Sweet & Tart Aronia Berry Jam: A Recipe for Eye Health
How to Eat Aronia: Making Aronia Jam with Plum Extract for a Deliciously Sour & Sweet Treat!
I’ve found that consuming aronia berries significantly reduces eye fatigue, which is why I love making and eating aronia jam. Aronia can be quite astringent on its own, making it difficult to eat directly. However, transforming it into jam allows for a wonderfully delicious experience. This recipe uses plum extract solids to enhance the flavor and health benefits, creating a delightful jam perfect for any occasion.
Delicious Aronia Jam Ingredients
- Aronia berries: 500g
- Apple: 1
- Plum extract solids: 250g (optional, for adjusting tartness)
- Sugar: 500g (adjust to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Take out 500g of aronia berries from the freezer. Pre-measuring will make the cooking process even smoother.
Step 2
Place all the aronia berries into your Okku (or a steamer). Using an Okku for jam-making involves a 2-hour slow cooking process through steaming, resulting in a smoother and more conveniently prepared jam. This is why I frequently use my Okku for jams. If you don’t have an Okku, a regular steamer setup will also work.
Step 3
Add one apple to the mixture to enhance the jam’s flavor. Even slightly underripe or less flavorful apples can be wonderfully utilized in jam. Don’t hesitate to use up any wrinkled or slightly wilted apples you have on hand; they’ll contribute beautifully to the jam.
Step 4
Peel the apple, remove the core, and chop it into bite-sized pieces before adding it to the Okku with the aronia.
Step 5
To add a pleasant tanginess to the aronia jam, I’m using plum extract solids. While lemon juice is a great option, utilizing leftover plum extract solids adds a wonderful depth of flavor. You can adjust the amount of plum extract solids based on your preference for tartness; start with about half the amount of aronia, around 250g.
Step 6
Typically, the sugar ratio is 1:1 with the aronia. However, it’s best to adjust the sweetness to your liking. When mixing the jam with yogurt or other servings, a touch of sweetness makes it taste even better.
Step 7
Once all ingredients—aronia, apple, plum extract solids, and sugar—are in the Okku, select the ‘Health Steaming’ course and begin the 2-hour cooking process.
Step 8
After 2 hours, here is the finished aronia jam from the Okku. You can see the deep, rich purple color of the aronia berries has beautifully infused into the jam.
Step 9
Use an immersion blender to puree the jam until smooth. If you prefer a jam without any texture from skins or seeds, blend it until it’s completely velvety.
Step 10
Transfer the pureed jam to a saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat. It’s crucial to stir constantly with a spatula to prevent the jam from sticking to the bottom or burning.
Step 11
You can adjust the jam’s consistency to your liking. I’ve kept mine slightly thinner, as I plan to mix it with yogurt. It should drip smoothly off the spoon. If you prefer a thicker, more ‘set’ jam, continue simmering to allow more moisture to evaporate.
Step 12
Sterilize the glass jars you’ll be using for storage. Fill a pot with cold water, place the jars upside down inside, and bring the water to a boil. After boiling and sterilizing, remove the jars, shake out any excess water, and let them stand upright. The residual heat will evaporate any remaining moisture.
Step 13
Carefully spoon the finished aronia jam into the sterilized glass jars. Using smaller jars makes it easier to take out and serve. Portion some into a bowl with yogurt for a delicious and healthy snack.
Step 14
The resulting aronia jam has a wonderfully sweet and tart flavor, with the natural astringency of the aronia berries significantly mellowed, making it enjoyable for everyone.
Step 15
Aronia berries are incredibly beneficial for eye health due to their rich anthocyanin content. They contain about five times more anthocyanins than blueberries and three to four times more than acai berries. In the West, they are known as the definitive berry for eye health, and I can personally attest to their positive effects, which is why I make sure to consume them regularly.
