Spreadable and fruity, orange jam is the perfect spread in winter. The preparation is extremely simple and even complete beginners will have no problem. In addition, everyone can choose a variation and use oranges with or without peel. We offer you two variations of the classic orange jam recipe - from Italy and England and explain how you can avoid the bitter taste.
Cooking English orange jam: variant with peel
If you want to cook orange jam from oranges with peel, then the next recipe is for you. In England, jam is made using the peel. It gives the fruit spread a subtle, bitter note. You can continue to process the jam as you wish and use it to refine muffins, cakes or cookies, for example.
you needjust three ingredients:
- 500 g fully ripe organic oranges (make sure to only use organic oranges as you will be cooking the jam with the peel on)
- 500 g preserving sugar
- Water
- Spices: vanilla, ground, cinnamon, ground
- Rum (as desired)
English orange marmalade recipe
1. Clean and wash the oranges and pat dry with a clean cloth. Then peel and carefully remove the white skin from the peel using a potato knife, for example. There should also be no white skin left on the fruit because it has a bitter taste. Then chop the peel and fruit into small pieces. Collect the juice.
2. Optional: You can additionally “debitter” the orange peels by putting them in a pot, pouring cold water over them and then bringing to the boil over medium heat. Then take the pot out of the stove and pour off the water. Repeat the process two more times.
3. Put the peels, fruits and orange juice in a deep pot, add the preserving sugar, season and pour water over them. Bring to the boil over high heat and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir the orange mixture constantly until the jam thickens. Then pour the rum into the pot, stir the mixture for 10 – 20 seconds and then remove the pot from the stove.
4. Pour the processed jam into clean mason jars and seal airtight. Store the jam in a cool, dark place and use it within 2 months. Alternatively: If you want to use the jam as a decoration for cookies, you can put the jars in the freezer. This way the fruit spread retains its orange color.
If you like the slightly bitter taste of bitter oranges, you can also make jam with them. It is important that in this case you peel the fruit well and do not add the peels, but throw them away.
Oranges contain pectin, a substance that actually allows the fruit mass to gel. You can therefore use significantly less sugar than with other jams. This is how you prepare the delicious, sweet jam in Italy:
Ingredients:
- 500g organic oranges
- 700g sugar
- 75 ml lemon juice
- 75 g ginger, fresh
Italian-style orange and ginger jam recipe
1. Peel the oranges and remove the white skin. Core the fruit and put the seeds in a cloth bag. Cut the fruit into pieces. Clean, wash, peel and grate the ginger,
2. Place the fruit in a large pan and add the sugar. Add the ginger to the pot. Mash coarsely with a fork. Let the whole thing simmer over low heat until the sugar has dissolved and the jam mixture thickens. Then add the bag with the seeds and simmer for another 10-15 minutes.
3. Use new mason jars because the jam contains little sugar. Old jars can still carry bacteria and the jam will spoil quickly. Fill the jars and seal them airtight. Place jars on the lid and allow to cool. Store jam in a dark and cool place for up to a month. After opening, store it in the refrigerator and use it within a few days.
Variation with orange juice: recipe for pumpkin and orange jam
You can vary the Italian recipe as you wish and even prepare it with just orange juice. If you add pumpkin, it willJam even sweeter.
Ingredients:
- 300g pumpkin
- Juice of two medium-sized oranges
- Vanilla, ground
- 130 g preserving sugar
Preparation:
1. Clean, wash, peel, core and dice the pumpkin. Put the cubes in a pot, pour the orange juice over them and bring to the boil.
2. Season with vanilla and add preserving sugar. Bring to the boil over high heat and cook for a few minutes until the jam thickens. Stir several times.
3. Pour the hot jam into clean jam jars, seal airtight and let cool. Then store in a cold, dark place and use within two months.
Orange jam is a delicious fruit spread with a refreshingly bitter note. It is perfect for garnishing biscuits, cookies or preparing cakes. You can also simply eat them as a spread and enjoy them with afternoon tea. Preparing the jam is incredibly easy. When adding the peels, be sure to only use organic oranges. Be sure to remove the white skin from the peel and orange as it tastes bitter. Season the orange jam as desired or taste it with pumpkin. If you don't want to use preserving sugar, you can use sugar and lemon juice. Store the finished jam in a cool, dark place. Write the date of manufacture and expiry on the label.
