Spicy Tomato Jam | Beantown Baker

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Spiced Tomato Jam

Spiced Tomato Jam has a complex flavor from a variety of spices, chili peppers, apples, and tomatoes. It’s like a sophisticated ketchup that is amazing on almost anything.

A couple weeks ago we had some friends from college in town. The weekend consisted of some brewery tours, lots of food, s’mores at the fire pit, and talk of eating peppers. One of our friends had been gifted a couple chili peppers by a coworker. Unsure of what kind of pepper they actually were, I posted this picture on instagram.

According to instragram user spiceprinces, it’s a Black Cobra (also called Goat’s Weed) pepper, could be used like any other chili, and has a spicy/smokey flavor. My problem? I’m a huge wimp when it comes to spicy food. Although my spice tolerance is getting better, I just don’t cook with chili peppers.

Throughout the weekend, the six of us kept threatening to make a dare where someone had to bite the pepper. Lucky for me, those dares never happened, and no one had to bite any spicy peppers. So after our friends left, I set out to find a way to use these hot peppers.

I decided to make this Spiced Tomato Jam because I also had a LOT of super ripe tomatoes from our CSA box. I was intrigued by the list of ingredients in this jam. You get a little heat and smokiness from the peppers, some sweetness from the apple, and a plethora of flavors from all the spices thrown in there.

I ended up making a double batch and processed the cans of jam so that we can enjoy this stuff all year long. Although, I have to admit, I don’t think it’s going to last very long. Hubby and I went through our first jar within a week of when I made it. So far I’ve eaten it oven chicken, scrambled eggs, potatoes, and on a grilled cheese sandwich.

Two Years Ago: Freshly Squeezed Lemonade and Chocolate Biscoff Cupcakes
Three Years Ago: Elote
Four Years Ago: Banana Split Cupcake
Five Years Ago: Blueberry Buckle

Spiced Tomato Jam

Spiced Tomato Jam has a complex flavor from a variety of spices, chili peppers, apples, and tomatoes. It's like a sophisticated ketchup that is amazing on almost anything.

Yield: Four 8 oz (half pint) jars

Ingredients:

3.5 lbs tomatoes, roughly chopped with seeds and skin attached
2 large apples, peeled and diced
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp fresh ginger, minced
2 Thai chili peppers, minced (I removed the seeds from one and left the seeds in the other)
1 cinnamon stick
1/4 tsp cumin
pinch of ground cloves
1 tbsp lime juice
1 1/2 Tbsp salt
1 1/2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

Directions:

Place all of the ingredients (except the balsamic vinegar) in a large pot. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the juices have evaporated and the tomatoes and apples have softened and the consistency is thick. This could take a few hours (I let mine simmer for most of the afternoon. It made our house smell AMAZING).

Remove from the heat and add the balsamic vinegar.

Once cooled slightly, remove the cinnamon stick and place in jars. Store in the fridge for one week or process in a water bath for 10 minutes to store it for up to a year.

Recipe adapted from The Dabble

Better than Store Bought, Condiments, Gift Ideas

3 comments »

16 Responses to “Red Wine Jelly”

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colleen @ Secrets from the Cookie Princess — October 2, 2015 at 10:03 am
Cool recipe–sounds great!

And I hear you on the blog writing hiatus, mama. My little one is 9 1/2 months and my blog has definitely been put on the back burner. Though I still cook and play with recipes (we gotta eat), I’ve just decided that when time is precious, I’d rather spend it with him than photographing, writing and posting. I’m sure I’ll get back to it when he’s a little more independent (or at least willing to play by himself for more than a few minutes at a time). You were one of the blogs that inspired me to start writing my own, so I hope you eventually find the swing of things that works for you again. Until then, enjoy that precious face.
- beantownbaker — October 16th, 2015 @ 2:57 pm
  
  Thanks for the kind words. I love hearing from people I inspired to start blogging 🙂 Warms my heart. I am hoping to find a rhythm that works with our new life as a family of three.
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Barbara — October 2, 2015 at 9:47 pm
I’ve always enjoyed reading your blog and making your recipes! Your blog is one of the first I ever discovered and became hooked on reading bloggers! One of the first things I ever made were your peppermint patty cookies and still get requests one year later from friends that I hardly see. Those are a hit! Very memorable.
So glad you felt the itch to come back to writing. Yay!
- beantownbaker — October 16th, 2015 @ 2:58 pm
  
  Thanks for leaving this comment. Those cookies get tons of requests from my friends and family too! They’re great. Hoping to keep scratching this itch when we get back from Italy. Our WiFi here is painfully slow…
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Cindy S. — October 3, 2015 at 10:47 am
I really enjoy reading all the things in your blog, I also love the fact that you are getting to explore a whole new country. I find that fascinating and would love to travel but that takes money of which I have none….lol So I will just live vicariously thru your posts!! The jelly sounds terrific will have to put on my to make list. What kind of cheese is it that you paired with it? Give that baby a squeeze and y’all keep exploring !!!
- beantownbaker — October 16th, 2015 @ 3:00 pm
  
  The cheese in the pic is a goat milk brie. It’s delicious. When my lactose intolerance is flaring up, I have to avoid cow’s milk. I’ve honestly come to prefer goat and sheep milk cheese because of it. And the goat milk brie comes in such a cute little package. You can find it at Trader Joes or even most big grocery stores.
  
  Hope I’m doing justice to your living vicariously through us 🙂
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Tracy | Pale Yellow — October 4, 2015 at 10:51 am
Welcome back! I’ve always enjoyed your posts, I’m glad your family is doing well and having adventures. This recipe looks lovely! I image it would make a lovely addition to a fancy cheese tray!
- beantownbaker — October 16th, 2015 @ 3:01 pm
  
  Thanks! It would be great with some fancy cheese. That is one thing we’ve really enjoyed here in Italy. I wish we could bring a ton home…
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Ted — October 9, 2015 at 6:29 pm
Hi Jen, I was wondering about how you were doing not too long ago. Happy to hear from you!
- beantownbaker — October 16th, 2015 @ 3:02 pm
  
  Hey Ted! I don’t have many readers who I knew in real life before I started blogging! Things are good. Hope all is well with you.
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Beth — October 13, 2015 at 9:22 am
welcome back,I hope,i have missed your posts ..I have followed you since you were in Boston and have always enjoyed your notes and recipes…I too love to sew so maybe you can let me in on a few secrets and I will share some with you..:o)…your daughter looks like an angel….bless your family and keep the posts coming….
- beantownbaker — October 16th, 2015 @ 3:04 pm
  
  Thanks for reading and sticking around during the radio silence period. Hoping it doesn’t continue much longer… I’m actually taking a 6 week beginners sewing class that I’m loving. We’ve done a zipper and piping and applique so far.
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Carol — October 18, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Hi! I’m a blog “lurker”…use them for the recipes and tutorials, but never leave comments. But I HAD to this time. Backstory: I used your recipes every time I had to bake something. I LOVE your approach to baking! (and once upon a time was single woman living in Boston) Anyway, I had two small kids and loved reading your stuff…a young, career woman and wife….then moving half way across the country.
Life got busy. My sewing took over any “blog lurking” time I had.
Yesterday I needed your cheesecake recipe. I found your blog. Before I read your recent post I thought to myself, I wonder what that lady is up to these days…
LOVED reading that Youre a momma now…and living half way around the world!
We also had a baby girl this year (late in the game, but she completes our family ❤️). Anyway, just wanted to say congrates!…and good luck with the sewing!!
- beantownbaker — November 5th, 2015 @ 9:24 pm
  
  This comment makes me smile ear to ear. Thanks for leaving it. So glad you came out of lurker mode to comment. I love hearing from people who have been reading for a while. Thanks for coming back after all this time!
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Ashley (QLCC) — October 21, 2015 at 2:35 pm

Welcome back! 😀
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Angelo — April 20, 2016 at 12:41 pm

I made this for Christmas presents this year. It turned out great and is quite tasty. Is great over brie and cream cheese. Also great over a croissant with white cheese.

Spiced Tomato Jam