Beyond Strawberry Jam: 7 Unique Preserving Recipes

If you’ve become bored with putting up plain jams and jellies, why not expand your repertoire—and your palate—a bit with some really unique taste combinations? Check out these seven creative recipes for preserving the harvest.

Onion Jam

Why just go sweet when you could go savory? This recipe for onion jam from the Food Network calls for onions (of course) with red wine, honey and vinegar to create a complex condiment that goes great on sandwiches or with your favorite cheese.

Violet Walnut Conserve

If you’re lucky enough to live where you can pick violets, this recipe for violet walnut conserve (pictured above) is a completely unique treatment for the flavorful flowers. You could probably also adapt the recipe to work with other edible flowers. Your guests will feel like royalty when you serve this with cheese or dessert.

Watermelon Jelly

Watermelon season is just about over, but if you can still get a nice one at your market, try making a batch of this watermelon jelly to extend the season well into the colder months. Imagine how amazing this would taste spread on a hot piece of toast in the middle of January—like a bite of summer.

Bacon Jam

Yeah, I said it: bacon jam. This stuff could be crazy addictive. Got a bacon fan on your holiday gift list? Your shopping is done. You’re welcome. 

Wild Plum Ketchup

If you’ve never tried making your own ketchup, you’re missing out! Whether you’re blessed with wild plums or are just using some beauties from your farmer’s market or grocery store, this recipe is a tasty twist on plain old Heinz.

Apricot Caper Jam

Once you’ve put up your millionth jar of plain, ordinary jam, you might be ready to shake things up, try new flavors, experiment a bit. This recipe for apricot caper jam might just be the breath of fresh air you’ve been searching for—the bright briny flavor of the capers pairs surprisingly well with the earthy sweetness of the apricots.

Red PearLavender Jam

This recipe for red pear lavender jam just sounds elegant; I can only imagine how it would taste. And I can imagine how beautiful it would look in a gift basket with a loaf of bread, and how happy my friends might be to receive it. Hmmm…

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Image by Wendy Petty of Hunger and Thirst for Life

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