Spicy Tomato Jam

Total Time: 216 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 216 hrs

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ripe tomatoes
• 1 -2 serrano chili, seeded, finely chopped
• 4 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro or 1/2 cup fresh basil, minced
• 1 1/2 cups tomato juice

Recipe

• 1 bring a medium size pan of water to a boil.
• 2 plunge washed tomatoes into boiling water for 30 seconds or until skin slips easily when placed in cold water.
• 3 remove tomatoes from hot water with a slotted spoon and plunge immediately into cold water.
• 4 cut off tops, remove skin and core (it is not necessary to remove all the seeds but i would recommend removing the core.).
• 5 cut the tomatoes into fourths, place in container of food processor along with metal blade and pulse 2 to 3 times to chop being careful not to over process.
• 6 place the tomatoes in a large non-reactive pot or dutch oven; simmer 10 minutes.
• 7 add the chili and sugar, stirring to blend; add lemon juice, cilantro and tomato juice stirring to blend.
• 8 bring to a boil over high heat and stir until sugar dissolves; approximately 1 minute.
• 9 boil gently for 10 minutes skimming off and discarding any scum that may come to the surface.
• 10 remove from heat, cover and allow to sit at room temperature for a minimum of 8 hours; overnight is fine.
• 11 return the tomatoes to heat, bring to a simmer and allow to cook until thick and temperature on candy/jelly thermometer reaches 220 degrees; approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
• 12 skim off any foam, ladle into hot, clean, half-pint canning jars, and leaving 1-inch of head space.
• 13 wipe the rim of the jars with clean cloth, place on the lids and rings; put the jars into a water bath canner with boiling water and process for 5 to 10 minutes or as recommended for your altitude.
• 14 carefully remove the jars from the water and place on countertop on top of a towel.
• 15 allow jars to cool and check seal; label and store in cool place. enjoy!
• 16 note: if you don't have a candy/jelly thermometer; you can use the plate test. place a small plate in the freezer and allow to chill. remove plate a drop a small amount of hot jam onto plate, return to freezer for 1 minute. the mixture should hold its shape when touched and not have watery edges.