I love jams of all types, apricot is my true favourite. Now peaches are pretty good too. This peach and pistachio nut jam elevates plain peach jam to new levels of flavour and a bit of crunch too.
Why you’ll love this jam recipe
- Think of Mediterranean sunshine and you’ll have this jam in mind, it’s sweet and crunchy and just perfect on toast
- With a cheeseboard this peach jam just sings alongside a good Brie
- Perfect for a pavlova or just stirred into yogurt, don’t you just love a reallly versatile jam!
There is something about peaches and summertime, the two go together like the proverbial peas and carrots. The fuzziness of the peach skin hiding that golden nectar filled flesh, it just speaks of sunshine and lazy days.
So how can you improve on a partnership like that? The peach/summer time thing just has to be it doesn’t it? Well maybe not, when you add raspberries you get the classic peach melba taste and that is something special in its own right.
It is the summer time paring and the added burst of raspberries, yes there can be improvements to this peachy perfection and mine is with the addition of pistachios.
Pistachio nuts
Pistachios are one of my favourite nuts and they send me right back to my years of working as a holiday rep on the Greek islands. You never got crisps etc in bars and tavernas, always little bowls of pistachios in their shells.
I’d never had these nuts before and I fairly fell on them with gusto and became an instant addict. You could always tell how long a chat session lasted at the bar by the size of the nut shell pile. A good conversation would merit a veritable mountain of shells, while a quick chat only merited a molehill.
It is always a bit like unwrapping a present when you tackle a pistachio. Will that quirky little shell give up its prize easily or will it be a struggle to get at that inner goodness. And oh when you do get in there, the colour of the nut itself, that wondrous vibrant spring green. No wonder paint charts use it as a name, pistachio green, aah it sounds good enough to eat.
So there is my perfect peachy perfection add on – pistachios, and this peach and pistachio jam is a real summer time treat that you can carry on into the colder months ahead.
Ingredients for peach and pistachio jam
- 1 kilo/2 1/4lb ripe peaches
- 7500g/1lb 5oz jam sugar
- zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 50g/2oz shelled and chopped pistachios
- 2 tbsp brandy
How to make peach jam
- Plunge the peaches into boiling water for 30 seconds and then into cold water to loosen the skins and make them easier to peel. Peel and chop into small pieces.
- Mix the chopped peaches with the sugar and lemon juice and leave to macerate for at least an hour, or better still overnight.
- In a heavy based pan cook the mixture gently over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved, then bring it up to a boil and let it bubble for 20 minutes.
- Add the chopped pecans and cook for a further 5 minutes or until the setting point has been reached.
- Skim off any foam and allow to cool slightly before adding the booze and stirring through.
- Ladle into sterilised jars.
How long with this peach and pistachio jam keep?
This jam will keep for about 6 months in a cool cupboard. Once opened store in fridge and use within a month.
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 much will this recipe make?
This recipe should make 2 medium sized jars.
How to serve peach and pistachio jam
Spread it on toast, on scones or better yet just dollop it on to plain yogurt or ice-cream for summer madness at any time of year.
Add a small bowl of peach jam to your cheeseboard or antipasti platter for a touch of sweetness.
Peach and pistachio jam goes wonderfully well as an addition to some Asian dishes too.
Enjoy a taste of summer sunshine.
Looking for more super summer preserves to make? Then check these out before you go;
French apricot and lavender jam
Spanish style spiced cherry cheese
Raspberry peach and elderflower jam
Mixed fruit summer preserve with nuts
Italian inspired strawberry jam
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.
Peach and Pistachio Nut Jam
Ingredients
- 1 kg peaches
- 700 g jam sugar
- 1 lemon zest and juice
- 50 g pistachios shelled and chopped
- 2 tbsp brandy
Instructions
- Plunge the peaches into boiling water for 30 seconds and then into cold water to loosen the skins and make them easier to peel. Peel and chop into small pieces.
- Mix the chopped peaches with the sugar and lemon juice and leave to mascerate for at least an hour, or better still overnight.
- In a heavy based pan cook the mixture gently over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved, then bring it up to a boil and let it bubble for 20 minutes.
- Add the chopped pecans and cook for a further 5 minutes or until the setting point has been reached.
- Skim off any foam and allow to cool slightly before adding the booze and stirring through.
- Ladle into sterilised jars.
What is jam sugar? This recipe sounds delicious!
Hi Zosia
Jam sugar is normal sugar but it has some added pectin in it.
K