Rhubarb Jam
Chopped rhubarb boiled with sugar, lemon and ginger for 25 minutes into a pink, tart jam. Twenty-four servings of a spoonful in 40 minutes.
Storing and Planning Ahead
Keeps in a clean jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Making Rhubarb Jam
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Put the rhubarb, sugar, lemon juice and ginger in a wide pan and stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves.
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Boil for 25 minutes, stirring often, until thick.
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Test a drop on a chilled saucer. Spoon into clean jars, cool and keep in the fridge.
Worth Knowing
- Choose firm, pink stalks.
- Stir often to stop it sticking.
- If your hob runs hot, test at 18 minutes.
- Expect a softer set than other jams.
Why the Method Is What It Is
Rhubarb has very little pectin, so a pure rhubarb jam is soft and spoonable rather than firm. That is no fault: it is a spread for toast and yoghurt more than a jam for slicing.
Cut the stalks into small pieces and cook them with the sugar and lemon from the start, stirring until the sugar dissolves. The pieces collapse into strands within 10 minutes.
Ginger lifts the tartness and gives a warm edge. Use stalks that are firm and pink, since the green or woody ones are stringy.
Boil for about 25 minutes until the jam thickens and a drop on a chilled saucer wrinkles when you push it. If your hob runs hot, test at 18 minutes. Spoon into clean jars. It will keep setting a little as it cools. Because it is a loose-set jam, it works especially well as a swirl through porridge or yoghurt, or folded into whipped cream for a quick fool.
Serving Ideas
Scones · Porridge · Rice pudding · Greek yoghurt
Swaps and Variations
- A quarter-teaspoon of ground ginger per tablespoon of fresh is the standard ratio if you are working from the spice rack rather than a fresh root.
Questions About Rhubarb Jam
How long does Rhubarb Jam take to make?
About 40 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 24.
What are the key tips for making Rhubarb Jam?
Choose firm, pink stalks. Stir often to stop it sticking. If your hob runs hot, test at 18 minutes. Expect a softer set than other jams.
What should I serve with Rhubarb Jam?
Scones; Porridge; Rice pudding; Greek yoghurt.
How should Rhubarb Jam be stored?
Keeps in a clean jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Is Rhubarb Jam suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, low-carb and keto. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
Nutrition per Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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