Black Mission Fig Preserves - VeryVera
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Black Mission Fig Preserves

Ingredients

  • 3 lb just-ripe figs
  • 2 scant cups turbinado, demerara, or organic sugar
  • 3 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Zest of ½ a lemon (optional)
  • 1 tbsp. of balsamic vinegar

Instructions

  1. Figs don’t need much prep: trim the stem end, quarter them cross-wise, to produce a textured but manageable jam.
  2. Combine the fruit, sugar, lemon juice, and zest, if using, in a mixing bowl. Stir to combine, then cover closely and place in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.
  3. Turn the fruit-and-sugar mixture into a saucepan, and rapidly bring to a boil. Stirring constantly, reduce over high heat until the hot jam is thickened, 6 to 8 minutes; then lower the heat to medium, and reduce a few more minutes to the gel point.
  4. Ladle into five prepared ½-pint jars, leaving ¼ inch head space. Seal, and process in a boiling-water bath for 10 minutes.

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