Let's make delicious and healthy carrot and lemon jam for the winter

Jam with sugar first appeared in Ancient Iran - the Persians added a large amount of spices to the sweetness. The ancient Greeks simmered quince and honey over low heat until a viscous mixture was obtained. In Russia, the term “jam” appeared at the end of the 18th century. Nowadays, there are a huge number of recipes from berries, fruits and vegetables. Carrot jam with lemon is one of the simplest and most unusual versions of this dessert.

Selection and preparation of carrots for making jam

Sweet varieties and hybrids are suitable for making jam: Children's sweet, Maestro F1, Emperor, Nantes 4, Caramel, Honey, Lakomka. Choose carrots that are young, bright orange, and without damage.

Root vegetables are washed to remove heavy contamination, cleaned, damage and green parts are cut off, washed again with clean water and cut into thin circles, halves or quarters.

100 g of product contains:

1. Vitamins - A (852 mcg), B (900 mcg), K (13.7 mcg). They have a beneficial effect on metabolic processes, the immune, nervous and cardiovascular systems, and regulate blood clotting.
2. Macronutrients - potassium (235 mg), calcium (30 mg), magnesium (10 mg), phosphorus (30 mg). Strengthens the cardiovascular and skeletal systems.
3. Microelements - iron (0.34 mg), manganese (0.155 mg), copper (17 mcg), zinc (0.2 mg), selenium (0.7 mcg), fluorine (47.5 mcg). They support the functioning of the immune system and normalize metabolism.

Antioxidants in carrots prevent cell damage, thereby maintaining youth and health.

100 g of product contains 35 kcal, 90 g of water, 5.2 g of carbohydrates, 0.8 g of protein, 0.2 g of fat and 3 g of dietary fiber.

The GI of carrots boiled in small pieces is 75-80 units. People with diabetes and overweight are advised to consume root vegetables and dishes made from them with caution and only in the first half of the day.

How to make carrot jam with lemon

The jam turns out thick and is suitable not only for tea drinking, but also for filling pies and cakes.

Ingredients:

• carrots - 500 g;
• lemon - 500 g;
• sugar - 1 kg;
• vanillin or vanilla sugar - to taste.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Jam jars are washed with soda and hot water, rinsed and sterilized over steam. To do this, place a metal plate with several holes on a pan of hot water. Jars are placed on them and water is heated. They are sterilized 5 minutes from the moment the water boils. Another method is dry sterilization for 10 minutes in an oven preheated to 100°C.
2. Sterilized jars are wrapped in a clean, pre-ironed kitchen towel on both sides and placed neck down on another towel to cool.
3. Metal lids are boiled for 5 minutes and dried on a clean towel.
4. Lemons are washed, pitted and cut into slices with the peel.
5. The prepared carrots are cut into small pieces.
6. Carrots and lemon are passed through a meat grinder, sugar is added and cooked over low heat, stirring constantly for 40 minutes.
7. Turn off the heat, add vanillin or vanilla sugar, mix thoroughly.
8. The jam is placed in sterilized jars, covered with lids, cooled at room temperature and stored in the refrigerator or cellar.

How to prepare it for the winter

Spices make the delicacy even healthier and tastier. Turmeric - a natural antibiotic, saffron is known for its rejuvenating effects, cardamom and ginger have anti-inflammatory properties. This jam will protect against winter colds.

Important! Spices are used in minimal quantities - on the tip of a knife, so as not to spoil the taste of the jam.

Ingredients:

• carrots - 1 kg;
• lemon - 2 pcs.;
• sugar - 1 kg;
• water - 300 ml;
• vanilla sugar, saffron, turmeric, ginger, cardamom - to taste.

Preparation:

1. Carefully cut off the peel from washed lemons, without touching the white part, which is slightly bitter.
2. Squeeze out the juice. Syrup is prepared from juice, water and sugar.
3. Prepared and sliced ​​carrots and chopped lemon peel are brought to a boil over low heat. Boil for 3-5 minutes and turn off the heat.

During the cooking process, constantly stir with a wooden spoon, especially during boiling, so that it does not burn. It is better not to allow intense boiling, otherwise splashes of hot jam may get on the skin.

The jam is cooled at room temperature, then heated 2 more times and boiled for 5 minutes. After this, they are laid out in pre-prepared jars, covered with lids and left to cool at room temperature. Store in the refrigerator or cellar.

How to cook carrot-lemon jam in a slow cooker

The jam is prepared with the lid open in the “Stew” mode.

Ingredients:

• carrots - 0.5 kg;
• lemon - 1 pc.;
• sugar - 400 g;
• water - 100 ml;
• cinnamon - 1 stick;
• cloves - 3 pcs.;
• nutmeg - a pinch.

Preparation:

1. The cooked carrots are chopped on a fine grater, the peel without the white layer is cut off from the washed lemon and finely chopped, and the juice is squeezed out.
2. Mix carrots, lemon and sugar, add a gauze bag with cinnamon and cloves to the mixture and leave covered in the refrigerator overnight. During this time, the carrots will give juice and become saturated with spices, and the sugar will dissolve.
3. In the morning, remove the bag of spices from the pan, add nutmeg and simmer the jam for 40 minutes over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon.
4. The finished jam is placed in sterilized jars, covered with lids and cooled at room temperature. Store in the refrigerator.

If you grind carrots and lemon through a meat grinder, you will get larger pieces. The jam is simmered over low heat for 30 minutes, then cooled at room temperature until warm and simmered for another 30 minutes.

Important! The foam formed during cooking must be removed, otherwise it will spoil the taste of the jam. In this case, the product itself will become cloudy over time.

Recipe Variations

New ingredients change the taste and aroma of jam.

Carrot jam with lemon and orange

It turns out a thick, aromatic jam.

Ingredients:

• carrots - 600 g;
• lemon - 2 pcs.;
• orange - 1 pc.;
• sugar - 500 g.

Preparation:

1. Cooked carrots, lemon and orange peels are finely chopped. Juice is squeezed out of oranges and lemons.
2. The juice, carrots and peel are mixed with sugar, simmered over low heat for 1 hour, placed in sterilized jars, covered with lids and cooled at room temperature. Store in the refrigerator.

With ginger

To prepare candied fruits in syrup with a delicious ginger-lemon flavor you will need:

• carrots - 1.5 kg;
• lemon - 2 pcs.;
• fresh ginger - 50 g;
• sugar - 1.5 kg;
• water - 100 ml.

Preparation:

1. The carrots are washed and boiled in their skins for 30 minutes. Pour cold water over the carrots - this makes it easier to peel them, then cut them into small pieces or cubes.
2. Grind the lemon peel and peeled ginger and squeeze out the lemon juice. All ingredients are mixed with sugar and warm water, carrots are added.
3. Bring the jam to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour. Place in sterilized jars, close with lids and cool at room temperature. Store in the refrigerator.

Terms and conditions of storage

The jam is stored in glass jars in a cold place with a temperature no higher than +15°C: refrigerator, cellar or balcony thermal container. The jam is subjected to heat treatment, so its taste and beneficial properties are preserved for up to 2 years.

Reviews

Those who have made carrot jam claim that it is very tasty, beautiful, and similar to tangerine jam.

Olga, Moscow: «A very simple jam, but very tasty! You can't feel the carrots at all, the taste is like tangerine jam. I don’t add vanilla, but vanilla caramel.”

Anastasia, Omsk: “Incredibly delicious jam. I chop carrots and fruits into meat grinder You can add chokeberry or other berries to taste.”

Elinochka, Riga: “It makes a beautiful jam with a grainy consistency. It’s better not to pour it into bottles; after it cools, it will thicken and be difficult to shake out.”

This is interesting:

Useful properties and the most delicious recipes for carrot tea.

Secrets of proper consumption of carrots so that they are better absorbed.

The best recipes for “Orange Miracle” carrot salad for the winter.

Conclusion

It’s very easy to make delicious and healthy carrot and lemon jam for the winter.The main ingredients are carrots, lemons and sugar. Oranges, berries and spices are also added to taste. Depending on the grinding method, you get candied fruits in syrup or jam.