The idea of making jam from cucumbers does not occur to many housewives. However, most experienced chefs say that such a vegetable dessert turns out to be very healthy and tasty. It should also be noted that in its preparation there is nothing complicated. Therefore, even an inexperienced housewife can cope with this simple culinary affair.
Cucumber Jam: Recipe
You can make such a dessert using fruits of any size. This is very beneficial, as you can get rid of overripe and large vegetables that do not go to pickles and various salads.
Cucumber jam with lemon is especially tasty. Citrus fruit makes such a delicacy more fragrant. By the way, some housewives additionally add various berries to it (for example, red currant).
So what foods do you need to buy to make delicious cucumber jam? The recipe for this dessert requires the use of:
- beet sugar - about 600 g;
- fresh cucumbers of any size - 1 kg;
- fresh lemon - 1 pc.;
- ground cinnamon - apply to your taste;
- sweet orange - 1 medium-sized fruit;
- cloves in buds - 3 pcs.;
- vanilla - apply as you wish.
Ingredient preparation
To make the cucumber jam delicious, all the ingredients should be used as fresh as possible. To begin with, they process vegetables. Cucumbers are washed in cold water and then peeled. If the fruits are large, then they are freed from the pulp and seeds, getting a kind of boat. After that, they are chopped with slices and laid out in a bowl.
As for lemon and orange, they are also well washed. Further, the fruits are chopped medium-sized without removing the skin, but cleansing from the existing seeds. As soon as the citruses are processed, beet sugar, crushed cinnamon, cloves in buds and vanilla are spread to them. Thoroughly mixing the components, previously chopped cucumbers are added to the resulting slurry.
In this composition, the products are left under the newspaper for half an hour at room temperature. During this time, vegetables and fruits should release a large amount of aromatic juice, which, combined with melted sugar and seasonings, should form a thick and tasty syrup.
Heat treatment and rolling process
How should I make jam from cucumbers? The photo of this unusual dessert, presented in the materials of this article, demonstrates how the finished product looks. Let's look at what should be done to achieve a similar result.
After all the above steps are completed, a bowl of vegetables and fruits is placed on the stove. Over medium heat, bring the ingredients to a boil. Reducing the temperature to a minimum, the jam is cooked for about 30 minutes, until it thickens. In this case, the dessert should be regularly stirred with a spoon so that it does not burn.
After heat treatment of cucumber jam, it is laid out on sterilized jars (directly in boiling form) and immediately rolled up with lids. After allowing the dessert to cool at room temperature (for several days), it is cleaned in a cool room.
By the way, you can use cucumber delicacy immediately after cooking. Serve it preferably with toasted toast and a cup of black tea.
Cooking Cucumber Jam with Mint
There are many ways to make cucumber jam. In this section of the article, we will tell you about how to get the most fragrant and delicious dessert, adding mint to it.
To implement this recipe, we need:
- fresh cucumbers of any size - about 500 g;
- fresh mint - 1 large bunch;
- beet sugar - 350 g;
- gelling agent (for example, gelatin or pectin) - 1 dessert spoon;
- fresh lemon juice - 2 small spoons;
- drinking water - approximately 100 ml.
We prepare the ingredients
To prepare an unusual home-made delicacy, cucumbers are thoroughly washed and cleaned. Then they are cut into equal cubes and covered with granulated sugar. In this form, the vegetables are infused at room temperature for 4 hours. Meanwhile, begin to process the mint. Fresh greens are washed in warm water, and then laid out in a blender and chopped into gruel. After that, it is poured with boiling water and left for 30 minutes. In the future, you can strain the mint through cheesecloth or use the mixture with the pulp.
Heat treatment process
After the cucumbers pour juice and form a large amount of syrup with sugar, they are placed on the stove and brought to a boil. Setting the fire to a minimum, the jam is cooked for about 20 minutes. In this case, the cucumber sticks should change in color.
After the specified time, crushed mint, as well as lemon juice, are added to sweet vegetables. After mixing the components, they are again brought to a boil. This time the jam is cooked for 10 minutes.
To obtain a thicker goodies, a solution of gelatin or pectin must be added to it. However, you should not overdo it with these substances.
How and with what to serve?
Now you know how to make cucumber jam. Reviews of specialists about this dessert say that it is not necessary to roll it. It is already perfectly preserved throughout the winter. However, in this case, the jam must be kept at room temperature.
Thus, after heat treatment, the cucumber mixture with mint is distributed in small jars and closed with ordinary lids. Having cooled all the workpieces under a thick blanket (throughout the day), they are cleaned in the refrigerator.
Presenting such a treat to the family table is preferably chilled.