Green Tomato Jam

I know, I know … Green Tomato Jam … this WonkyWonderful chick has gone Bonkers! That’s what you’re thinking, Right?When I came across a recipe for Green Tomato Preserves in a vintage cookbook I thought it sounded absolutely bizarre. I love fried green tomatoes but the idea of sugary sweet green tomatoes was not appealing.But Hey, what the heck? You can’t say you don’t like something if you’ve never tried it. Plus it was one of the least complicated recipes in the cookbook. Being the lazy cook that I am I decided to give it a try.

For my first batch I followed the recipe printed in the Plantation Cookery of Old Louisiana cookbook, copyright 1938. The result was tasty but the amount of sugar that the recipe calls for is INSANE! (One pound of sugar for every two pounds of tomatoes)

While the recipe was far too saccharine for my liking, I was inspired to create this tangy, slightly sweet Green Tomato Jam.

Now is the perfect time to try this recipe. It is not quite tomato season so technically it is Green Tomato Season! Make a trip to your local farmer’s market or stroll out to your yard if you are lucky enough to have homegrown tomatoes.This is a No Muss, No Fuss refrigerator jam recipe. These measurements will produce 12 ounces of jam.

Ingredients:

2 lbs chopped Green Tomatoes (measures to about 4 cups)

1/2 cup honey

Juice of 2 lemons and the peels (yellow portion only) sliced or chopped

1 inch long sliver of fresh ginger (optional)

3 whole cloves

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup water

Now for the super complicated instructions…Toss all the ingredients into a saucepan or pot.Bring to a boil, then turn heat down to low or medium low depending how vigilant you are about stirring.

Occasionally stir and continue to cook until thickened. (I cooked mine on low for an hour)

Remove and discard ginger and cloves.

Let cool then seal it in a jar or container.

Store in the refrigerator and use within two weeks.

I prefer to eat this Tart Treat on a biscuit or english muffin. This jam is not quite sweet, not quite savory. But the bright flavor is over the top … It will put a Zip in your Skip!This recipe is a perfect example of Wonky and Wonderful. It seems peculiar, but blends together to create perfection.Thanks for visiting. I hope you decide to try this recipe and enjoy it as much as I do!
If you have any questions, I am more than happy to help … Leave a comment or email me: wonkywonderful@gmail.com

If you like this recipe, stroll on over and check out my Creamy Nutella Dip or 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter – Chocolate Chip Cookies …

Comments

Becky says
October 18, 2013 at
My son passed this recipe link on to me when I told him the frost had left me with armloads of large green tomatoes – simmering on the stove now. DELICIOUS SMELL filling the house. My tip: PEEL the lemon zest off the lemons before juicing them – MUCH easier than cutting off the yellow and leaving the white after they are all squeezed out! A vegetable peeler does the job easy peazy. You don’t have to ask me how I know this, right? Exactly!
- Nicole Harris says
  October 19, 2013 at
  Hi Becky! Yes, that is definitely a great tip! Zesting/Peeling the lemons before juicing is definitely the easier route 🙂
  - Becky says
    October 19, 2013 at
    We served the jam last night to dinner guests and everyone went crazy. SOOOOO GOOD!!
    So today I harvested another 4 lbs of green tomatoes from the garden and tomorrow we will pick up more lemons and do this again. So good. SO INCREDIBLY GOOD omg.
    We ate more than half the first 16 oz jar in less than 24 hours… uh oh!! Gonna freeze the next batch so we have them when Tom and Setta and the rest of the kids come visit in December.
    Holy Maloney SO GOOD!
    - Nicole Harris says
      October 22, 2013 at
      I’m so glad you and your guests enjoyed! Green Tomato Jam does sound strange but is so crazy delicious! I always end up eating my jam straight from the jar with a spoon, lol 🙂
Christine Shirey says
August 30, 2018 at
Can ÿôu water bath or pressure can this recipe? I have no more room in my freezer.
- Nicole Harris says
  September 5, 2018 at
  I’m sorry, I’m not a canner. So I’m no help there at all :/