Chilli and basil jelly is a super useful addition to your larder. You can use it as a glaze for roasting meats and chicken, add it to your cheeseboard and of course spread some on toast too.
Doesn’t this look gorgeous, just look at that clarity, that colour, those flecks of green basil and shards of red chilli. Oh yes, I can wax lyrical about my chilli and basil jelly you know, and boy this one is worth the words – it tastes GREAT!
This was a real ‘use up what’s around’ sort of jelly and I got 4 jars from what I had to work with.
Ingredients for basil and chilli jelly
Bramley cooking apples (these are the base of the jelly)
Red bell peppers
Basil, ginger and chilli
Juice and zest of a lemon
Sugar
How to make this jelly
Making jelly seems a little long-winded but really it is just a case of cooking those apples with your red peppers, chilli, ginger and lemon to a pulp and then letting them drip overnight to get all that lovely juice which will be the base of your finished jelly.
Then you measure out the juice and add the sugar and add the remaining chopped chilli and heat gently till the sugar has completely dissolved.
Now ramp up the heat to a rolling boil till it reaches that magical setting point of 105C.
Stir through the finely chopped basil and let the jelly sit for about 5 minutes then carefully ladle into sterilised jars. This is so that the basil will be suspended in the jelly along with those gorgeous little shards of chilli.
New to preserving? Then don’t panic, I can take you from zero to hero in the preserving stakes in no time at all!
Just check out these quick articles to get you started;
How long will this keep?
Your jelly will keep for up to a year in a cool dark place. Once opened store in the fridge and use within a month.
How to serve this basil and chilli jelly
You can use this as a glaze for roasting chicken or pork.
Add some to a stir fry or to gravy.
Use it with a cheeseboard.
Spread some on a toasted cheese sandwich or any other type of sandwich.
Looking for more super easy jelly recipes to try? Then check these out before you go;
Spiced crab apple jelly with Scotch whisky
Traditional Scottish rosehip jelly
Finally, if you do try this recipe don’t forget to leave a comment/star rating below as I just love to hear from readers. Want more Larder Love? Then follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter and sign up for my newsletter too of course.
How To Make Chilli And Basil Jelly
Ingredients
- 1 kg Bramley cooking apples
- 3 sweet red peppers
- 4 red chilli peppers
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh ginger
- 1/2 cup chopped basil leaves
- 1 lemon for juice and zest
- 750 g Sugar
Instructions
- Quarter the apples, just leave on the skin and don’t even worry about the cores.
- Roughly chop the red peppers and 2 of the chilli peppers (remove the seeds if you don't want it too hot
- Peel and chop the ginger and add that to your pile of gorgeous goodness.
- Chuck everything into a large pan and squeeze in the lemon juice and add the zest and add enough water just to cover everything
- Bring to the boil and then lower the heat and let this stuff simmer for about 20 minutes till everything is tender
- Pour it into a suspended jelly bag to catch all the pieces but let the juice flow through.
- Leave this overnight to drain.
- In the morning decant the liquid into a measuring jug. DO NOT SQUEEZE THE JUICE BAG!
- For every 500ml of juice you want 450g sugar
- Pour your juice and the sugar back into the pan and heat gently to dissolve the sugar then raise heat to a rolling boil.
- Chop up those two remaining chillies into tiny pieces and add to the pan
- I found it took almost 15 minutes for this to reach the setting point.
- just before it is ready stir theough the finely chopped basil
- Have your saucer in the fridge or freezer cooling ready to test the jelly for set. You just put a spoonful on the chilled saucer and pop it back in fridge for 5 minutes. If it comes out slightly set and your finger leaves a bare space when you drag it through and causes the jelly to wrinkle, it’s ready to jar. If not continue boiling and test again.
- Let the jelly sit in the pan for a few minutes to settle so that the chilli and basil pieces don't just fall to the bottom of the jars but stay suspended in the jelly
- ladle your jelly into sterilised jars
That looks lovely, Definitely one for me to try. Thanks.
Sue xx
This looks really good. I cannot wait to see your videos. You really are good at teaching us to do these things. Thanks, Karon!
Patti xxoo
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OMGosh…this looks fantastic and right up my alley…now to find the time to make it! Between work and work, all I do is WORK! I’m so ready for a vacay! Okay, lots to tell, first, I LOVE your video – you are a natural and I just can’t believe how relaxed you are! Second, can’t wait to see the Christmas book – want to order several for gifts and for myself! Third…whatever, I had one but now it’s gone, as is most of my mind. Okay, back to work – love this post – have printed it out, will get to it one day! xoxo, Nan
This jelly looks sinfully good. I have a basil plant that is growing out of control, and more than anything else I can think of, this recipe looks to be the best way to put it to use. However, I do wonder: why is there no vinegar in this recipe, since there is pepper in it? Is the lemon juice enough to acidify it to make the peppers safe to can?
Thank you for your post!!
Hi Margo,
Lemon juice has done the job for me just fine. Hope you try the jelly and enjoy it.
Kx
Hi, thank you for this. For how long does the jelly keep unopened. Looks like a Master Creator fashioned the glorious colours! DQ
Hi Donna,
Will keep unopened well over 6 months. Glad you like it so much.
K x