Easy strawberry & vanilla jam

Step by Step

Step 1

Prepare your strawberries. Quarter them for a slightly chunky jam, roughly chop if you prefer it smoother. Combine the strawberries, sugar, vanilla and lemon juice in a large saucepan. Stir well to thoroughly combine.

Step 2

Put the pan over a high heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Mash the strawberries a little with a potato masher.

Step 3

Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, stirring occasionally, for 25-30 minutes. Keep an eye on the pan to make sure the jam doesn’t Easy strawberry & vanilla jam If you need to use some strawberries up, I’ve got a few ideas for you. A delicious jam is a great final resting place for strawberries that are anything from under- to overripe. It is nicely balanced with a good amount of lemon juice (the acidity helps the pectin naturally released from the fruit to set) and the addition of some vanilla, a lovely classic accompaniment to strawberries. The method is simple and doesn’t require any special equipment, specific temperatures, testing for a set or sterilising of jars. If your jam doesn’t set firm, don’t panic. It will still be great drizzled over desserts, into yogurt or for topping toast. Use the base recipe to make jam from various berries, plums and peaches and the like. Add spices, herbs, or zests to create your own flavour combination. How about creating a new small batch of jam every few weeks, depending on what needs using? @ellypear STRAWBERRIES Too good to waste with Elly Curshen bubble over or start to burn on the bottom. The jam will thicken a little more once cooled, so remove from the heat when it’s almost as thick as you want the finished jam to be. As it cooks, sterilise the jar. Wash a 250ml jar and lid, dry and put them into the oven for 10 minutes at 150ºC, gas mark 2.

Step 4

When the jam is ready, cool slightly, then pour into the jar. Place the lid on and allow the jar to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for 24 hours. The jam will thicken more during this time. It can then be stored in the fridge for up to 1 month.