Description
Sweet, earthy roasted beet jam celebrates autumn’s rich bounty with elegant simplicity. Deep crimson preserve brings Mediterranean charm to morning toast, delighting palates with its rustic, concentrated essence.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2.5 pounds (1.13 kilograms) fresh beets
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger
- 1 medium lemon
- 1 cinnamon stick (3 inches)
- 8 whole cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Preparation Ingredient:
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 400F (200C) for roasting beets.
- Carefully peel and slice beets into uniform wedges.
- Arrange beet wedges on a large baking pan, lightly coating with canola oil to ensure even roasting.
- Roast beets for 50-60 minutes until they become tender and easily pierced with a fork.
- Let roasted beets cool slightly to make handling easier.
- Prepare the lemon by trimming off the top and bottom, creating a stable base for cutting.
- Remove the lemon’s outer membrane and peel using a sharp knife.
- Halve the lemon, thinly slice one half while removing seeds, and set aside the other half.
- Create a spice bundle by placing cinnamon stick and cloves in cheesecloth, securing tightly with kitchen string.
- Pulse roasted beets in a food processor until finely and uniformly chopped.
- Transfer processed beets to a large saucepan.
- Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, maple syrup, crystallized ginger, salt, and lemon slices to the beets.
- Insert the prepared spice bag into the mixture.
- Bring the entire mixture to a rolling boil over medium heat.
- Reduce heat and simmer uncovered, stirring periodically for 1 to 1¼ hours until the mixture reaches a thick, jam-like consistency.
- Remove from heat and discard the spice bag.
- Allow jam to cool slightly before transferring.
- Carefully ladle jam into sterilized jars, maintaining ½ inch of headspace.
- Clean jar rims thoroughly and secure lids.
- For long-term storage, process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
- Alternatively, cool jars completely and store in refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for 12 months.
Notes
- Select deeply colored, firm beets for the most vibrant and intense jam flavor, avoiding any beets with soft spots or blemishes.
- Wear kitchen gloves while handling beets to prevent staining your hands with their deep red pigment.
- Consider adding a splash of balsamic vinegar during roasting to enhance the beets’ natural sweetness and complexity.
- Customize the spice profile by experimenting with alternative spices like star anise or cardamom for unique flavor variations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer, Breakfast
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10
- Calories: 152
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 12 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg