To be precise, it would be correct to call it Concord Grape Preserve, because the only ones that can be labeled as jam are those made with citrus fruits. But between us, when you spread it on a nice slice of toasted bread, who really cares about the name?
Concord Grape Jam is a fragrant, sweet, and slightly tart autumn preserve made with Concord Grapes, also known as American Grapes.
This particular type of grape ripens from the end of August and is harvested until the end of September, characterized by intensely purplish-black, juicy, and small berries with a flavor reminiscent of strawberries.
The only “drawback” is that compared to other types of grapes, it is rich in seeds, which can easily be removed during the preserving process.
The Concord Grape Preserve is very easy to make at home and requires only 3 ingredients: Concord Grapes, sugar, and pectin. If you wish, you can flavor it by adding a cinnamon stick or a vanilla pod, but it is delicious even as it is.
Of course, using this recipe, you can prepare Grape Preserve not only with Concord Grapes but also with white or red grapes or try the variant where white and red grapes are mixed.
If you do not want to use pectin, you can substitute it with an apple, a fruit rich in pectin, which works as a natural gelling agent, perfectly replacing pectin packets.
Once the Concord Grape Preserve is ready, just put it in previously sterilized jars to enjoy it throughout the year spread on a toast or bread for a healthy breakfast or a tasty snack, or even to fill cakes, filled cookies, and, of course, tarts. It’s also excellent with aged cheeses in a savory buffet.
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Cooking time: 1 Hour
- Cuisine: Italian
- Energy 81.42 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 21.59 (g) of which sugars 20.89 (g)
- Proteins 0.20 (g)
- Fat 0.04 (g) of which saturated 0.01 (g)of which unsaturated 0.01 (g)
- Fibers 0.28 (g)
- Sodium 0.89 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 40 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 2.2 lbs grapes (CONCORD, WHITE OR RED)
- 3 cups sugar
- 1/2 lemon (juice)
- 1 packet pectin
- 1/2 cup water
Tools
- Pot
- Food Mill
- Jars
Steps
First, remember to sanitize the jars by boiling them for at least 30 minutes in water. Wash the concord grapes, remove the berries from the stem and place them in a saucepan with half a cup of water. Bring to a boil and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 25 – 30 minutes until they are mashed.
Turn off the heat, and carefully pass the concord grape mixture through the food mill to avoid burning yourself. Once this operation is completed, weigh the grape puree, you will need about 1.75 lbs. Put them back into the pot where you will boil the preserve and add 3 cups of sugar and the juice of half a lemon. Let it boil for another 10-15 minutes over moderate heat, removing the foam when necessary.
After the indicated time, add the pectin, mix well, and cook for another 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and pour the hot preserve into sterilized jars leaving about 1/2 inch of space from the top of the jar. Close the jars tightly with the lid and let them cool. The heat of the preserve will create the vacuum seal. Once the jars have cooled, check if the vacuum seal has been properly created: to do this, press the center of the lid, which should indent and make a noise (like “click-clack”). Your Concord Grape Jam is ready!
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NOTES
If you can’t find concord grapes, you can use other varieties of grapes with the same procedure.
You can replace pectin with a diced apple.
STORAGE
Once the Concord Grape Jam is placed in vacuum-sealed jars, it can be stored for about 3 months in a cool, dry place, away from light and heat sources. Once opened, since there are no preservatives, it must be kept in the refrigerator and consumed within 4-5 days.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How do you thicken the jam?
To thicken the jam, you need to add pectin or an apple to the preserve.
How do you remove seeds from concord grape jam?
The simplest way to remove grape seeds is to cook the berries to soften them and then pass them through a fine-mesh strainer or, better yet, a food mill. Alternatively, you can, without cooking the berries, put them in a blender to make a pulp that you will then pass through a strainer. In this way, you will also remove the skin.
