Add a Kick to your Kitchen Cupboard
Now I will not profess to be anything of a Miss Pollyanna. I am not great in the kitchen. I have a few things that I am really good at cooking, and the rest of it, well the hubby takes care of.
However, there is nothing I like more than a bit of spice – and the one thing I am known for by friends and family is my (even if I do say so myself) kick ass Chilli Jam.
I have been experimenting a little with a brand new Jalepeño plant in my gorgeous new vegetable garden and I simply couldn’t resist swapping my Habanero chillis for a good ole Jalepeño. I have written down my recipe just for you lovely people. Trust me, once you make this you will have friends and family queuing up at your door with requests for more. But beware – I love anything that packs a punch, and this would happily do ten rounds with Mike Tyson.
You Will Need:
- Heavy based pan
- Sterilised Jam Jars
- A ladle
- 2 red onions, finely chopped
- 800g of tomatoes. (I used a combination of cherry, plum and beef tomatoes. The different flavours and textures give the jam a great depth.)
- 1 large (or two medium) Jalepeño Chillis. Strength dependant on how spicy you want your jam.
- 2 inch piece fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 Star Anise
- 1 Garlic Clove
- 250ml/9fl oz white wine vinegar
- 140g of soft brown sugar
- 160g of Jam sugar (the combination of Jam sugar and brown sugar gives the jam a more sweet caramel taste.)
- Sterilise your jars properly either in a dishwasher, a large pot of boiling water or in the microwave.
- Dice and chop up the onion and tomatoes.
- Bring the mixture to the boil, then turn the heat down to a simmer and cook for up to 30 minutes.
- Be careful and keep an eye on the pan – stir occasionally so it doesn’t stick.
- When you can draw a wooden spoon across the base of the pan so that it leaves a channel behind it that does not immediately fill with liquid, it’s time to take it off the heat.
- Ladle into sterilised jars.
Finally: Crack open a great bottle of red wine and let it ‘breathe’ while you serve up some of the nicest cheese and crackers. This jam is the perfect partner.
You can also add a few cranberries into the mix if you like a little touch of fruit – and don’t forget to let us know if you try the recipe out and come back to us with any changes you would add to make it your own!
