To prepare a delicious strawberry jam, start by selecting the freshest and most aromatic strawberries. Remove the stems and leaves, then wash them carefully under a stream of cold water. Make sure all impurities and pesticides are removed, as cleanliness is essential for quality jam. Place the strawberries in a large bowl and add the sugar, gently mixing to ensure that each fruit is coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature, preferably overnight. This process will allow the sugar to extract the juices from the strawberries, forming a natural syrup.
After about 3 hours, stir the strawberries again to help the sugar dissolve evenly. The next morning, you will notice that the sugar has almost completely melted, forming a delicious syrup. Transfer the mixture to low heat, adding the juice of one lemon. This ingredient not only adds a fresh taste but also helps preserve the jam. Once the mixture starts to boil, use a wooden spoon to stir constantly. Here comes a more challenging part: the foam that forms on the surface. It is important to remove it frequently, as if it remains in the jam, it can cause the sugar to crystallize during storage. Being very vigilant, remove the foam that rises quickly to the surface to avoid it catching fire.
After about 15-20 minutes of boiling, when the jam becomes thicker, turn off the heat and cover the pot, letting it cool. The next day, reheat the mixture and boil it for 10 minutes, stirring constantly and continuing to remove the foam. It may be easier to manage now, and the syrup will take on a more cohesive texture. After this stage, cover again and let it rest until the third day. On this day, check the consistency of the jam, which should be thicker but still slightly liquid. Add, if desired, a vanilla pod for an enticing aroma and boil the mixture again for 10-15 minutes.
Once the jam is ready, pour it hot into sterilized jars, ensuring that no air bubbles remain. Seal or cap the lids and pack the jars in rows of towels or between blankets to keep them warm until they cool completely, a process that takes about two days. Once cooled, store the jars in your pantry. This strawberry jam can be enjoyed on a slice of bread with butter, alongside fluffy pancakes, semolina with milk, or even as a topping for delicious cakes. The flavors will explode in your mouth, reminding you of the warm summer and its bountiful harvest.
After about 3 hours, stir the strawberries again to help the sugar dissolve evenly. The next morning, you will notice that the sugar has almost completely melted, forming a delicious syrup. Transfer the mixture to low heat, adding the juice of one lemon. This ingredient not only adds a fresh taste but also helps preserve the jam. Once the mixture starts to boil, use a wooden spoon to stir constantly. Here comes a more challenging part: the foam that forms on the surface. It is important to remove it frequently, as if it remains in the jam, it can cause the sugar to crystallize during storage. Being very vigilant, remove the foam that rises quickly to the surface to avoid it catching fire.
After about 15-20 minutes of boiling, when the jam becomes thicker, turn off the heat and cover the pot, letting it cool. The next day, reheat the mixture and boil it for 10 minutes, stirring constantly and continuing to remove the foam. It may be easier to manage now, and the syrup will take on a more cohesive texture. After this stage, cover again and let it rest until the third day. On this day, check the consistency of the jam, which should be thicker but still slightly liquid. Add, if desired, a vanilla pod for an enticing aroma and boil the mixture again for 10-15 minutes.
Once the jam is ready, pour it hot into sterilized jars, ensuring that no air bubbles remain. Seal or cap the lids and pack the jars in rows of towels or between blankets to keep them warm until they cool completely, a process that takes about two days. Once cooled, store the jars in your pantry. This strawberry jam can be enjoyed on a slice of bread with butter, alongside fluffy pancakes, semolina with milk, or even as a topping for delicious cakes. The flavors will explode in your mouth, reminding you of the warm summer and its bountiful harvest.
Ingredients
3.5 kg unwashed strawberries, 1.8 kg sugar, juice from 3 medium lemons, vanilla to taste