Strawberry and Lemon Jam

I developed this effortless low carb strawberry and lemon jam. My recipe only makes a little more than ⅓ cup of jam, which might sound rather ridiculous. But put it to the test and see how little of this jam you actually need. During the jam-making process, the strawberries are reduced and become very concentrated.

Thanks to the added lemon juice and rind, the jam has a tart freshness and reminds ever so slightly of a marmalade.

You can of course serve it with low carb bread or crackers, thickly spread with butter or cream cheese. You’ll only need a thin layer of jam. But there is so much more that you can use it for. I love to mix 2 teaspoons of jam into ½ cup of double cream yogurt. Yummy! (See my tips below for more ideas.)

Ingredients:

  • 1½ cups sliced, fresh strawberries
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons granulated Xylitol
  • ¼ teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind

Method:

  1. Add the strawberries, water, Xylitol and lemon juice to a medium-sized pot. (I use a 20 cm diameter pot. If you are using a smaller pot, the cooking time will be longer.) Stir. Simmer uncovered over medium heat for 12 − 15 minutes, or until reduced and thick. Stir occasionally during the first 10 minutes. From 10 minutes on, as the jam starts to thicken, it is very important to stir constantly to prevent the jam from burning.
  2. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon rind. Allow to cool. Store in a sealed container in the fridge.

Makes a little more than ⅓ cup of jam.

Tips:

  • Any fresh or frozen berries can be used to make this jam. If you use small berries like blueberries or raspberries, there is no need to slice them – leave them whole. I’ve just made this recipe using 1 cup frozen blueberries and ½ cup frozen raspberries as I had these in my freezer. The result? A gorgeous-looking deep, dark berry jam with intense flavours.
  • This jam partners very well with cheeses like Gouda, Camembert, Brie and blue cheese. I make up a platter of low carb crackers, butter, cheeses, this jam, salami or chorizo, thinly sliced radishes and rocket leaves.
  • For a lovely mini low carb treat, scoop Mascarpone or cream cheese onto a teaspoon. Top with a little jam.