The cornelian cherries, those small and fragrant fruits, make their appearance every spring, bringing a note of freshness and flavor to the culinary experience. To prepare a delicious jam, start by washing the cornelian cherries well, ensuring you remove all impurities. Remove the stems and let them drain in a sieve, so that the excess water is eliminated. This step is essential to obtain a jam with an ideal texture.
Once the cornelian cherries are prepared, take a large pot and begin layering alternate layers of cornelian cherries and sugar. Make sure the last layer is sugar, to allow the fruits to release their juice and create a natural syrup. Cover the pot with a lid or plastic wrap and let it sit for a few hours, preferably from evening until morning. This waiting time will help the sugar absorb the aroma of the cornelian cherries and extract the juice from them.
After the maceration time has passed, place the pot over low heat and let it simmer gently. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pot. Once the mixture has reduced by half, take a sieve and pour all the contents, mashing it with a spatula or wooden spoon. It is important to remove the pits, so that you obtain a fine and smooth paste.
After you have obtained the paste, put it back on the heat and continue to boil for 15-30 minutes, stirring constantly. Towards the end, add the lemon juice, which will not only add a pleasant acidity but will also help preserve the jam. When the paste has reached the desired consistency, similar to thicker sour cream, it is time to stop.
Prepare the sterilized and dried jars, ensuring they are perfectly clean. Carefully pour the hot jam into the jars, filling them almost completely but leaving a small margin for expansion. Seal the jars and place them upside down, with the lid down, between blankets or towels, to cool slowly. This method will ensure a proper seal, keeping the jam fresh and flavorful for a long time. Enjoy your creation on toasted bread or as a filling for cakes, savoring the unmistakable aroma of cornelian cherries!
Once the cornelian cherries are prepared, take a large pot and begin layering alternate layers of cornelian cherries and sugar. Make sure the last layer is sugar, to allow the fruits to release their juice and create a natural syrup. Cover the pot with a lid or plastic wrap and let it sit for a few hours, preferably from evening until morning. This waiting time will help the sugar absorb the aroma of the cornelian cherries and extract the juice from them.
After the maceration time has passed, place the pot over low heat and let it simmer gently. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking to the bottom of the pot. Once the mixture has reduced by half, take a sieve and pour all the contents, mashing it with a spatula or wooden spoon. It is important to remove the pits, so that you obtain a fine and smooth paste.
After you have obtained the paste, put it back on the heat and continue to boil for 15-30 minutes, stirring constantly. Towards the end, add the lemon juice, which will not only add a pleasant acidity but will also help preserve the jam. When the paste has reached the desired consistency, similar to thicker sour cream, it is time to stop.
Prepare the sterilized and dried jars, ensuring they are perfectly clean. Carefully pour the hot jam into the jars, filling them almost completely but leaving a small margin for expansion. Seal the jars and place them upside down, with the lid down, between blankets or towels, to cool slowly. This method will ensure a proper seal, keeping the jam fresh and flavorful for a long time. Enjoy your creation on toasted bread or as a filling for cakes, savoring the unmistakable aroma of cornelian cherries!
Ingredients
-1.5 kg red plums -1 kg sugar -juice from 1/2 lemon