Pumpkin Jam {Marmellata di Zucca}

I've mentioned before what a lazy composter I am, right?  Well, being less than diligent in this endeavor does have its perks.  As in, surprise veggies.  We had a couple of good squash vines snaking out through the bottom of the enclosure this year.  Along with beans, pumpkins are the most common thing I get from my compost.  Sure, I may only end up with a few, but they're just a bonus anyway!  So, with two of my small pumpkins, I decided I wanted to make a seasonal jam.

I'm not sure which variety this was (yes, one drawback), but holy canoli was it hard to peel.  I almost screamed about a jillion times.  So.  Frustrating.  But there was no way I was stopping after all the work I did, so I barreled through two small pumpkins and was rewarded with a batch of bejeweled jam.  It was a lovely, squashy sweetness that tastes fantastic slathered on brioche or croissants, and would make some fun thumbprint cookies.  Next time (when I find a thinner-skinned pumpkin), I will try adding some vanilla bean seeds or perhaps some spices to the mix.  Until then, I say all the sweat and stabbed fingers were worth it.

I suppose...

Pumpkin Jam

Marmellata di Zucca

adapted from recipe source: Twelve by Tessa Kiros

yield: ~2 cups

1 lb. 2 oz. (500 g) cleaned, skinned pumpkin

juice & grated zest of 1 lemon

12.5 oz. (350 g) superfine sugar

Cut pumpkin into small chunks.  Place in a saucepan with lemon juice and sugar.  Cook for about 45 minutes over a low flame, stirring every once in a while to prevent sticking.

Puree mixture with an immersion blender.  Add lemon zest and simmer for another 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until you have a thick jam.

Keep in the fridge or process for canning, if you wish, and this jam will keep for up to one year.


IHCC: Potluck