Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Helene Dsouza

Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (1)Helene Dsouza

An easy recipe to make homemade plum jam. Make your slice of bread for breakfast great again!

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

100 servings

4.7 from 26 votes

VIDEO RECIPE

Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (2)

Homemade Plum Jam, all-natural without added pectins.

This is an easy french recipe to make your own fruit preserve at home.

Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (3)

Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (4)

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with Spices and Herbs

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Jump to:
  • 🫙 Which plums to use to make jam?
  • 🔪 How to make plum jam?
  • 📜 Flavor Variations
  • 🍱 Storing
  • 💭 FAQs
  • 👁️ More preserved stone fruit recipes:
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

🫙 Which plums to use to make jam?

Pick ripe fresh plums that are sweet and rich in flavor.

You can use red plums or yellow plums, like Mirabelle or Reine Claude yellow plums.

I used red plums because that's what we're growing in our garden.

Just make sure to not use rotten or spoiled fruit because one bad fruit is more than enough to spoil a whole batch of jam.

Jams prepared with bad fruits spoil faster and just don't keep that well.

Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (5)

🔪 How to make plum jam?

This is hands down teh fasted and easiert and most delicious way to prepare plum jam at home.

This is how it's done in France (and neighboring countries) and I thought you would appreciate a quick overview to get going.

The complete recipe with measurements is located at the bottom of this post.

Step 1

Wash fruit to get rid of impurities and cut into half to remove the stones.

Quarter fruits and place into large jam cooking pot.

Pour sugar over fruits, lemon juice and squeezed out lemon halves.

Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (6)

Step 2

Combine all the ingredient in the pot and heat up.

Bring the jam to a rolling boil.

Reduce heat a bit but continue to reduce jam until it appears translucent cooked.

Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (7)

Step 3

Blend jam to desired consistency.

Keep over heat and test if the jam is set with the help of a thermometer and/or by dropping some hot jam on an ice-cold plate.

Pour hot jam into clean sterilized jars, close with a lid and turn upside down to create a vacuum.

Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (8)

📜 Flavor Variations

You can enhance your jam by adding any of the following ingredients to your jam during the cooking process.

Either add as a ground spice or as whole spice but take out the spices before you blend the jam.

  • cinnamon
  • allspice
  • ginger
  • vanilla
  • star anise
  • green cardamom

🍱 Storing

Keep your closed unlocked jam jars away from direct sunlight, in a dry and cool environment.

If you followed all the steps to the T and if you work in a clean environment your jam will be good for more than 1 year.

Once opened, keep in your fridge.

Don't reduce the sugar quantity on the recipe. The sugar helps in preserving the jam.

If you switch sugar with honey or other natural sweetener, be prepared to consume your jam soon.

For those of you who want to add another layer of safety, you can follow my cherry canning water bath recipe.

Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (9)

💭 FAQs

Do you skin plums before making jam?

No I don't because the skin contains pectin and nutritious elements. Besides skinning is tedious and it's anyway not necessary because we will blend the jam.

What's the jam setting temperature?

Your jam sets at 220 Fahrenheit/ 105 Celsius. You can stick a candy thermometer into your jam during the cooking process.

Why is my plum jam runny and not setting?

You need to cook down your jam until it is not runny anymore, that means until it's set. Depending on the heat setting, it can take somewhere between 30-50 minutes, if you use a quantity of 1 kg/ 2.2 pounds of fruits. Just cook it and test if it's set. Jam when hot will always appear liquid, it's only that when it cools down that it will appear set. Hence why the cold plate test is so great! Just drop 1-2 drops of hot jam on an ice cold plate and move the plate around. It it down't run, your jam is set. OR bring it to the setting temperature.

👁️ More preserved stone fruit recipes:

  • Peach Jam
  • Apricot Jam also suitable for cakes
  • Cherry Jam
  • Home Canned Plums
Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (10)

Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (11)

Global Food Recipes

with Spices and Herbs

Free E-Book available for a limited time. Grab yours now and get instantly inspired!

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📖 Recipe

Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (12)

Plum Jam Recipe

An easy recipe to make homemade plum jam. Make your slice of bread for breakfast great again!

4.74 from 26 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: French

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 100 servings

Calories: 30kcal

Recipe by: Helene Dsouza

Ingredients

For the Jam:

US - Metric

Instructions

  • Wash your plums well. Cut open on one side and pick out the core, discard the core.

    Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (13)

  • Cut into quarters, weigh your plums and place them into a large cooking pot.

  • Add the sugar, lemon juice, and 2 lemon halves to the fruits. Mix the content well.

    Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (14)

  • Keep the pot with the fruits on the stove, cook over a higher heat setting until you can see a rolling boil (lots of foam too!).

    Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (15)

  • Takedown the heat a bit and cook until the jam appears translucent and set. This can take 30 - 50 minutes approximately.

  • Pick out the two lemon halves and discard them.

  • Blend jam into desired consistency (this is optional).

  • Test if the jam is set by dropping some on an ice cold plate, the jam is ready if it doesn't run. OR test with a candy thermometer, it's set at 220 Fahrenheit/ 105 Celsius. If it runs, keep for some more time to cook on low heat and repeat the test until you have the correct consistency.

  • Drop some rum (or other liquor) into the jar lids. That will help in keeping the jam germ and mold growth free.

    Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (16)

  • Fill your clean jam jars with the plum jam, close well with the lid and turn the jar upside down.

    Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (17)

  • Keep them upside down for a few hours and then store them in a dry and cool place and keep away from direct sunlight. Keep in the fridge once opened.

Notes

  1. 1 Teaspoon = one serving, 100 Teaspoons is about 3 jars (roughly). Recommended use is 1 Teaspoon serving on a slice of bread.
  2. If you live in a humid tropical climate, please store the jam in the fridge at all times.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Plum Jam Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 30Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Sodium 1mg0%

Potassium 16mg0%

Carbohydrates 8g3%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 8g9%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin A 34IU1%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 1mg0%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Plum Jam Recipe {without Pectin} | Masala Herb (2024)

FAQs

What thickens jam without pectin? ›

Making apricot jam without pectin is possible by using a combination of sugar and lemon juice to help the jam thicken.

What happens if you don't use pectin in jam? ›

You don't have to, but proceed carefully. "If you are really anti-pectin, you can omit it, but you'll need to cook the jam longer. Doing so will remove most of the water content in order to get it to set up properly and in turn, will result in a smaller yield," adds Wynne.

What fruit goes well with plums? ›

Plums go great with apples, but they also pair really well with other stone fruits such as peaches, nectarines and apricots. Berries are also good with plums including cherries, raspberries and strawberries.

Do you remove skin from plums before making jam? ›

The skins completely broke down during the cooking process into a deliciously sweet jam. The skins also contain a lot of pectin, which helps the jam gel. So here's my advice: leave the skin on the plums. Even if you don't like plum skin, you won't be able to tell!

Does lemon juice thicken jam? ›

With a simple lemon juice trick, your homemade jam will achieve your desired thick texture. Preparing jam is about capturing the sweet essence of the fruit while simultaneously cooking it down to the perfect syrupy consistency.

How do you fix jam that didn't set without pectin? ›

To remake cooked jam or jelly without added pectin, for each 1 L (4 cups) jam or jelly add 25 mL (2 tbsp) bottled lemon juice. Heat to boiling and boil jam or jelly hard 3 to 4 minutes, then test for signs of gelling.

How did people make jam before pectin? ›

Preservation using honey or sugar was one common method and the Ancient Greeks also used to use honey to preserve quince. Syrups made from honey and sugar were also used to preserve food; honey has no moisture so it preserves any food encased within it.

How do you thicken plum jam? ›

Add pectin.

Whisk a tablespoon of powdered pectin (preferably the no-sugar-needed variety) into the pot of cooking jam. Test for thickness and add another tablespoon if needed. Learn More About Pectin: What's the Deal with Pectin?

Why people avoid pectin? ›

Pectin is high in fiber. Fiber can stick to some medications in the stomach and intestines. Taking pectin at the same time as medications that you take by mouth might decrease how much medication your body absorbs. This can decrease how well these drugs work.

What herbs pair with plum? ›

Herbs and spices that complement plums. In dishes that include plums, try adding cinnamon, black pepper, cloves, ginger, mint, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, bay leaf, coriander, vanilla extract, almond extract, sage and/or thyme.

What can I do with too many plums? ›

Stew them and serve with custard, or cook them in a pie or crumble or clafouti. You could cook them with wine, sugar and spices to make mulled plums. Steep them in vodka or brandy with some sugar to make a liquer. Or make a chinese spiced plum sauce to serve with duck or stir fries.

Are plums a laxative? ›

Plums, like prunes, can also help keep things moving through your system. They have a lot of sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that acts as a natural laxative. High blood pressure and stroke. The potassium in plums is good for blood pressure control in two ways.

Why won't Plum Jam set? ›

The natural pectin in fruits and vegetables thickens jams. If there isn't enough pectin in the fruit itself and you don't add extra pectin, the result is runny jelly or jam. Additionally, if the fruit is overripe, its pectin levels are lower.

Can you overcook plum jam? ›

If, on the other hand, the jam is rock solid, that means you've gone too far and cooked it too long. You can try adding a little water to thin it out, but bear in mind that after overcooking a jam, you can't really get those fresh fruit flavors back.

How long will homemade plum jam last? ›

Homemade fruit preserves can last for up to year or even longer if it is unopened and stored in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry or kitchen cupboard. However the flavour and texture of your jam will start to deteriorate after around 6 months, even if you keep them tightly sealed.

What can I add to jam to thicken it? ›

If it still hasn't set, it's time to determine how much jam needs to be recooked. You don't want to remake more than 8 cups (4 pints) at a time. For every 4 cups of jam that needs to be remade, whisk together 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon powdered pectin.

What ingredient thickens jam? ›

If you simply take fruit and cook it with some sugar to sweeten it a little, it will get thick enough to turn into jam by the naturally occurring pectin in the fruit and the process of reduction. Reduction occurs when we simmer the fruit, and the liquid turns to steam and evaporates, which thickens the jam.

What can you use instead of pectin to set jam? ›

Pectin Substitute
  • Citrus Peels - Naturally high in pectin, you can substitute citrus peels for pectin.
  • Cornstarch - Another plant-based thickening agent, cornstarch is a great substitute for pectin.
  • Gelatin - For non-vegan menu items, you can substitute gelatin for pectin, but it will yield a different consistency.

Can I use lemon juice instead of pectin in jam? ›

The acid in lemon juice can help pectin to gel which is why it is often added to lower pectin fruits in jam-making, but it is not a straight replacement for pectin. As the recipe contains (apple) cider vinegar there is already a reasonable amount of acid in the chilli jam and extra lemon juice shoud not be needed.

References

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