Sweetness of lebenita or watermelon

Lebenita Jam: A Summer Delight in a Jar

Are you dreaming of a dessert that brings back memories of warm summer days? Lebenita jam, or watermelon, is the perfect solution to preserve the taste of those moments in jars! This simple and delicious recipe will delight you with its fresh flavors and unique texture. It is also a wonderful way to make use of watermelon that isn't sweet enough to eat on its own. Let's see how you can prepare it!

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour
Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Number of servings: 4 jars of 400 g

Ingredients

- 2 kg of watermelon (lebenita), peeled
- 2 liters of water
- 200 ml of vinegar (about 100 ml of vinegar per 1 liter of water)
- 1 kg of sugar (for 1 kg of cooked watermelon pieces)
- Juice of one large lemon
- 3 packets of vanilla sugar

Preparing the Watermelon

1. Choose wisely: Select a lebenita that is firm to the touch but not too hard. The skin color should be uniform and free of black spots. Once you've found the perfect watermelon, follow the steps below.

2. Cutting: Wash the watermelon thoroughly, then cut it into slices. Remove the green skin and seeds, leaving only the flesh. Cut the flesh into small pieces, about 2-3 cm.

Cooking the Watermelon

3. Preparing the vinegar water: In a 3-liter pot, add 2 liters of water and 200 ml of vinegar. Bring this mixture to a boil.

4. Cooking the watermelon: Once the water is boiling, add the watermelon pieces. Boil them for about 1 hour, or until they become translucent. You will notice how their vibrant color intensifies.

5. Washing: After boiling, remove the watermelon pieces from the pot and drain them well. Rinse them with cold water to remove the sour taste of the vinegar. Place them in a colander to drain well.

Preparing the Syrup

6. Boiling the syrup: In another pot, add 50 ml of water, sugar, and vanilla sugar. Simmer on low heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar completely dissolves and you obtain a well-bound syrup. It is essential to stir to prevent caramelization.

Combining the Ingredients

7. Adding the watermelon: Once the syrup is ready, add the drained cooked watermelon pieces. Continue to boil the mixture, making sure to skim off the foam that forms on the surface. Boil until the jam reaches the desired consistency, about 20-30 minutes.

8. Finishing: Add the lemon juice and boil for another 2-3 minutes, then turn off the heat.

Jarring the Jam

9. Sterilizing the jars: Before pouring the jam, make sure the jars are well cleaned. You can sterilize them in the oven at 100 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes.

10. Pouring the jam: Pour the hot jam into the jars, filling them almost to the top. Seal the jars tightly with lids.

11. Cooling: Cover the jars with a blanket and let them cool at room temperature for 24 hours. After they have cooled, store them in the pantry.

Practical Tips

- Sweet-sour taste: The sweet taste of sugar is balanced by the sour vinegar, making the jam perfect alongside cheeses or in sandwiches.
- Variations: You can add other flavors, such as cinnamon or cloves, to give another level of complexity to your jam.
- Serving: Lebenita jam can be served alongside yogurt, in cake fillings, or as a topping for pancakes or waffles.

Nutritional Information

This watermelon jam is a source of vitamins and minerals, low in calories but rich in simple carbohydrates from sugar. One serving (about 2 tablespoons) contains approximately 80 calories, making it an excellent choice to sweeten desserts without adding too many calories.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use cantaloupe instead of lebenita?
Yes, you can experiment with cantaloupe, but the taste and texture will be different.

2. How long does the jam last?
If stored properly, watermelon jam can last up to 1 year.

3. What other recipes can I make with watermelon jam?
This jam is wonderful in combination with goat cheese, in cakes, or even as an ingredient in cocktails!

Turn your family's less-favored watermelon into a delicacy that everyone will love! Lebenita jam is not just a simple recipe but also a summer story that you can savor all year round. Enjoy!