I want you to take a tasty adventure with an easy dish that will elevate your overall taste – try the blueberry jelly recipe.
In this blog post, we will discuss the complete process of preparation of blueberry jelly. Later, we will also look at variations, pro tips to level up the taste, storage and freezing tips and much more.
Blueberry Jelly
Blueberry Jelly is a delicious jam prepared with fresh blueberries. You can use them in a toast for breakfast, on dessert or on scones on tea. It always tastes like summer irrespective of the season.
You can easily prepare the blueberry at home with only a few ingredients like sugar, blueberries and fruit pectin. It is delicious and colourful, great for keeping the summer flavour alive even when they are not in the season.
Blueberry Jelly Recipe Tips
- Choose fresh ripe blueberries: Make sure to go with fresh ripe blueberries for the best flavour. Best-quality frozen blueberries or freshly picked blueberries work great.
- Use proper equipment: Make sure to have all the necessary equipment like a strainer or cheesecloth for filtering, a large pot for cooking the blueberries, and clean jars for storing the jelly.
- Pectin Ratio: Make sure to check the pectin ratio. Some blueberries contain more natural pectin than others. You can adjust the amount of pectin as per your desired level of consistency.
- Sugar balance: Sugar helps make the jelly firm and sweet, but you can adjust it as you like. If you want less sweetness in the jelly, you can either use less sugar or add some lime juice for a better taste without making it sweeter.
- Don’t overcook: Avoid overcooking the blueberries, otherwise, they may turn darker and taste like caramel. Cook them until they release their juice, then strain them quickly.
Variations
- Blueberry-Mint Jelly: You can mix in fresh mint leaves for a fresh flavour that works well with the natural sweetness of the blueberries.
- Blueberry-Ginger Jelly: You can mix grated ginger into the blueberries for a spicy twist that balances the sweetness of the berries.
- Blueberry-Chia Jelly: You can replace pectin with chia seeds for a healthy alternative. They thicken naturally when you mix them with liquid, providing a jelly-like texture with any extra pectin.
- Spiced Blueberry Jelly: For a spicy flavour, you can add nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves to the jelly for a rich and warm flavour.
- Blueberry-Lime Jelly: You can mix in grated lime peel with the blueberries for a tangy twist that goes perfectly with the sweetness of the berries.
What to Serve
- Toast: You can spread blueberry jelly to the toast for a traditional snack or breakfast.
- Bagels: You can spread the jelly on the toasted bagel, either cream cheese or plain, for a delicious morning snack.
- Scones: You can serve the blueberry jelly with freshly prepared scones for a fancy addition to afternoon brunch or tea.
- Pancakes or waffles: You can pour the blueberry jelly on waffles or pancakes for a sweet and fruity touch.
- Yogurt Parfait: You can layer the blueberry jelly with granola and Greek yoghurt in a glass for a tasty and healthy breakfast.
Storing and freezing
Storing
- Make sure to use clean and air-tight jars or containers to preserve the jelly.
- Before sealing the container, make sure that the jelly is cooled at room temperature.
- If you are planning to consume the jelly within a few weeks, you can keep it in the refrigerator. With proper sealing, it can last from several weeks to a few months.
- Keep the jelly away from sunlight or heat sources to maintain its quality.
Freezing
- Make sure to use clean freezer-safe containers or jars with enough space to expand the jelly when it freezes.
- Before freezing, let the jelly cool at room temperature.
- Seal the container properly to avoid freezer burn and keep it fresh.
- You can freeze the blueberry jelly for up to 6-12 months without any loss of quality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the blueberry jelly recipe gives a funny cooking experience that delivers you delicious taste and a feeling of pride. Beginning from choosing the blueberries to closing the jars, each part feels happy and exciting.
So, whether you are just trying out or you are a seasoned home cook, make sure to try the blueberry jelly. It always tastes nice and might become something memorable for you as well as for your family.
Read More:- Twinkie Cake Recipe
Blueberry Jelly Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh blueberries
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 packet 3 ounces liquid fruit pectin
Instructions
- Rinse the blueberries with cold water and remove the leaves and stems.
- In a saucepan, add water and the blueberries. Let it simmer over normal heat for around 10 minutes by stirring occassionally. It softens the strawberries and release their natural juices.
- After simmering, take the saucepan off the heat and let the blueberry mix cool slightly.
- The, transfer the blueberries into a fine sieve over a bowl. You can wither use a spatula or spoon to press the strawberries and extract the juice. Throw the extra material in the sieve.
- Now, measure the extracted juice aim for around 2 cups. If it is less, you can add water to make up the difference.
- Return the juice to the pot and mix in the sugar until it is dissolved completely.
- Warm the mixture over high heat while stirring constantly.
- When it is boiling, add the liquid fruit pectin and continue to boil for exactly a minute by constantly stirring.
- After one minute of boiling, remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Using a spoon skim off the foam on the jelly’s surface.
- Pour the hot jelly into clean jars by leaving ¼ inch of space at the top. Wipe the jar rims clean with a clean towel.
- Seal the jar properly and place them in the boiling water for around 10 minutes.
- Now, take them out and let them cool completely. As the jelly cools you may hear a pop sound of proper sealing.
- Store them in a cool and dark place. You can place the unsealed jars in the fridge and can consume them within few weeks.