. The boiling procedure must be performed three times.
With apple
If you need to make the treat less sugary, it is recommended to add green apple pieces.
Having mixed them with the main ingredient, it remains to boil the mixture over low heat until thickened, stirring regularly and skimming the foam from the surface.
With pectin
If you need to make a thicker variety of jam, you should use pectin. First, you need to start boiling the fruit pulp in sugar syrup, and pour in a pectin-based thickener 15-20 minutes before it is ready.
Spiced
The use of spices will help make the taste of the jam more varied. Cinnamon, cloves, mint, and ginger are combined with watermelon.
You need to prepare the jam according to the following recipe:
- start cooking the berry pulp over low heat;
- 10 minutes before the end of cooking, place the chopped spices and tied in gauze into the pan.
With gelatin
The combination of pulp with gelatin allows you to prepare a jelly-like dessert, which can be used as an independent dish or as an addition to baked goods.
To prepare, you need to drain the syrup from the partially boiled pulp and mix it with gelatin.
Bring the ingredients to a boil and keep on low heat for a minute.
Crust recipes
At home, you can also make jam using only watermelon rinds. There are several recipes using additional ingredients and various spices. Using this method allows you to consume the pulp fresh, and prepare a separate dessert from the peels.
Simple recipe
The easiest recipe contains several steps. For cooking you need:
- peel the crusts from the top layer and cut off the remaining pulp;
- leave the ingredient in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain the water and cool;
- add sugar syrup to the crusts and boil three times for 30 minutes at intervals of 2-3 hours.
With soda
Peel the crusts from the outer skin, cut into cubes and add soda dissolved in a glass of hot water. Let the watermelon rinds sit for 4 hours, then drain the water. Pour the ingredient with sugar syrup and boil the mixture over low heat for 20 minutes. Leave the mixture for 8-10 hours, then repeat the procedure twice with the same interval.
With orange and lemon
To make jam from the peels with a citrus flavor, you need to mix the peels soaked in boiling water and cut with the pulp of lemons and oranges. Sprinkle the resulting mixture with sugar, add water and boil until completely thickened, stirring occasionally and removing the foam.
How to cook using a multicooker
Using a slow cooker for cooking, you need to follow the recipe step by step. It includes the following steps:
- add watermelon rinds and leave for an hour;
- transfer the ingredients into the multicooker bowl;
- start the extinguishing mode for 20 minutes;
- mix the mass thoroughly so that the sugar does not remain at the bottom;
- Continue cooking for another 40 minutes, until a thick consistency forms.
How to make jam from unripe watermelon
Even unripe watermelon can be used to make delicious jam. To do this, you need to cut the fruit into pieces, peel them and remove seeds. Pour water over the pulp, add 250 g of sugar and boil for 40 minutes. While cooking, prepare syrup from lemon juice, a glass of water and 150 g of sugar. Pour hot syrup over the cooked pulp and continue cooking for half an hour.
To make the jam sweeter, you can gradually add sugar during cooking until the mass thickens.
How long does jam last?
The finished product can be stored in the refrigerator or cellar for the winter.If these conditions are met, it is recommended to store the treat for no more than a year. PWhen using pectin, the shelf life is 6-7 months.
