Red Pepper Chile Jam

This four-ingredient simple jam recipe produces a sparkling red, fresh-flavored condiment that emphasizes the natural sweetness of the peppers. I love it with cheese and crackers, and it’s stunning over cheesecake. Make a lot, bottle it up and enjoy treating your friends to this winter treasure.

For this recipe I chop the sweet peppers, then mix in hot chiles to taste. While the jam simmers I taste again and add chiles until the balance is perfect.

Start 4–8 hours in advance.

By / Photography By | November 20, 2020

Ingredients

SERVINGS: 2 Cup(s)
  • 1¼ pounds red peppers, a combination of sweet and hot chiles
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup water or as needed

Instructions

Remove the stems and seeds from the sweet peppers. Cut into large pieces. Remove the stems from the hot peppers. Leave the seeds in for a hotter version. Cut these into large pieces. (Be careful or wear gloves. Capsaicin oils from hot chilies can burn your skin.) Chop the sweet peppers and hot peppers separately in a food processor (or chop by hand) until they are finely chopped, but not ground.

Place all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Add a bit more water if needed to keep the mixture from drying out. Set aside for 4–8 hours. Using a strainer, drain all liquid into a bowl. Set solids aside.

Return liquid to the pan and bring it to a boil. Cook until it thickens into a syrup. Stand by. Watch very closely. This burns easily. Add the pepper solids, bring to a rolling boil and turn off immediately.

Hot-pack into sterilized glass jars with new lids. The lids should seal as the jam cools. If sealed, the jam can be stored at room temperature. Alternatively, freeze or refrigerate.

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Ingredients

SERVINGS: 2 Cup(s)
  • 1¼ pounds red peppers, a combination of sweet and hot chiles
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup water or as needed