For a delicious jam recipe that is sure to please your friends and family look no further than this tasty strawberry gooseberry jam! This easy-to-make jam is made with fresh, ripe strawberries and tart gooseberries, giving it a sweet and tangy flavour. Not only does it taste amazing, but it’s also packed with antioxidants and vitamins. Plus, making a strawberry gooseberry jam will fill your home with an incredible aroma that will make everyone in the house smile!
Whether you spread it on toast or use it as a topping for ice cream sundaes, this delicious treat is sure to be enjoyed by all who try it. So let’s get started making this delicious summer jam today!
An exciting gooseberry variation on classic strawberry jam
Strawberry gooseberry jam is a great way to savour the sweet and tart flavours of summer. With only a few ingredients and minimal effort, you can create a recipe that captures the flavours of both strawberries and gooseberries.
The addition of gooseberries to an otherwise classic strawberry jam brings a couple of advantages. Firstly, the jam is less sweet because of the characteristic tartness of the gooseberries. And secondly, by having a higher pectin concentration, together with the lemon, they support realising the overall setting of the jam.
3 reasons why you should make this delicious jam:
1. It’s incredibly easy – all you need is some fresh berries, sugar and lemon juice. You don’t need any special equipment or technical skills; anyone can whip up a batch in no time!
2. It’s cost-effective because, either you can grow them yourself, or if not, most of the ingredients are readily available at your local supermarket or farmers’ market.
3. Making homemade jams like this one allows you to have more control over what goes into it – you can adjust sweetness levels to fit specific tastes while still enjoying an all-natural product free from artificial preservatives and additives.
How to make gooseberry strawberry jam
Making this homemade jam is a delectable summer treat that can be enjoyed by all. The process begins by finding some fresh, ripe strawberries and gooseberries. Once the fruit has been gathered, the next step is to wash them thoroughly and remove any stems or leaves. Hull the strawberries, chopping any large berries, and top-and-tail the gooseberries.
The fruit can then be cooked in a preserving pan with sugar and lemon juice. It is important to stir constantly during the cooking process so the mixture does not burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. Once it has reached a thick consistency, it’s time to check for the setting point, using your preferred method.
Once the setting point is reached, ladle the jam into well-prepared jars and seal them. Leave to cool completely at room temperature.
The finished product should have a beautiful dark pink colour and delicious flavour that will make your taste buds sing!
TIPS
- Start with ripe strawberries and gooseberries for the best-tasting jam. Try to get the best quality berries that you can. Discard any damaged fruits. Note that green gooseberries are often tarter than pink/purple ones.
- While the recipe uses 50% strawberries and 50% gooseberries, you may want to vary these proportions according to your taste preference or relative to the amounts of each fruit that you gather. Be aware that this may have a potential impact on cooking time and the setting of the jam.
- You can use frozen berries for this jam. The cooking time may be a bit longer because of the additional water content that comes from frozen fruits. But it does also have the advantage of frozen fruits breaking down a lot quicker too.
- The jam can be as smooth or chunky as you like. I just add the fruits and let them do their thing as I quite enjoy getting some larger pieces remaining in the finished jam. But you can mash it down, use an immersion blender or even a food processor to finely chop the fruit into a puree ahead of adding it to the pan.
- Use between 750-900g of sugar depending on how sweet, or not you prefer your jam. So taste it to check, before finalising the cooking process. And be careful, it will be molten!
- Use a jam funnel when ladling the jam into jars, to minimize spills. Even then wipe off the rims with damp kitchen paper before sealing.
Customizing your strawberry and gooseberry jam
1. Add the lemon zest with the juice to the jam mixture – this will give the strawberry gooseberry jam a more tart and citrusy flavour.
2. Add other fruits such as raspberries or peaches to make the jam even more flavorful and unique.
3. Experiment with different spices like cinnamon or cardamom to add an extra layer of flavour complexity.
Sweet and savoury ways to enjoy this sweet-tart jam
Spread it on toast for a delicious morning snack.
Stir it into your favourite yoghurt or oatmeal to add sweetness and flavour.
Use it as an ice cream topping – the combination of sweet strawberry and tangy gooseberry is perfect!
Bake some muffins with jam in them, stirring 1/4 cup of jam into the batter before baking for added moisture and flavour.
Use as part of a glaze on meat dishes such as pork tenderloin, duck breasts, chicken thighs etc. Mix melted butter, a pinch of chilli flakes and some strawberry gooseberry jam to make a flavorful glaze that will caramelize when cooked under heat!
Making your own strawberry gooseberry jam can be a fun and rewarding experience. Not only will you have the satisfaction of knowing that you made something delicious from scratch, but it’s also an economical way to enjoy this classic satisfying condiment year-round.
With just a few simple ingredients and a little effort, you’ll have a deliciously sweet treat in no time. So give it a try. You never know – once you get started making homemade jams, jellies and other preserves, there might be no stopping you!
Recipe for Strawberry Gooseberry Jam
Equipment
- Kitchen scales
- Chopping board and knife
- Kitchen scissors
- Juicer
- Preserving pan or large saucepan
- Long-handled spoon for stirring
- Ladle
- Jam Funnel
- Clean, sterilised glass jars with sealable lids
Ingredients
- 450 g strawberries
- 450 g gooseberries
- 750-900 g sugar
- 1 large lemon
Instructions
- Wash the strawberries, gooseberries and lemon and let them drain off excess water. Discard any bruised or blemished fruits.
- Hull the strawberries, and chop up any large fruits.
- Use the scissors to trim the tops and bottoms off the gooseberries.
- Juice the lemon.
- Add the strawberries, gooseberries and lemon juice to the preserving pan. Over low heat, gently warm the fruits for about 10 minutes, to allow them to start to soften. Make sure to stir the mixture to prevent scorching(this can happen very easily!).
- Add the sugar and stir this in well to distribute it through all the fruit. Keep stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved – this can take a little while.
- If the fruits have not broken down enough, you can use the potato masher to help it along. Also, if you prefer a very smooth jam, you could use an immersion blender at this point to achieve your ideal consistency.
- Once the sugar has dissolved, turn up the heat gradually and bring the mixture up to a rapid boil. Let it boil for 5-10 minutes, then start to check for the set point.Be sure to stir regularly!
- Once you are ready to check for the set point, turn off the heat and use either or both a jam thermometer aiming to achieve 104 degrees C (220 degrees F). Or with the Wrinkle test: Take the plate out of the freezer and add a small amount of jam. Allow it to sit for one minute. To check if the jam is set, run your finger through it. If it forms a skin on top or wrinkles as you push through, then it's set. If the jam is still runny and your finger can easily pass through it, it means that it needs more cooking.
- If not quite set, return the pan to the heat and cook at a rapid boil in bursts of 3-5 minutes, repeating the check for the setting point after everyone, until this is reached.The jam will thicken further as it cools.
- Once the setting point is reached, ladle the jam into clean sterilised jars and seal immediately. Leave the jars to cool completely at room temperature. the label and store it in a cool, dry place for up to 12 months.
Notes
TIPS
- Start with ripe strawberries and gooseberries for the best-tasting jam. Try to get the best quality berries that you can. Discard any damaged fruits. Note that green gooseberries are often tarter than pink/purple ones.
- While the recipe uses 50% strawberries and 50% gooseberries, you may want to vary these proportions according to your taste preference or relative to the amounts of each fruit that you gather. Be aware that this may have a potential impact on cooking time and the setting of the jam.
- You can use frozen berries for this jam. The cooking time may be a bit longer because of the additional water content that comes from frozen fruits. But it does also have the advantage of frozen fruits breaking down a lot quicker too.
- The jam can be as smooth or chunky as you like. I just add the fruits and let them do their thing as I quite enjoy getting some larger pieces remaining in the finished jam. But you can mash it down, use an immersion blender or even a food processor to finely chop the fruit into a puree ahead of adding it to the pan.
- Use between 750-900g of sugar depending on how sweet, or not you prefer your jam. So taste it to check, before finalising the cooking process. And be careful, it will be molten!
- Use a jam funnel when ladling the jam into jars, to minimize spills. Even then wipe off the rims with damp kitchen paper before sealing.
Customizing your strawberry and gooseberry jam
1. Add the lemon zest with the juice to the jam mixture – this will give the strawberry gooseberry jam a more tart and citrusy flavour. 2. Add other fruits such as raspberries or peaches to make the jam even more flavourful and unique. 3. Experiment with different spices like cinnamon or cardamom to add an extra layer of flavour complexity.Sweet and savoury ways to enjoy this strawberry gooseberry jam
Spread it on toast for a delicious morning snack. Stir it into your favourite yoghurt or oatmeal to add sweetness and flavour. Use it as an ice cream topping – the combination of sweet strawberry and tangy gooseberry is perfect! Bake some muffins with jam in them, stirring 1/4 cup of jam into the batter before baking for added moisture and flavour. Use as part of a glaze on meat dishes such as pork tenderloin, duck breasts, chicken thighs etc. Mix melted butter, a pinch of chilli flakes and some strawberry gooseberry jam to make a flavorful glaze that will caramelize when cooked under heat!Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
All nutritional information is an estimate only, based on third-party calculations derived from an online nutritional calculator, Spoonacular API. The data provided is a courtesy and should not be considered a guarantee or fact. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients and brands you use, your measuring methods and portion sizes. For accurate results, we recommend that you calculate the nutritional information yourself, using a preferred nutritional calculator or advice from a nutritionist, based on your ingredients and individual processes.