Apricot Habanero Jam Recipes

Steps:

• Toss the apricots, sugar, lemon zest and juice and vanilla in a large saucepan to combine, then mash slightly to release some of the apricot juice. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the apricots to macerate and the sugar to dissolve. Meanwhile, place a small plate in the freezer to chill; this will be used to test the doneness of the jam.
• Place the saucepan over medium-high heat. (See Cook's Note for suggested add-in.) Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium, stirring frequently. Continue to cook until the jam becomes thick and syrupy, about 35 minutes. To test doneness, place a small amount of the jam onto the chilled plate and freeze for 2 minutes. Drag your finger or a spoon through the jam. If it holds its shape and thickness, the jam is done; remove from the heat. If it's runny, continue to cook and test again in 5-minute increments. Once the jam has reached the right consistency, transfer to jars and cool completely before storing, tightly covered. The jam will keep in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

Steps:

• 1. Wash and sterilize jars and keep them hot until jam is ready. Place boiling water canner with jar rack insert on burner with enough water to cover your jars once they are filled. Turn burner on high and begin boiling. (I always have extra water ready to boil in case I need it to cover the jars.) Also, place lids and rings in water and boil, and then reduce heat to keep them hot and sterile without melting the rubber seals. Just before jam is done (about 5 minutes before), remove jars from boiling water, and place on CLEAN towel to drain. See https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/sauce-spread/jam/margarita-jelly-with-added-picture-tutorial.html?p=1 for pictorial of these steps. Note: to prevent cloudy mineral discoloration of jars, you may place two teaspoons of white vinegar in your canner water and in the water you are using to boil your jars.
• 2. (Always use gloves when handling hot peppers.) In large pan, (I use a large dutch oven sized pan to prevent boiling over), combine apricots, chopped peppers (jalapeno, orange or yellow bell, and habanero), white wine vinegar, butter, and sugar. Stir. Bring to a full boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add powdered pectin and return to boil. Boil rapidly for 1 more minute and then check for doneness by using Karla Everett's method with fork tines. The jam should remain spread out between the fork tines when at the jelly stage. (See Karla Everett's https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/non-editible/other-non-edible/jelly-jam-making-tips.html?p=1)
• 3. When done, remove from heat. Scoop off any foam. Have jars ready. Place them in a kitchen sink lined with a clean dish towel. Using a canning funnel, scoop jam into jars within 1/2 and 3/4 inch of rim. Remove jars one or two at a time from sink, and place on a towel covered counter. Using a CLEAN wet towel or paper towel, wash off the rim of each jar. (If any jam gets on the rim, it will not seal.) Then dry rim. Take sterilized lids and rings out of the pan of hot water with the tines of a fork or tongs, and cap each jar and screw on ring. Using the tongs, place each capped jar into the boiling water canner (on top of rack). Once all jars are loaded, check the water level. If additional water is needed to cover the jars with at least an inch or two of water, pour boiling water in.
• 4. Once the water in the canner is at a rolling boil (meaning you can't stir the boiling water down) time the boil for at least ten minutes. Never use larger jars than pints for canning jelly or jam as one cannot ensure that the internal temperature reached is sufficient in the water bath method. Once time is up, turn off heat, and carefully use canning tongs to remove each jar (keeping each upright) and place the jars on a dish towel covered counter. Leave a little space between each jar. If you want to lay a paper towel over them to dry up the water on the lids that's fine, but don't touch the lids. Allow them to seal on their own. You will begin to hear them pop. Some take longer than others, but be patient. Any which don't seal should go into the refrigerator and be used within a couple of weeks. Sometimes, I touch the seal at this point and it seals, but my mom says only trust them if they seal on their own.
• 5. Notes regarding changes: Nestingground said nothing about removing seeds, and I followed this part of the recipe because I love the heat. The original had only 1 yellow, orange, or red bell pepper, but I thought the orange and yellow would better match the apricots, and mine were small, so I added two. The original had no habanero pepper nor any butter. I added the pepper for heat and the butter to reduce foaming. The blog notes say that this makes 4-5 half pint jars, but mine made almost 7 half pint jars. To see the original, please see this link: http://nestinground.blogspot.com/2010/08/apricot-jalapeno-jelly.html This is a great blog.

Steps:

• Coarsely chop chiles in a food processor. Transfer to a small bowl and mix in tequila. Let sit uncovered 1-3 hours (chiles will get less spicy as they soak; in 1 hour, they'll sink to the heat level of a jalapeño). Drain chiles; reserve tequila for another use.
• Transfer chiles to a small saucepan; add onion, vinegar, orange juice, raw sugar, salt, and 1 cup water and bring to a boil over medium-low heat. Cook until chiles are tender and liquid is syrupy, 50-60 minutes. Let cool.
• Do Ahead
• Jam can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.

Steps:

• Soak apricots in boiling water in a bowl until hydrated, about 30 minutes. Blend apricots, remaining water, and vanilla extract in a food processor, working in batches, until blended but still slightly chunky.
• Combine apricot mixture with pectin in a large pot over medium heat; cook until just boiling. Add sugar and lemon juice; boil until sugar has dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Sterilize jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the apricot jam into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4-inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool, about 1 hour. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

Steps:

• Mix apricots and lemon juice in a large pot; add sugar. Slowly bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cook and stir until apricot mixture thickens, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat and skim foam if necessary.
• Meanwhile, prepare jars, lids, and rings by cleaning and sterilizing in dishwasher or boiling water bath. Leave lids in simmering water until ready to seal jars.
• Ladle hot jam into hot sterilized jars, leaving about 1/4 inch of space on top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 15 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

Steps:

• Pit and chop apricots; place in a Dutch oven or soup kettle. Stir in lemon juice.
• Place habaneros in a blender; add a small amount of apricot mixture. Cover and process until smooth. Return to the pan.
• Stir in pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil.
• Quickly stir in sugar. Return to a full rolling boil; boil and stir for 1 minute.
• Pour hot mixture into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-in headspace. Adjust caps.
• Process for 10 minutes in a boiling-water bath.
• For best results, let processed jam stand at room temperature for 2 weeks to set up.
• Makes 11 half-pints.