Sunday, September 25, 2011

Yellow Tomato Spicy Thyme Jam - Spicy is optional!

One of my favorite recipes for the last few months has been the Tomato Pineapple Basil Jam which came from an adaptation of the Better Homes and Garden Canning Magazine. We planted a few tomato plants toward the end of July and one, a yellow tomato, has been producing about a dozen every day or two ready to be picked. It is naturally a low acidic tomato but has the fresh garden taste I enjoy so much.  I could either put them up in jars as pints of diced tomatoes which I did before, but I decided to use these beauties in the jam recipe. It turned out delicious and displays beautifully in the jar. Here is the recipe:

Yellow Tomato Thyme Jam 
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(adapted from BHG Tomato Basil Jam)

2 1/2 pounds yellow tomatoes (diced to measure 3 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup bottled lemon juice
2 T. snipped fresh lemon thyme (regular thyme will work)
1 T. red hot peppers, minced (optional)
2 cups sugar
1 package powdered pectin for lower sugar recipes (3 T. Ball Flex batch pectin)

Finely chop tomatoes. Measure 3 1/2 cups tomatoes and add to stainless steel saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat. Simmer, covered for 10 minutes, stirring often. Stir in lemon juice, peppers and thyme.  Add sugar and return bring to a  boil, stirring often. Add the pectin and return to a full rolling boil for one minute. Remove from heat and quickly skim off foam.

Ladle hot jam into hot sterilized half pint jars, leaving a 1/4 headspace. Wipe jar rims, add lids and rings. Process in water bath for 10 minutes at a full boil. Makes 5 jars.

4 comments:

Mimi said...

Sounds delicious but how would one use this beautiful jam?

Canning Homemade! said...

I gave a jar to one of my friends today and she asked me the same question. The tomato jams are sweet enough for breakfast toast, but we decided that it would be great with chicken breast either as a dip on the side or as a glaze because of the sweetness. I would offer it instead of ketchup for eggs and would be fantastic as a condiment on a burger. I would also put this on a brie and foccacia panini which would bring out the flavor of the thyme and the tomato would be a great combination. I think that it would replace the classic tomato cheese and mayo sandwich is comfort food for some!

Janet said...

This is a great addition to my collection of Tomato Jams I love them on so many levels with cheeses on crackers or yes on meats or as a sandwich spread. I grow yellow tomatoes and they are very prolific this is a great use for them. Thanks
Janet Las Vegas

Canning Homemade! said...

Thanks Janet. It's one that I keep in the pantry as I see the tomatoes over the summer. I want to make one final batch before they disappear.