Jellies and Jam Recipes

A tangy-sweet piccalilli relish made with salted green tomatoes, fresh corn, bell peppers, and red onion in a spiced vinegar-sugar brine. Keeps for weeks in the fridge. Great on burgers and hot dogs.

Sweet watermelon rind preserves made with a lime water soak, lemon, and ginger in a simple sugar syrup. A two-day heritage canning project that transforms scraps into glistening jars of gold.

No-cook raspberry apple freezer jam combines crushed raspberries with finely chopped apples, sugar, lemon juice, and liquid pectin. A 30-minute hands-off jam that captures fresh berry flavor without simmering.

Cherry jam simmers pitted sweet cherries with sugar into a thick, glossy preserve in just two ingredients. A classic small-batch summer canning project, no commercial pectin needed.

No-cook strawberry freezer jam made with fresh crushed berries, pectin, and corn syrup. Tastes like summer straight from the jar with no canning equipment needed.

Hulba is a Yemeni fenugreek paste cooked into a hearty hot dip with tomato, lamb, lentils, garlic, and chilies. Traditionally scooped with khobz or Lebanese flatbread.

Homemade ripe grape jam made from fresh grapes with liquid pectin. Skins are crushed and pulp is sieved to remove seeds for a smooth, intensely fruity preserve.

Roasted tomato and mint salsa with fire-blackened Roma tomatoes, serrano chiles, cilantro, fresh spearmint, lime, and orange zest. A smoky, herbaceous Southwestern salsa for grilled meats or chips.

Lime, pineapple, and grapefruit marmalade with orange zest, cooked to 220F and sealed in 7 jars. A homemade tropical citrus marmalade that's tart, bright, and far from anything store-bought.

Old-fashioned crab-apple butter made with just two ingredients: fresh crabapples and sugar, simmered down into a thick, rosy spread. A Fall preserving classic ready in 30 minutes.

Lemon apple marmalade made with just four ingredients: lemons, Granny Smith apples, water, and sugar. No added pectin needed since the apples provide natural pectin.

Ajvar: smoky Balkan roasted pepper and eggplant spread with garlic, lemon, and olive oil. The 'Serbian caviar' that goes on grilled meats, fresh bread, and cheese boards.

Rhubarb marmalade brightened with orange and lemon zest, set with liquid pectin for a tangy-sweet spread. A quick stovetop preserve that captures spring rhubarb at its peak.

Bite-sized baked turkey meatballs seasoned with curry powder and served with a cool yogurt-chutney dipping sauce. Makes 48 pieces for parties and game day. Oven or microwave ready in under 35 minutes.

Whole berry cranberry sauce with fresh orange juice, zest, and just a cup of sugar. Done in 15 minutes from stovetop to bowl. The Thanksgiving classic that beats canned every time.

Salsa Bandera is a fresh Mexican salsa with chopped tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, cilantro, and a vinegar-lemon dressing. No cooking required, just chop, mix, and serve with chips.