Grapefruit Jam: 3 Recipes

The citrus family has several dozen representatives. There are very small and gigantic, well-known and little studied. Grapefruit has long been popular and enjoys success for its unique taste with light bitterness and great benefit to the body. Most often, the fruit is used fresh. But in culinary delights there are also dishes based on grapefruit. Citrus jam enjoys particular success.

A little about grapefruit

Large fruits with a sunny yellow dense peel and red sour-sweet pulp with a distinct bitterness are well known throughout the world. They are grown commercially in China, Mexico, South Africa, and Israel. The plant is so valuable in export terms that there is even a harvest festival that begins on February 2 and lasts several days.

The tree that yields these valuable fruits belongs to the evergreen, the name received for the peculiarity of the formation of fruits. Despite the fact that they are quite large, grapefruits grow in clusters, which is reflected in the double name, translated as a bunch of fruits. The tree itself is tall, up to 15 m, it feels great in the subtropic belt. Zoned varieties capable of bearing fruit in colder conditions have been developed, but they are thick-skinned and slightly inferior in sweetness.

What exactly point on the planet became the birthplace of grapefruit is unknown. There is an assumption that the first fruits appeared in India as a natural hybrid of orange and pomelo.

The grapefruit tree blooms with delicate white flowers; they look amazing against the background of dark green oblong leaves. Harvesting has to wait a long time, from 9 to 12 months, depending on the variety. They are divided into 2 large groups according to the color of the flesh, where light golden is more like an orange, and orange is considered more traditional. The diameter of the fruit ranges from 10 to 15 cm in diameter.

About 20 varieties were developed, differing in the number of seeds, the level of sweetness and size. The most popular are:

• Ruby
• Flame
• Rio Red

Europe first learned about a new plant in the 18th century from descriptions of Griffiths Hughes. In the next century, seedlings successfully took root in America, on the islands of the Caribbean, in Brazil.

The composition and useful properties of grapefruit

Like the entire line of citrus fruits, it contains a large amount of ascorbic acid. In addition to it, a significant part of the periodic table is present in the juicy pulp, including:

• potassium;
• phosphorus;
• magnesium;
• calcium;
• zinc;
• iodine;
• manganese;
• iron;
• sodium;
• copper;
• fluorine.

In addition, grapefruit contains vitamins A, E, PP, K, group B, carotenoids, fiber, antioxidants, essential oils. Calorie content is small, about 32 kcal, in freshly squeezed juice 2 units less. The product belongs to low-calorie, recommended in dietary nutrition.

Interesting: freshly squeezed juice has a more pronounced beneficial effect than pulp.

The benefits of fruits are recognized at the official level. They are included not only in food, but also in complex therapy for vitamin deficiency, anemia, elevated cholesterol and sugar, disruption of the digestive tract and slagging of the body.

What is useful grapefruit jam

Most often, grapefruit is eaten fresh. But if you are lucky to get a few kilograms of ripe fruits that are not subject to long-term storage, then you can cook amazing dishes, including jam, marmalade and aromatic jam. With minimal heat treatment, most of the nutrients and vitamins are preserved.

A few spoons of goodies are capable of:

• cheer up;
• strengthen immunity and resistance to viral diseases;
• to establish the work of the intestine;
• lower blood pressure;
• reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis;
• reduce the frequency of migraine attacks;
• give energy for half a day.

The vegetable flavonoid naringin is found in partitions, giving them a bitter taste. It is indispensable for those who have been ill with any type of hepatitis, suffer from the fragility of capillaries and fatty liver. Nutritionists recommend at an advanced age to eat 1-2 fetuses per week for the prevention of blood thickening and vitamin deficiency.

Grapefruit contraindications

There are a number of limitations to fresh fruits. These include an allergy to citrus fruits, individual intolerance, increased acidity of the stomach, nephritis. With accuracy, fruits and juice are used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

How to choose grapefruit for jam

Grapefruit has an interesting feature. The more intense the color of the pulp, the juicier and sweeter it is. Fruits with a reddish hue and an orange core are preferred. If the fruits are chosen as an additive to create mixes based on sweet berries or fruits, it is better to dwell on yellow, more acidic species in order to balance the taste balance.

When choosing any kind of fruit should be resilient, with a bright citrus aroma, intact skin. If there is a smell of mold, dented areas, scratches and punctures, the peel is sticky, then this is obvious substandard, and a tasty treat will not work out of it.

How to cook grapefruit jam: recipes

Classic cooking includes only fruit pulp and sugar. In other cases, there are copyright variations, sometimes bringing a stunning result. Based on the classics, you can cook a whole palette of flavors, adding new ingredients at your discretion.

Traditional

For 1 large fruit with orange pulp, you need 100 g of sugar. Based on these proportions, the desired volume is easily calculated. The beauty of the preparation is that there will be no waste and there is no need to leave a lot for insisting. Juice stands out liberally during cooking.

Ripe grapefruit is washed thoroughly, the peels are cut very thinly and boiled in boiling water for 10 minutes with a change of water 3-4 times to remove the bitter taste. Then they are cut into thin strips, combined with pulp, purified from seeds and films.

Sugar is added on top and the mixture is put on slow heating. Cooking takes 30–35 minutes, readiness is determined by the degree of thickening. You can check a drop on a saucer. If the delicacy is planned to be used as a filling for baking, then it is worth holding it on the stove longer.

With apple

The combination of citrus and apple gives a great multi-faceted taste. The most successful option is obtained by combining sweet autumn varieties with a yellow, sour kind of grapefruit.

It is worth considering: when using dense varieties of apples, the slices will not boil out, become transparent and look amazing.

For cooking you will need:

• apples - 1 kg;
• grapefruit - 1 pc.;
• sugar - 300 g.

You can cook in two ways, with slices of grapefruit or with pure juice. Apples are cut into thin, even slices, mixed with sugar and citrus. The mixture is placed on a slow fire. Stir more conveniently with a wooden narrow spatula so as not to mash the apples. After boiling, the mass is cooked for 10 minutes and removed from the stove until completely cooled. 3-4 approaches are required, at the final jam they are kept to the desired density and immediately laid out on the banks. Store at room temperature. The finished treat turns out to be almost transparent, rich golden color with preserved slices.

With orange

The recipe is considered quite expensive, because the mass is boiled very much. But the resulting delicacy has a truly royal taste, where pleasure begins with the first spoon.

For cooking, take 1 kg of grapefruit and oranges, 1 lemon and 500 g of sugar. Squeeze the juice from the lemon, the remaining citruses are sorted into slices without partitions. Zest from 1 fruit of each species is rubbed into small chips.All the ingredients are put in a pan, gently mixed and boiled over low heat 2–2.5 times. The mass is constantly stirred so as not to burn. They are laid out in small jars. Open containers are not stored for a long time, therefore 250–500 ml containers will be optimal.

What else can you make from grapefruit

Crust treat

Sometimes you want something original. Then the time comes for exotic recipes, where the main ingredient is not the pulp of the fruit, but the crust. The finished dish goes on its own or as a filling for pies. You should first cook a test batch, and then adjust the amount of sugar and density to your liking.

You will need peels from 2 oranges, 1 grapefruit and half a lemon or lime, 1.5 liters of water, 350 g of sugar and a small vanilla pod. The peel is cut into thin strips, pour 1 liter of water and cleaned for a day in a cool place.

Important: only glass or ceramic containers are used.

After 24 hours, the liquid is drained, sugar is added and the mass is boiled over very low heat for 4–5 hours. Add vanilla 15 minutes before cooking. It turns out an unusual, but very tasty treat.

Marmalade

Instead of purchased sweets and traditional jam, a simple recipe prepares something in between, the so-called jellied sweets. You will need the juice of 1 large grapefruit, half a lemon, 400 g of sugar and 50 g of gelatin.

Juice is squeezed out of the pulp, the zest is rubbed on a fine grater. The mass is boiled for 5 minutes over medium heat. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture is filtered, sugar and pre-soaked gelatin are added to it. The whole mass is heated again, not bringing to a boil, and carefully poured into molds. It will take 10-12 hours to freeze in the refrigerator. The resulting sweet and sour-tasted delicacy ends very quickly, but in a completely natural composition there are no dyes or other not-so-useful dietary supplements.

Interesting facts about grapefruit

1. In its first description, the name "forbidden fruit" was used.
2. Ripe grapefruit is 92% water.
3. The main division into species is the color of the flesh.
4. The introduction of freshly squeezed juice into the diet activates the process of burning fat, leading to rapid weight loss.
5. Partitions contain unique antioxidants.
6. The fetus lowers sugar and cholesterol by dissolving fatty and cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels.
7. Fruit reduces the risk of infection during seasonal epidemics.
8. Fruits with red flesh are considered more sweet and healthy.
9. Grapefruit reduces the effectiveness of drugs for erectile dysfunction and birth control.
10. Essential oil has an invigorating effect, it is used to combat apathy, depression and loss of strength.

Bright and aromatic grapefruit with regular use will cheer you up and serve as an excellent basis for jam, marmalade and confiture, while retaining its beneficial properties in these dishes.

Photo of grapefruit jam