Cucumber jam: recipes for an “exotic” dessert with lemon, mint, honey, apples. Recipe for cucumber jam with lemon, orange and honey

Cucumbers are mainly added to salads, winter preparations, and pickle soup. Therefore, the very thought of making jam from them is surprising. But those who have tried at least once tasty dish emerald color, they say: it has an unforgettable taste and aroma.

About the vegetable and its preparation

This vegetable delicacy will amaze you with its delicate taste, pleasant smell lemon or ginger. In addition, cucumber can be combined with a wide variety of berries and herbs.

Historians believe that cucumbers appeared in India approximately 6-7 thousand years ago. It is interesting that today the plant can be found in the wild at the foot of the Himalayas. From India the culture came to Greece. It was the Greeks who called the vegetable cucumber. Translated, this term means “unripe”, “immature”.

Then the Romans became interested in the culture, and from Rome the plant spread throughout Europe. Green vegetables quickly gained universal love and recognition. Even in ancient times it was noted positive properties product that can improve performance digestive tract, prolong beauty and youth.

In ancient treatises one can find the most various recipes dishes that contain cucumber. And not only salty ones. Vegetables served as the basis for preparing a variety of sweets. Thus, chronicles claim that Ivan the Terrible’s favorite dish was cucumbers in honey.

The dish does not require expensive products or excessive effort. But to make it excellent, consider four recommendations.

Selection of raw materials. For a sweet treat, it is recommended to take small gherkins. Such cucumbers have thin skin, do not have rough seeds. The jam turns out very tender. If you take overgrown vegetables, it is better to peel them and, if possible, remove the seeds.
Cooking process. The jam can be made in one batch. But if you have free time, then boil it two or three times for a few minutes. In this case, the ingredients will be better saturated with syrup, which will give the delicacy a richer taste.
Removing foam. Do not forget to periodically remove the foam that appears during boiling. This is what gives the dish its cloudiness. If you want to enjoy not only a tasty, but also a transparent emerald dish, watch the boiling process.
Sweetness . Do not rush to immediately add the amount of sugar indicated in the recipe. Focus on your taste. Perhaps you need to reduce the dose of sugar or, on the contrary, increase it. Taste the jam while cooking.

You can make more than just jam from overripe cucumbers. If diced vegetables are poured with vodka and kept for a week, you will get cucumber tincture. According to experienced moonshiners, it’s quite good.

A selection of recipes

An unusual delicacy can be prepared with the most different ways. It's amazing how much the taste changes regular cucumber in the hands of a professional. Classic option It is considered to be jam with lemon and sugar. Although, judging by the chronicles, the recipe with honey should have become a classic.

With lemon and ginger

Peculiarities . Jam prepared according to the classic recipe does not have the characteristic cucumber taste at all. Therefore, guests will not even be able to suspect what product formed the basis of this delicious delicacy that delights with its aftertaste. For the lemon-cucumber dessert, it is best to select small gherkins, the length of which does not exceed 5 cm.

Compound:

lemon (or lime) - two citrus fruits;
cucumbers (take gherkins) - 1.5 kg;
granulated sugar - 1.5 kg;
salt - a pinch;
ginger (root) - 20-25 g;
cabbage leaves - three to four leaves;
water.

How to cook

Wash the gherkins thoroughly.
In a large bowl, prepare the brine by adding salt and cabbage leaves to the water.
Immerse the cucumbers completely in the prepared liquid.
Vegetables should be infused in brine for three to four days, until they acquire a yellowish tint.
Now drain the brine and send it to boil.
As soon as it boils, pour over the gherkins.
Let them sit for about an hour or two.
When the brine has cooled, drain it again, boil, and re-pour over the vegetables.
Repeat pouring boiling water until the gherkins regain their greenish tint.
Now pour cold water into the pan with the green cucumbers.
Leave the gherkins like this for three days.
Pour sugar into clean water at the rate of 0.5 liters of water to 1.5 kg of sugar.
Boil the syrup.
Grate the lemon zest, squeeze the citrus juice, and chop the ginger.
Pour these preparations into the syrup, stir, and boil.
Place vegetables in syrup for exactly one day.
Drain the liquid; it is no longer needed. Now, in fact, the process of cooking cucumber jam begins.
Add sugar to the gherkins, which have already softened, following the proportions: for 400 g of cucumbers - 500-600 g of sugar.
Carry out the boiling procedure twice until the mixture acquires an evenly thick consistency.
Place the emerald mass in jars and seal them for the winter.

With mint

Peculiarities . The delicacy will simply enchant you with its exotic notes. The dish has a light refreshing mint flavor and a pleasant aroma. Unlike classic recipe, does not require lengthy preparation.

Compound:

cucumbers - 1.5 kg;
lemon - two citruses;
sugar - 900 g;
peppermint - a large bunch.

How to cook

Grind mint leaves in a blender.
Cut the cucumbers into small cubes, if necessary, remove the peel first.
Place cucumbers in a thick-walled cauldron, add mint.
Sprinkle the workpiece with grated lemon zest, sugar, pour lemon juice.
Mix the mixture thoroughly.
Leave it to let out its juice. Two to three hours is enough.
Place the cauldron on the fire and bring the mixture to a boil.
Cook the dish for low heat about half an hour. The finished jam should have the consistency of caramel.
Pour the thick mass into jars and roll up.

It is advisable to store jam in a cellar or in a cool place. In this case, you can do without sterilization. If the workpiece will be standing in an apartment, it is recommended to “insure” it. To do this, sterilize the dessert for 15 minutes before rolling.

With red currants

Peculiarities . Cucumber jam will only benefit from adding a handful of delicious fresh berries. Red currants will add flavor and provide bright colors to the emerald dish. If desired, you can take any other berry instead: raspberries, strawberries, blackberries.

Compound:

cucumbers - 1.5 kg;
sugar - 1.1 kg;
red currants - two glasses;
fresh mint - several leaves.

How to cook

Peel the cucumbers, remove the seeds, and cut into cubes.
Place the vegetables in a cauldron, add some of the sugar (take about two-thirds).
Leave the preparation for six to eight hours so that the cucumber pulp has time to release its juice.
Add the remaining sugar and simmer the mixture over low heat for 12-15 minutes.
Remove the jam from the stove and wait until it cools completely.
Add red currants to the cauldron and add mint.
Place the jam on the fire and boil it for 15 minutes.
Place hot into jars.

Honey

Peculiarities . Dessert made with honey has ancient Russian roots. It was he who was loved by Tsar Ivan the Terrible. Therefore, when treating your guests to an amazing preparation, you can safely call it “Royal”.

Compound:

cucumbers - 1.5 kg;
honey - 750 ml.

How to cook

Peel vegetables if they have thick skins.
Cut them into cubes.
Place the preparation in a saucepan.
Pour liquid honey over the cucumber pulp. If the product is candied, first melt it in a water bath.
Stir the mass.
Leave the honey-cucumber preparation for five to eight hours (preferably overnight).
In the morning, bring the mixture to a boil; over low heat, stirring occasionally, simmer the jam for two hours.
When the liquid has approximately halved and the cucumbers themselves become transparent, the jam is ready.
Place in jars and seal for the winter.

If you want to diversify the taste a little, add apples or pears to the preparation. Just prefer sweeter, honey-like varieties of fruit.

Spicy orange

Peculiarities . This preparation will charm you with its combination of orange, cinnamon and exotic notes of cloves.

Compound:

cucumbers - 1.5 kg;
orange - one;
lemon - one;
carnation - four inflorescences;
sugar - 750 g;
cinnamon, vanilla - a pinch;
rosemary - optional.

How to cook

Peel overripe vegetables, remove seeds, and cut into cubes.
Remove the zest from the lemon and orange.
Cut the citrus pulp into slices and discard the seeds.
Connect both pieces.
Add sugar and all seasonings.
Wait for the mixture to release its juices.
Then place the pan on the stove.
Boil the jam over low heat for 30 minutes.
By this time the syrup should thicken.
Pour the mixture into jars.
Sterilize the pieces for 15-20 minutes, then roll them up.

Gelatin

Peculiarities . Option for lovers savory dishes. In this case, the vegetables will be clearly visible.

Compound:

sugar - 600 g;
cucumbers - 1.5 kg;
gelatin (pectin, gelfix) - teaspoon;
mint - a large bunch;
water - 300 ml;
dill (optional) - a couple of branches;
lemon juice - four to five teaspoons.

How to cook

Cut clean vegetables into small pieces.
Place in a saucepan and add sugar.
While the preparation is releasing juice, carefully wash the bunch of mint.
Finely chop the leaves.
Brew mint with 100 ml of boiling water.
After three or four hours, when the cucumbers release their juice, transfer the pan to the fire.
Let the jam boil, reduce the flame.
Cook the dish over low heat for 20 minutes. The vegetables should change color and acquire a yellowish tint.
Grind the brewed mint (along with water) in a blender.
Mix gelatin with sugar.
Prepare lemon juice; it is best to take fresh citrus and squeeze it yourself.
Without removing the pan from the heat, pour the mixture of gelatin and sugar into it, add chopped mint, pour in lemon juice.
Bring the mixture to a boil, simmer over low heat for seven to ten minutes.
Distribute the hot jam into jars and seal for the winter.

With gooseberries

Peculiarities . This berry gives vegetables an interesting sourness. And finely chopped Walnut provides the delicacy with an unusual aftertaste.

Compound:

granulated sugar - 1.35 kg;
cucumbers - 1.5 kg
gooseberries - 1 kg;
kernels walnuts- one glass;
fresh spinach - a bunch;
lemon - half a fruit.

How to cook

Prepare the cucumbers, wash, peel and remove seeds.
Cut into bars.
Pour ice water over the vegetables and leave for several hours.
After a while, drain the liquid and sprinkle the vegetables with sugar.
Chop the walnuts.
Puree the gooseberries using a blender.
Squeeze the juice from half the citrus.
Add nuts and gooseberry mixture to the cucumbers, pour in lemon juice.
Chop the spinach with a sharp knife. Using gauze, squeeze out the juice.
Add two tablespoons of spinach juice to the mixture.
Mix the whole mass and put on fire.
Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20-30 minutes. IN ready dish cucumbers should become transparent.
Place in jars and roll up.

Delicious jam can be made not only from cucumbers. The appetizing delicacy is made from tomatoes with the addition of walnuts. But for this dish it is better to prefer cream tomatoes, which have a sweetish taste.

If you don't like a dessert that shows vegetables, then change the recipe a little. Before the last cooking, put the whole mass into a blender and beat thoroughly. Now the treat will resemble jam, and you can maintain intrigue regarding the main component.

The idea of making cucumber jam occurs to not many housewives. However, most experienced chefs They claim that this vegetable dessert is very healthy and tasty. It should also be noted that there is nothing complicated in its preparation. So dealing with this is simple culinary business even an inexperienced housewife can do it.

Cucumber jam: recipe

This dessert can be made using fruits of any size. This is very beneficial, as you can get rid of overripe and large vegetables, which do not go into pickles and various salads.

Cucumber jam with lemon is especially tasty. makes this delicacy more flavorful. By the way, some housewives additionally add various berries (for example, red currants) to it.

So what products do you need to purchase to make delicious jam from cucumbers? The recipe for this dessert requires the use of:

beet sugar - about 600 g;
fresh cucumbers of any size - 1 kg;
fresh lemon - 1 pc.;
crushed cinnamon - use according to your taste;
sweet orange - 1 medium-sized fruit;
carnations in buds - 3 pcs.;
vanilla - use at your discretion.

Preparing Ingredients

To make cucumber jam tasty, all ingredients should be used as much as possible. fresh. First, vegetables are processed. Cucumbers are washed in cold water and then peeled. If the fruits are large, they are also freed from pulp and seeds, obtaining peculiar boats. After this, they are chopped into slices and placed in a bowl.

As for lemon and orange, they are also washed thoroughly. Next, the fruits are chopped into small pieces, without removing the skin, but removing any existing seeds. As soon as the citruses are processed, crushed cinnamon, cloves in buds and vanilla are added to them. After thoroughly mixing the ingredients, add previously chopped cucumbers to the resulting slurry.

In this composition, the products are left under a newspaper for half an hour at room temperature. During this time, vegetables and fruits should release a large amount aromatic juice, which, when combined with melted sugar and seasonings, should form a thick and tasty syrup.

Heat treatment and seaming process

How should you prepare cucumber jam? Photo of this unusual dessert presented in this article demonstrates what the finished product looks like. Let's look at what should be done to achieve a similar result.

After completing all the above steps, the bowl of vegetables and fruits is placed on the stove. Over medium heat, bring the ingredients to a boil. Reducing the temperature to low, cook the jam for about 30 minutes until it thickens. In this case, the dessert should be stirred regularly with a spoon so that it does not burn.

Subjecting heat treatment cucumber jam, it is laid out in sterilized jars (directly in a boiling state) and immediately rolled up with lids. After allowing the dessert to cool at room temperature (for several days), it is removed to a cool room.

By the way, you can consume the cucumber delicacy immediately after cooking. It is advisable to serve it with toast and a cup of black tea.

Making cucumber and mint jam

There are many ways to make cucumber jam. In this section of the article we will tell you how to get the most fragrant and delicious dessert, adding mint to it.

To implement this recipe we will need:

fresh cucumbers of any size - about 500 g;
fresh mint - 1 large bunch;
beet sugar - 350 g;
gelling agent (for example, gelatin or pectin) - 1 dessert spoon;
fresh lemon juice - 2 small spoons;
drinking water - approximately 100 ml.

Preparing the ingredients

To prepare unusual homemade treats Cucumbers are thoroughly washed and peeled. Next, they are cut into identical bars and covered with granulated sugar. In this form, the vegetables are infused at room temperature for 4 hours. In the meantime, begin processing the mint. Fresh herbs are washed in warm water, and then put it in a blender and grind it into a paste. After this, pour boiling water over it and leave for 30 minutes. In the future, you can strain the mint through cheesecloth or use the mixture along with the pulp.

Heat treatment process

After the cucumbers release their juice and form a large amount of syrup together with sugar, they are placed on the stove and brought to a boil. With the heat set to low, cook the jam for about 20 minutes. At the same time, the cucumber blocks should change color.

After the specified time, chopped mint and lemon juice are added to the sweet vegetables. After mixing the ingredients, bring them to a boil again. This time the jam is cooked for 10 minutes.

To get more thick treat a solution of gelatin or pectin must be added to it. However, you should also not overdo it with these substances.

How and with what to serve?

Now you know how to make cucumber jam. Reviews from experts about this dessert say that it is not necessary to roll it up. It keeps well throughout the winter. However, in this case, the jam must be kept at room temperature.

Thus, after heat treatment, the cucumber and mint mixture is distributed into small jars and closed with regular lids. After cooling all the preparations under a thick blanket (over 24 hours), they are put in the refrigerator.

Present such a delicacy to family table preferably chilled.

In ancient times in Rus', jam was made not only from fruits, but also from vegetables. Under this name they produced a delicious delicacy cooked in molasses or honey. The raw materials were tomatoes, radishes, rose and dandelion flowers. There was also jam from fresh cucumbers, the recipe of which has survived to this day with numerous changes and improvements.

Over the entire period of growing cucumbers, a lot of recipes for making jam have been produced. Also in tsarist times greens in honey were the sovereign’s favorite delicacy. This dish can be easily varied daily ration. After all, I’m pretty tired of pickles, and I want new goodies. They do not only do it for the winter classic blanks, but also exotic ones that are just right to surprise guests.

To ensure that the final product tastes soft and fresh, only small, young cucumbers are selected. The fruits are washed thoroughly, getting rid of earthen stains. Otherwise, there is a risk of introducing botulism pathogens into the jam. Spicy taste the preparations will be enhanced by the addition of cinnamon or citrus fruits, as well as mixing with berries and fruits (for example, currants).

Preparing Ingredients

Cucumbers are washed, peeled from seeds (if the fruits were taken overripe) and cut into small cubes. Citrus fruits are cut into slices and sent to the greens. Spices and sugar are also sent here.

All components are thoroughly mixed and left to infuse for an hour. This time is necessary for the cucumbers and fruits to release their juice, which when mixed with sugar forms a thick syrup.

Cooking methods

Many methods have been developed for preparing cucumber jam. Housewives have to choose based on the availability of ingredients and their taste preferences.

Cucumber jam with mint and lemon

Pleasant taste and delicate aroma this dish will become great addition for a winter evening. Ingredients:

fresh cucumbers - 0.5 kg;
peppermint - 1 large bunch;
granulated sugar - 400 g;
thickener (for example, gelatin) - 1 tsp;
freshly squeezed lemon juice - 2 tsp;
water - 100 ml.

Cooking technology:

Making a cucumber treat is simple. You need to wash the greens and cut them into pieces, then cover them with sugar and leave for 4 hours. Wash the mint and grind until mushy using a blender. Then add boiling water and leave for half an hour. After this, the mint is filtered through cheesecloth or used together with the grounds.

After the cucumbers have released their juice, place them on the stove and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cook for 20 minutes, observing how the vegetables change color. After this, add mint and lemon juice, cook for another 10 minutes, and pour in the thickener solution. Delicious treat ready.

Cucumber jam with lemon and orange

This favorite recipe for gourmets and exotic lovers not only inspires, but also serves as a preventative against viral diseases in winter. Ingredients for cooking:

fresh cucumbers (can be overripe) - 1 kg;
lemon - 1 pc.;
orange - 1 pc.;
sugar - 0.5 kg;
dry cloves - 4 pcs.;
citric acid - ¼ tsp;
spices - to taste.

Cooking technology:

Wash the cucumbers thoroughly, peel and chop (on a grater or in a meat grinder). Peel the lemon, remove the seeds and chop them too. Do the same with oranges. Stir the citrus fruits, add sugar, put on fire and cook for 20 minutes. After this, add cucumbers and seasonings, mix thoroughly and cook for another 10 minutes. Place the resulting delicacy in jars, close and cool.

Cucumber jam with honey

Ingredients:

fresh cucumbers of any size and variety - 1 kg;
honey (candied is also suitable) - 0.5 liters.

Cooking technology:

Wash the cucumbers, cut them, remove the core if necessary and peel them. Cut the pulp into cubes and place in a saucepan. Add honey and mix thoroughly, leaving for 3 hours. After this, put on the fire, bring to a boil and cook over low heat for 2 hours. During this time, the cucumbers should become translucent. Place the finished product in jars and roll up.

Cucumber jam with gooseberries

Required ingredients:

fresh cucumbers - 700 g;
gooseberries - 300 g;
sugar - 550 g;
water - 100 ml;
citric acid - on the tip of a knife.

Cooking technology:

Wash the cucumbers, peel and cut into cubes. It is advisable to remove the skin to ensure a tender product. Gooseberries are mixed with cucumbers, sugar is added and everything is left for a couple of hours. After this, water is added and left for another 1 hour. Then place the pan on the stove, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cook for half an hour. Add citric acid and cook for another 10 minutes.

As a result, the cucumbers turn out to be very soft, and it is by this indicator that the readiness of the jam is determined. The delicacy is poured into jars and rolled up.

Cucumber and redcurrant jam

Ingredients:

fresh cucumbers - 2 kg;
sugar - 1.5 kg;
red currants - 1 cup;
peppermint - a few leaves;
spices to taste.

Cooking technology.

Cucumber jam is an option winter harvesting using a non-standard main product - a vegetable. Cooking methods may vary. The main difference is additional ingredients. The most popular is cucumber jam with the addition of orange and lemon. You can also supplement cucumber jam with mint, honey, and apples.

Recipes for cucumber jam have been known since ancient times. Cooking this unusual workpiece- a fairly simple process using a small list of ingredients. Let's look at some of the most popular and interesting options delicacy preparations.

Cucumber jam

If desired, cook instead of already served traditional jams something more unusual from fruits and berries, you should pay attention to cucumber jam. Not only does the delicacy have an amazing taste, but it also requires minimal costs.

Details about preparing the workpiece:

Recipe for cucumber jam with mint

Cucumber jam with the addition of mint has not only unusual taste, but also an indescribable aroma that will not leave anyone indifferent.

In order to prepare this delicious dish, you will need:

fresh cucumbers – ½ kg;
granulated sugar – 0.2 kg;
fresh mint – 1 bunch;
1 teaspoon of gelling mixture;
freshly squeezed lemon juice – 2 teaspoons;
purified water - half a glass.

Cooking time – 4 hours.

Calorie content – 138 kcal.

How to prepare a fragrant delicacy:

Wash the cucumbers well and then cut into small pieces.
Place the chopped vegetables in a saucepan, add granulated sugar (150 grams) and leave for 3 hours.
Rinse the mint, dry it, then chop it and add water brought to a boiling point. Also leave for infusion.
Place the infused cucumbers with sugar on the stove and cook the mixture for 20 minutes. During the process, the cucumbers should change their color.
Place the mint together with the infused water in a blender and grind. Add to cucumbers.
Mix the gelling mixture with the remaining granulated sugar (50 g) and add the resulting composition to the jam along with lemon juice.
Bring the mixture to boiling point and simmer over low heat for another 10 minutes.
Cool the resulting delicacy and you can immediately treat yourself and your family to it.

Preparation with oranges and lemons

This recipe is most loved by gourmets and admirers of everything unusual. For preparation you will need:

1000 g of overripe fresh cucumbers;
1 lemon;
1 large orange;
500 g granulated sugar;
dried cloves – 4 pieces;
a quarter teaspoon of citric acid;
spices (rosemary, cinnamon, vanilla) - determine the type and quantity to taste.

Calorie content – 183 kcal.

How to make jam:

Wash the cucumbers well, peel and cut into small cubes.
Peel the zest from the lemon, remove the layer of white skin, remove all the seeds and chop into small cubes.
Do the same with oranges.
Combine citrus fruits in a common container, add sugar to them and place on the stove, cook for at least 20 minutes.
Then add chopped cucumbers along with the desired seasonings.
Leave on the stove for another 10 minutes.
Sterilize jars and place them in ready-made jam hot.

Cooking option with honey

This recipe requires the following ingredients:

fresh cucumbers (any variety, you can even overripe) – 1000 g;
natural honey (even candied honey and last year’s honey will do) – ½ l.

Cooking time – 5.5 hours.

Calorie content – 220 kcal.

About making jam:

Peel the cucumbers. When using overripe vegetables, you should also remove the seeds, since only the pulp is needed for jam.
Cut the cucumber pulp into small cubes or bars and place them in an enamel pan.
Pour honey over cucumbers.
Mix the honey and vegetable mixture and leave to infuse for 3 hours.
During this time, the cucumbers will release juice and become saturated with aromatic and sweet honey.
Place the container on the stove and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low intensity and cook, constantly stirring the mixture for 2 hours.
The readiness of the jam is determined by the cucumbers, which should become translucent.
Pour hot jam into previously sterilized jars and seal tightly with lids.
Use a cool and dark room for storage.

Cucumber jam with apples

Despite the strange combination of vegetables and fruits in the recipe, it turns out very delicious sweetness, which amazes with its extraordinary bright taste and aroma.

In order to make jam, you need to purchase:

1 kg of overripe large cucumbers;
1 kg of fresh apples;
granulated sugar – 2 ½ cups;
1 lemon;
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary.

Cooking time – 40 minutes.

Calorie content – 170 kcal.

Step-by-step technology for making jam:

Vegetables must be thoroughly washed, peeled, divided into 2 parts and the insides removed. Grind the cucumber pulp using a coarse grater. During education large quantity juice should be squeezed from the pulp.
Grate the lemon zest using a small grater.
Peel and remove the insides of the apples. Then grate the fruit using a large grater.
Place prepared vegetables and fruits in a container. Sprinkle them with freshly squeezed lemon juice and then sprinkle with sugar.
Place the container on the stove and bring to boiling temperature. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Be sure to remember to constantly stir the mixture during the cooking process.
After the specified time, add rosemary and lemon zest. Cook for another five minutes.
Expand ready mass into dry jars and seal tightly with lids.

For jam, you should use small cucumbers with medium-sized seeds. Otherwise, cutting off the peel and removing the seeds is required.
When adding sugar or honey, it is not always necessary to follow the directions in the recipe. Can also be determined by taste required quantity sweets.
The taste of such jam directly depends on the duration of cooking. The longer the better. Ideal option Cooking will be: several boilings of the mass for at least 15 minutes.

The video shows the simplest recipe for making cucumber jam:

Jam - has an ancient Russian origin and means a delicacy cooked in honey or sugar molasses. In Rus', it was brewed not only from the usual berries and fruits, but also vegetables and flowers. Thus, in many huts in the summer-autumn season, the aroma of freshly made jam from tomatoes, radishes, ylang-ylang flowers, roses and dandelion was in the air. Cooked with honey and cucumber jam.
Its most famous lover was Ivan the Terrible. There is also a well-known story about Catherine the Great, who, having tasted the “emerald” gooseberry delicacy, presented the cook with a ring from her hand.

In those days, honey was used as a preservative instead of sugar, and people knew that jam was healthy. natural product, which has a positive effect on the body, thanks to healing properties berries If there was no honey, then fruits and vegetables were simply boiled down and served as fillings for pies.
Well, the first person to officially voice this canning process was the Frenchman Nicolas Appert, for which he received the award and title “Benefactor of Humanity.”

CUCUMBER JAM

Let's start by trying the most popular recipe.

To prepare it you will need:

gherkins – 1 kilogram, 1 kilogram of granulated sugar, water, a pinch of salt,
cabbage leaves, 25 grams of ginger, two lemons.

Preparation:

Making jam is preceded by a long preparatory period, so be patient when starting. First, let's select cucumbers; these should be very small specimens, no more than five centimeters in length. The gherkins are washed and dipped in brine, which consists of salted water and cabbage leaf. The gherkins should stand in the brine for three to four days until they turn yellowish.

As soon as the cucumbers turn yellow, pour the brine into a saucepan and boil. After it boils, pour it over the gherkins and let it sit. When the water has cooled, pour it back into the pan, boil and pour the cucumbers again. This is done until the gherkins turn green again. Then they are filled again cold water, and left in it for three days.

Now you can prepare the syrup. It consists of water and sugar, which are taken in the ratio of 1.5 glasses of water per kilogram of sugar. The juice and zest of two lemons, and grated ginger are also added to the syrup. We place the gherkins in the syrup for one day, and then drain it without regret.

The last stage of preparing this unusual jam consists of boiling. Add sugar to our cucumbers, per 400 grams of gherkins, 600 sugar. Everything is boiled until it thickens, and the jam is boiled twice.

Now your jam is ready, you can invite your household to try this unprecedented delicacy. You can also put cucumber jam in jars for the winter.

RECIPE FOR JAM FROM OLD YELLOW CUCUMBERS

Delicious and fragrant jam can be prepared from old yellow cucumbers, which are sold in markets at bargain prices. And it turns out no less tasty than from tight and dense fresh gherkins. These cucumbers have thick skin and large seeds, and they must be removed. Only the pulp is suitable for jam.

It is prepared in enamel and wooden dishes. As already written above, first the cucumbers are peeled, cut in half and all large seeds are removed with a knife. Then the crumb is cut into small cubes and covered with sugar for an average of six hours. Afterwards the crumb is brought to a boil and boiled for about 15 minutes.

After the brew has boiled, the pan is removed from the stove and left overnight. Then during the day, the jam is boiled again several times for fifteen minutes until the crumb settles to the bottom. To get the jam delicate taste and aroma; during the last cooking, the zest and juice of lemon and orange, a couple of cloves, and cinnamon are added to it on the tip of a knife.

CUCUMBER JAM WITH MINT ADDED

If you haven’t stopped wondering yet, then we bring to your attention even more amazing dish. Jam made from fresh homemade cucumbers already looks quite unusual, and with the addition of mint the dish turns into unprecedented exoticism, since this herb gives it a refreshing taste and pleasant aroma. So you want to surprise your friends? Offer them a cucumber mint dessert.

Ingredients:

1 kilogram of cucumbers, 600 grams of granulated sugar,
zest and juice of 2 lemons, bunch fresh leaves peppermint.

Preparation:

Mint leaves are finely chopped; it is better to use a mixer for this. Cucumbers are peeled and seeded and chopped into small cubes. Place cucumber pulp, sugar, lemon zest and juice, and chopped mint in a thick-bottomed pan. Everything is mixed and left for several hours to soak;
Bring the pulp to a boil and simmer for an average of half an hour, until the mixture acquires the consistency liquid caramel. Hot jam is poured into jars.
Helpful Tips:

To make the jam more aromatic and tasty, boil it as often as possible over low heat. Each boiling time is 15 minutes. It is a well-known fact that the longer this delicacy is cooked, the tastier it turns out, so you can improve almost every recipe by including additional cooking. Let the cucumbers soak in the juice of the remaining ingredients as best as possible;
For cooking, medium-sized vegetables with small seeds and thin skin are most optimal. If you take overripe specimens, then take the time and be sure to remove both the peel and the seeds;
When cooking, you can adjust the degree of sweetness yourself. The amount of sugar indicated in each recipe is not final. You can also always replace sugar with honey and prepare the dish in the Old Russian tradition. Therefore, do not forget to test the jam for sugar.
As you can see, cucumber is ideal for making dessert. Gherkin jam will be an excellent addition to evening tea and, most likely, will make your household once again admire your culinary talents.

JAM FROM CUCUMBER, GINGER, LEMON, ORANGE AND MINT

Ingredients:
Cucumbers - 2 pcs. ginger, lemon - 1 pc. orange - 1 pc. Melissa mint - 2 sprigs, sugar - 200 grams, hot pepper if desired - 0.5 tsp. poppy seed - 1 tsp.

For this jam, take young and thin-skinned medium-sized cucumbers. Cucumber does not have a strong aroma, so it will be easy to enrich it with new flavors. Peel the vegetables.
Cut the cucumbers into small cubes. Rinse the mint, peel and finely chop the ginger, add everything to the cucumbers and cover everything with sugar. After half an hour, a lot of liquid will form in the bowl with the cucumbers; the cucumbers have released their juice. Grate the zest from the lemon and orange and cut it off with a potato peeler. Now cut the fruit into two parts. Squeeze the juice from the lemon and orange into the cucumbers, and add the zest there. Turn on the stove and place the bowl on the fire, keeping the jam boiling at a lower than medium heat level.

Continue cooking the jam until the liquid in it has reduced by half and begins to thicken. Then turn off the heat and remove the jam from the stove. Remove the mint sprigs from the jam; they have already given up all their aromas. Well, now, you can add additional ingredients that can transform the jam. You can put a drop hot pepper, this will not make the jam too spicy, it will just add a spicy note. This jam is very suitable for aged cheeses or feta cheese. You can add a spoonful of poppy seeds, a pleasant crunch will appear in the jam, and also, appearance, will resemble kiwi jam. Take a beautiful sterilized jar and pour cucumber jam into it. Spicy and tasty cucumber, ginger and mint jam is ready, now winter evenings, you will serve this delicacy to your family for tea or cheese.

CUCUMBER JAM WITH LEMON, GINGER AND CINNAMON

Ingredients:
young cucumbers - 3 pcs. lemon or orange - 1 pc. cloves - 2 pcs. sugar - 350 grams, a sprig of mint to taste, a mixture of ground dry ginger and cinnamon.

For this jam, take young cucumbers without seeds. Using a vegetable peeling knife, you need to peel the cucumbers; we don’t need it at all. You can throw away the skin, or you can, as I did, wipe your face with these skins and saturate it with useful particles.

Cut the peeled cucumbers into small cubes and place in a bowl. Pour cold water over the cucumbers until it covers them, let them stand aside for 30 minutes. Now pour the cucumbers and water into a ladle or saucepan, add the cloves and place over medium heat. A mixture of dry ginger and cinnamon can add a spicy note to this jam. Add a teaspoon of this mixture to the cucumbers. You can buy this mixture in special spice shops, or at the bazaar from sellers of spices by weight. Boil the cucumbers for 10-15 minutes over low heat until soft. Using a strainer, remove all the cucumber pieces into a separate deep plate.

In the water that is left from the cucumbers, put all the zest from the lemon or orange, and squeeze the juice from it there. Pour all the sugar into this liquid and place over medium heat. Add a sprig of mint to the boiling syrup, if desired. The syrup must be boiled until it has a viscous consistency, a viscous liquid. Now put the cucumber pieces in the syrup and bring to a boil, then remove them from the heat and let them cool. Then put it back on the fire and wait for the first bubbles, cook for a couple of minutes over low heat, and leave the jam to cool again.
Do this procedure several times so that the jam does not fall apart and the cucumber pieces become transparent. Cucumber jam with lemon, ginger and cinnamon is ready, you can treat your family with this unusual jam, or candied fruits, whatever you prefer to call this sweet preparation.