Homemade Orange Jam
Orange marmalade is a delicious sweet preserve that is made from oranges and sugar. It is a popular way to take advantage of fresh oranges and enjoy their flavor and aroma all year round. Here is a basic recipe to make orange marmalade
Ingredients:
• 4 large oranges
• 2 cups of sugar
• 1 lemon (optional, to improve acidity and help gelation)
• Water
Orange marmalade is a delicious sweet and citrus preserve, made by cooking orange pieces with sugar until obtaining a smooth and tasty texture. It is perfect for spreading on bread, accompanying desserts or adding a touch of flavor to culinary recipes.
Preparation:
1. Wash the oranges and lemon well if you are using it. You can choose thin-skinned oranges for a smoother jam, or thick-skinned oranges if you like the texture of chunks of peel in your jam.
2. Peel the oranges and lemon, trying to remove most of the inner white part of the peel, as this can be bitter. Cut the peels into thin strips if you want them to be present in the jam.
3. Cut the peeled oranges into small pieces, removing the seeds as much as possible.
4. Place the oranges in a large pot and add enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil and cook over medium heat for about 40 minutes or until the oranges are tender and the mixture has reduced.
5. Add the orange peel strips, if using.
6. Add the sugar to the pot and stir well to make sure it dissolves completely.
7. Squeeze the juice from the lemon and add it to the mixture. Lemon not only improves acidity, but also helps with gelation due to its natural pectin content.
8. Cook the mixture over medium-low heat for about 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot. The jam should thicken and become more translucent as it cooks.
9. To check the consistency, place a small amount of jam on a cold plate and wait a few minutes to see if it gels. If it does, the jam is ready. If not, continue cooking and repeat the test every few minutes.
10. Once the jam has reached the desired consistency, remove the pot from the heat and let the mixture cool for a few minutes.
11. Fill clean, sterilized jars with the hot jam and seal them tightly.
12. To preserve jam for longer, you can follow hot processing methods or store it in the refrigerator.
Enjoy your delicious homemade orange marmalade on toast, muffins, desserts or however you like! Keep in mind that this is a basic recipe, and you can adjust the amount of sugar and other ingredients based on your personal preferences.
