There is something wonderfully comforting about making your own strawberry jam. The beautiful colour, the sweet smell filling the kitchen and the sound of the jars sealing all remind me of traditional home cooking.
Homemade preserves may sound complicated, but strawberry jam is a lovely place to begin. You only need a few simple ingredients, and you do not need any special equipment beyond a large pot and clean glass jars.
For this version, I add a grated apple. Apples naturally contain pectin, which helps the jam thicken without needing commercial jam-setting powder. The apple disappears into the mixture as it cooks, leaving behind a lovely texture and allowing the strawberries to remain the star.
This jam is delicious spread generously over warm homemade bread, sourdough toast or freshly baked scones with cream. It can also be served with pancakes and waffles, swirled through yoghurt or used as a filling for cakes and cheesecakes.
Making preserves also gives us a beautiful way to use strawberries when they are plentiful. Instead of letting ripe fruit go to waste, we can capture that sweet seasonal flavour and enjoy it for weeks to come.
There is a special satisfaction in seeing jars of ruby-red jam cooling on the kitchen counter. Add a simple handwritten label and a little fabric over the lid, and you also have a thoughtful homemade gift.
If you have never made jam before, this simple strawberry jam recipe is the perfect one to try.
