Grape Jelly with a Twist
If you love grape jelly, or if you could ‘take it or leave it,’ give this recipe a try. Not your average ho-hum partner to peanut butter, this jelly has a depth of flavor provided by a few key secret ingredients, revealed here. Tart and sweet, your favorite purple grape juice provides a base for the recipe…no need to grow, peel, crush or blanch any fruit. Choose a high-quality juice. The higher the juice quality, the better the jelly flavor! I prefer an organic juice with no added sugar, but any grape juice will do!
Simple, delicious, and fool-proof, this jelly is wonderful for a lazy weekend morning, and it makes a unique gift that’s fun both to make and to give!
Ingredients and Container Preparation
This recipe makes about 4 half-pint jars, or twice as many 4-oz jelly jars. You could also pour this jelly into pretty, clear glasses, sealed with household wax.
Whatever containers you decide to use, be sure to sterilize them in advance in boiling water or in the dishwasher on anti-bacterial setting. Sterilize the jars, as well as the lids and rings. If you boil them on the stove, leave the empty jars in the hot water until you are ready to fill them so that the jars will remain hot. If you sterilize them in the dishwasher, use the “heated dry” setting so that the jars will stay hot. While the jars are being sterilized, prepare your jelly.
Ingredients:
1/2 C. boiling water
1 tbs dried basil (or Thai basil)
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
pinch of salt
3 1/2 C. pure cane sugar (I prefer raw sugar)
3 1/2 C. purple grape juice
3 oz liquid fruit pectin
Optional: paraffin wax
Canning Jars
Glass canning jars are a great investment. Though the lids should only be used once, the jars and metal rings can be used over and over again. Save money and stock up on Amazon, where the price for the jars is a little bit less expensive than they are in local stores. Qualified orders of $25 or more receive free Super Saver shipping.
Steep Herbs and Spices
The flavor of basil and cardamom is delicious, but they cannot be added directly to grape jelly or the gritty, chewy pieces ruin the smooth texture. Basil and cardamom flavor can be added to your recipe indirectly by steeping them to draw out and capture their essence in a liquid form, while the solid stems, leaves and pieces can be discarded.
Pour boiling water over basil and cardamom in a saucepan and set aside for 10-15 minutes. Strain the herb brew into a 4-quart saucepan through a fine strainer or a colander lined with cheesecloth or a paper towel. Discard the herbs. Reserve the fragrant liquid in the saucepan for use in your recipe.
Making the Jelly
Add grape juice and sugar to the herb water in the sauce pan. Stir over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Then increase the heat and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
Stir in the liquid pectin and return the mixture to boiling. Boil rapidly for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and skim off the foam that will collect on top.
Note that foam can be reduced by adding 1/2 TBSP of butter to the saucepan prior to pouring in the pectin. Butter is completely optional, and does not change the flavor or texture of the jelly.
Fill the Jars
Pour the jelly into hot, sterilized containers. Use a wide-mouth funnel to prevent sticky drips from running down the exterior of the jars. Seal with lids or paraffin.
To seal with paraffin wax, allow the jelly to cool for several hours. Then melt the wax slowly over low heat. Paraffin is flammable, so keep your eyes on it at all times. When the wax is completely melted, pour 1/4 inch of the liquid wax directly on top of the jelly in each container.
Note: If jelly does not set, pour it back into the sauce pan and bring to a rolling boil for 1 minute before returning it to the jars.
Store jelly in the refrigerator and use within 3 months.
