Lover’s Strawberry And Pomegranate Jam

Lover’s Strawberry and pomegranate Jam that is refined sugar free and full of aphrodisiac herbs and spices. The perfect foodie gift for the one you love on Valentine’s Day!

Aah Valentine’s Day. All the world loves a lover, or so we are told. In this week of hearts and flowers and all things lovey dovey what could I, a mere jam jester offer as a gift one could make for a loved one.

Flowers

I cannot advise on flowers, although I have spoken on TV and radio in the past about the Victorian language of flowers and some that might just be a good choice to send on that auspicious day of the 14th.

Sweets

I have even fooled around with the lovely Colin and Justin on Scottish TV showing them how to make sweetheart candies and sampling old-fashioned love potions from over a hundred years ago.

Lover’s Jam

That was then and this is now. It had to be jam really a Lover’s Jam.

Aphrodisiacs

My Lover’s Jam had to contain aphrodisiacs and things that have been passed down through time as the goodies that might just make someone’s heart beat faster and have them falling into one’s arms in a swoon of delight, rather than just passing out after one too many.

Research

I took time and researched and chose my ingredients well. Not only did they have to have some connection with aphrodisiac qualities or historically have been used in love potions and the like, they more importantly (at least to my mind) had to come together well and actually taste good.

Believe me some of those old-fashioned love potions were not for the faint hearted or the weak of stomach.

My Lover’s Jam on the other had tastes divine and even if you are a singleton like me just making this as a treat for yourself (because you’re worth it) is well worth the wee bit of effort that it takes.

French style

I used a French style two-step process to make this jam. Come on the French know a thing or two about romance and they certainly know about making great confitures, so let us take a leaf from their book and take a little time here in our making of this Lover’s Jam.

Ingredients for pomegranate and strawberry jam

• 600g/1lb 5oz fresh strawberries
• 2 pomegranates
• 200g/7oz clear honey
• Juice and zest of 1 lemon
• 1cm/1/2 ” fresh ginger
• 1cm/1/2 ” red chilli pepper
• 3 cloves crushed
• 1/4 tsp powdered cinnamon
• 2 tbsp red wine
• 2 tbsp slithered almonds

How to make strawberry and pomegranate jam

• Rinse strawberries and pat dry before removing the stalks and cutting into halves or quarters if large.
• Place strawberries into a large glass or ceramic bowl and add the honey stirring well to combine.
• Cut the pomegranates in half and pop out the seeds by bending back the skin shell.
• Collect the seeds in a sieve and use a wooden spoon to press them through the sieve so that the actual pips and any membranes (these are bitter) are held back and only the sweet juice goes through.
• Stir into the strawberry mixture, cover bowl with a clean tea towel and leave overnight.
• The natural sugars and pectin within the berries will be drawn out by the honey and all flavours will have a chance to mingle.
• Next day pour your lovely red mixture into a heavy based pan and add the spices.
• Grate the ginger and chilli and crush the cloves with mortar and pestle so you don’t have any hard pieces that might break a tooth and somewhat ruin any possibility of a romantic moment.
• Grate in the lemon zest and then squeeze in all the juice, making sure you collect the pips and don’t let them fall into the jam.
• Gently heat the mixture and then bring it up to a boil. You ant a good rolling boil here with lots of bubbles. It should take about 20 minutes.
• Skim off any frothy scum that forms on top.
• While all this jamming is going on you can lightly toast the flaked almonds in a dry pan, make sure you don’t let them burn. You just want to toast them till golden and that amazing aroma rises from the pan.
• Add the red wine just before the jam reaches it’s setting point and test this by placing a teaspoonful of jam on a well chilled saucer and leaving it for 5 minutes before running a finger through it. If it wrinkles up it is ready to pot. If not boil for another few minutes and test again.
• At the last-minute stir in those toasted almonds.
• Spoon the hot jam into two sterilised jars and pop on the lids.

How long will this pomegranate and strawberry jam keep

It will keep unopened in a cool place for up to a year (more than many relationships!). Once opened store in the fridge and use within a month.

Valentine’s Day

So there my darlings is my offering to you for Valentine’s Day later this week. Forget the choccies and flowers, make something that will last a little longer, something you can eat on toast with breakfast or on a cream cake in the afternoon. Something in a jar, a jar of love.

I wish you all a wonderfully happy valentine’s day later this week.

Looking for more fun Valentine’s ideas? Then check these out before you go;

Gorgeous Valentine’s Chocolate Bark

Lover’s chocolate whisky liqueur (+Video!)

Red hot love bites

Valentine’s Chocolate Aphrodisiac Truffles

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.

Photos And Tips AboveMost of my recipes have step by step photos and useful tips plus videos too, see above.

Strawberry and Pomegranate Lover’s Jam

Karon Grieve

Packed with all the aphrodisiacs I could find this gorgeous jam is the perfect gift for Valentine's Day

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Course preserves

Cuisine Mediterranean

Calories 1444 kcal

Ingredients

 

MetricUS Customary

• ▢ 600 g strawberries
• ▢ 2 pomegranates
• ▢ 200 g honey
• ▢ 1 lemon juice and zest
• ▢ 1 cm ginger fresh ginger
• ▢ 1 cm chilli red chilli pepper
• ▢ 3 cloves crushed
• ▢ 1/4 tsp cinnamon ground cinnamon
• ▢ 2 tbsp red wine
• ▢ 2 tbsp almonds flaked

Metric – US Customary

Instructions

 

• Rinse strawberries and pat dry before removing the stalks and cutting into halves or quarters if large.
• Place strawberries into a large glass or ceramic bowl and add the honey stirring well to combine.
• Cut the pomegranates in half and pop out the seeds by bending back the skin shell.
• Collect the seeds in a sieve and use a wooden spoon to press them through the sieve so that the actual pips and any membranes (these are bitter) are held back and only the sweet juice goes through.
• Stir into the strawberry mixture, cover bowl with a clean tea towel and leave overnight.
• The natural sugars and pectin within the berries will be drawn out by the honey and all flavours will have a chance to mingle.
• Next day pour your lovely red mixture into a heavy based pan and add the spices.
• Grate the ginger and chilli and crush the cloves with mortar and pestle so you don’t have any hard pieces that might break a tooth and somewhat ruin any possibility of a romantic moment.
• Grate in the lemon zest and then squeeze in all the juice, making sure you collect the pips and don’t let them fall into the jam.
• Gently heat the mixture and then bring it up to a boil. You ant a good rolling boil here with lots of bubbles.
• Skim off any frothy scum that forms on top.
• While all this jamming is going on you can lightly toast the flaked almonds in a dry pan, make sure you don’t let them burn. You just want to toast them till golden and that amazing aroma rises from the pan.
• Add the red wine just before the jam reaches it’s setting point and test this by placing a teaspoonful of jam on a well chilled saucer and leaving it for 5 minutes before running a finger through it. If it wrinkles up it is ready to pot. If not boil for another few minutes and test again.
• At the last-minute stir in those toasted almonds.
• Spoon the hot jam into two sterilised jars and pop on the lids.

Notes

This strawberry and pomegranate jam will keep for up to a year in a cool dark place, once opened store in the fridge and use within a month

Nutrition

Calories: 1444kcalCarbohydrates: 333gProtein: 20gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 36mgPotassium: 2697mgFiber: 41gSugar: 274gVitamin A: 109IUVitamin C: 470mgCalcium: 257mgIron: 7mg

My Top Tips*Always read the full recipe first. *Assemble all your ingredients and everything you need before you start. *For baking check the size of tins I’m using as this makes a big difference to your cakes. * I use medium sized eggs unless otherwise stated. * I use extra virgin olive oil unless otherwise stated. * I use unsalted butter unless otherwise stated. * Check out My Preserving Kit!

Keyword pomegranate, strawberry, Valentines Day

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