Zucchini Jam: 3 recipes

Zucchini jam is a delicacy that is not familiar to everyone. It has unique taste characteristics and can be used as an independent dessert or as an addition to pastries.

Composition and calorie content

The basis of this jam are zucchini. This vegetable contains a large amount of nutrients. Per 100 g of product:

• 0.32 g of fat;
• 1.21 g of vegetable proteins;
• 3.11 g of carbohydrates;
• 94.79 g of water;
• 0.58 g of ash;
• 2.5 g of sugar;
• 1.0 g of fiber.

Zucchini is a rich source of vitamins. 100 g contains:

• 10 mcg of vitamin A (1.1% of the daily intake);
• 120 mcg beta-carotene (2.4% of the daily intake);
• 0.1 mg of vitamin E (0.8% of the daily intake);
• 4.3 mcg of vitamin K (3.6% of the daily intake);
• 17.9 mg of ascorbic acid (29.9% of the daily norm);
• 0.1 mg of vitamin B2 (7.2% of the daily intake);
• 24 mcg of vitamin B9 (6% of the daily intake);
• 0.5 mg of vitamin B3 (2.8% of the daily intake);
• 0.2 mg of vitamin B6 (13.5% of the daily intake);
• 9.5 mg of vitamin B4 (1.9% of the daily intake);
• 0.2 mg of vitamin B5 (4.1% of the daily intake).

Zucchini contains a large number of minerals. 100 g of this vegetable contains:

• 16 mg of calcium;
• 0.2 μg selenium;
• 0.4 mg of iron;
• 0.2 mg manganese;
• 18 mg of magnesium;
• 0.1 mg of copper;
• 38 mg of phosphorus;
• 0.3 mg of zinc;
• 261 g of potassium;
• 8 mg of sodium.

The nutrients that make up the squash are also contained in jam prepared on its basis. However, the consumption of this product should take into account the fact that with a sugar content its caloric content will be much higher.

100 g of squash jam contains 196 kcal. Due to its low calorie content, the product can be included in a diet whose goal is to reduce weight.

It is worth noting that the jam from zucchini contains more proteins, fats and carbohydrates than in the vegetable itself, which should be considered when including the finished product in the daily diet. 100 g of squash jam contains:

• 0.3 g of protein;
• 0.1 g of fat;
• 48.9 g of carbohydrates.

What is useful jam from zucchini

The rich composition of zucchini allows you to use jam prepared on their basis, not only as a delicious treat, but also as a means for the prevention and treatment of many diseases. This product has many useful properties. With regular use, it is able to:

1. To improve the functioning of the human immune system, which helps prevent the development of diseases caused by viruses or infections.
2. Speed ​​up the process of rehabilitation after serious illness.
3. To prevent the development of vitamin deficiency and saturate the human body with missing vitamins.
4. Speed ​​up metabolic processes.
5. Normalize the work of the cardiovascular system, preventing the development of dangerous diseases.
6. Improve blood composition.
7. Increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood, preventing the development of anemia.
8. Normalize the hormonal background.
9. Remove excess fluid from the body, which helps get rid of puffiness.
10. Stop premature aging of the skin and the whole body.
11. Withdraw accumulations of toxins, toxins, bad cholesterol and other harmful substances.
12. Prevent the appearance of malignant tumors.
13. Normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract.
14. Improve the functioning of the kidneys and liver, preventing the development of dangerous diseases.
15. Adjust the secret function of the stomach and intestines.
16. Prevent the development of disorders of the central nervous system.
17. Speed ​​up the healing process in the presence of diseases such as arthritis, atherosclerosis.
18. Remove the symptoms of allergies and prevent its recurrence.

Based on this, it is safe to say that zucchini jam is one of the most useful goodies. It will be able to please not only with its taste characteristics, but also have a beneficial effect on the human body.

How to choose zucchini for jam

To achieve the expected result and prepare a delicious squash jam, you should know how to choose the main ingredient - squash. Yellow varieties will be ideal for making this treat. Jam cooked from such zucchini will have not only a pleasant taste and bright aroma, but also a beautiful golden color.

When choosing vegetables for the preparation of goodies, pay attention to the degree of their maturity. Young zucchini will boil, and overripe - spoil the taste of the finished product. Therefore, it is worth giving preference to the extent of mature vegetables. Jam made from them will have a great taste and the right consistency.

Pay attention to the quality of vegetables. During the preparation of delicacies, the use of spoiled zucchini is not allowed. Such vegetables will spoil not only the appearance of the finished product, but also negatively affect its taste characteristics and aroma.

Features of the preparation of goodies

Decided to make zucchini jam for the first time? Then we suggest you familiarize yourself with a small list of nuances that should be considered when preparing this treat:

1. To prevent the jam from being too liquid, remove the maximum amount of liquid from the vegetables.
2. To make sure that the delicacy is ready is very simple. Put a few drops of jam on a ceramic saucer and pay attention to how it behaves. If the liquid spreads over the surface, this indicates that it is necessary to boil the jam a little more. If the drops keep their shape, then the delicacy can be removed from the fire.
3. During the preparation of squash jam, a large amount of sugar is used. To some, this treat may seem too sweet or even cloying. In this case, a reduction in the amount of sugar is allowed. However, it is worth remembering the fact that such actions will lead to a reduction in shelf life.
4. If you decide to cook a large amount of squash jam, prepare a test portion and adjust the amount of ingredients to your liking.
5. Do you like tender, melting in your mouth jam? Then cut off the whole skin from vegetables.
6. Freshly cooked zucchini jam should be aged for at least 24 hours before use. During this time, zucchini is saturated with sweetness, and the treat will acquire a rich taste and aroma.
7. To make the jam even tastier, you can add not only zucchini to it, but also other ingredients, such as apples, lemons, oranges and so on.

How to make zucchini jam: recipes

There are many recipes for zucchini jam. Each of them is unique and has its own taste differences and features. Therefore, in order to choose the recipe that will appeal to households, you need to cook at least a few of them. Start with the ones below and rest assured - zucchini jam will once and for all become one of your favorite treats!

Squash and lemon jam

Zucchini blends perfectly with lemon, which allows you to use it as an additional ingredient in the preparation of this unique treat. Before proceeding with direct preparation, prepare the following ingredients:

• 1 kg of fresh zucchini.
• 1 kg of granulated sugar.
• 1 medium-sized lemon.
• 100 ml of purified, cold water.

Preparation of squash and lemon jam consists of the following steps:

1. Start by processing vegetables. Rinse them thoroughly in clean water, removing all contaminants. After that, proceed to the removal of the peel and slicing the zucchini. Using a sharp knife, cut each vegetable into cubes, trying to make them the same. This will give an attractive appearance to the finished product.
2. Prepare lemons. Rinse them under cold running water, wipe with a dry towel and grind with a blender.
3. The next step is the preparation of sugar syrup. Pour 100 ml of water into the container that will be used for making jam, add 700 g of sugar to it and put on low heat. Bring the resulting mixture to a boil, stirring constantly.
4. After boiling the syrup, pour the chopped zucchini and the remaining sugar into it. Stir the workpiece thoroughly and boil for no more than 10 minutes. After the sugar has completely dissolved, the squash should be completely covered with syrup. The main thing is to prevent them from burning to the bottom of the pan. To prevent this, stir the jam constantly.
5. When the syrup is ready, and the zucchini is boiled a little, add crushed lemons to the jam and mix the resulting mixture well. Cook the mass until the moment when the lemon peel becomes soft. This usually takes no more than 20-30 minutes.
6. After softening the lemon peel, the jam is considered ready. Pour it into pre-prepared jars and roll up the lids.

Jam from apples and zucchini

Squash jam will surprise you with its taste, during the preparation of which sweet, fully ripened apples were used.

To prepare goodies for this recipe, you will need such components:

• 750 g of zucchini.
• 250 g of sweet apples.
• 750 g of granulated sugar.
• 75 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice.
• 10 g chopped ginger root.

So that the jam tastes good and has a beautiful color, cook it in the following sequence:

1. Rinse apples and zucchini under running water, peel them and remove seeds. If spoiled vegetables and fruits are found, replace them with quality ones.
2. Grind these two ingredients with a meat grinder.
3. Place all ingredients in the indicated quantities in an enameled pan that is suitable in size. An ideal option would be a double-bottom pan. During cooking in such a container, the risk of burning is minimized.
4. After thorough mixing, put the workpiece on medium heat and bring to a boil, constantly stirring the jam with a wooden spoon.
5. After the sugar has completely dissolved and the workpiece is boiling, make the fire a little large and cook the jam until cooked. It takes you no more than 25 minutes.
6. After the specified time, remove the foam from the finished treat, pour it into clean and sterilized jars, and then roll it up.

Squash and citrus jam

Citruses can improve the taste of many dishes. This can be said in the case of squash jam. The taste of this delicacy will be revealed to you in a new way, if you add a small amount of oranges and lemons to it.

To make jam, you will need these components:

• Zucchini - 1.5 kg.
• Lemons - 2 pcs.
• Oranges - 2 pcs.
• Ginger - 25 g.
• Water - 100 ml.
• Sugar - 1.5 kg.

Making jam with this recipe does not take too much time and consists of the following steps:

1. Pour zucchini into a medium-sized basin, fill them with cool water, and wash each vegetable thoroughly.
2. Clean zucchini peel and seeds. After that, cut them into cubes, the size of which should not be too large.
3. Rinse the lemons and oranges, then remove the peel from them and cut them in the same way as the zucchini.
4. Peel the ginger root and chop it in any convenient way.
5. When all the ingredients have been prepared, start making sugar syrup. To do this, mix the water with the indicated amount of sugar in the container that was chosen for cooking the jam. Bring the resulting mixture to a boil, constantly stirring it with a wooden spoon.
6. Without removing the syrup from the heat, pour the prepared zucchini and ginger into it. Bring the workpiece to a boil.
7. After boiling, add citruses to the jam.
8. Mix the workpiece thoroughly and cook until it is completely transparent. This will take no more than 50 minutes.

Pour the finished jam into jars (0.5 liter or 1 liter) and cork.

Common mistakes

Mistresses who decided to cook this delicacy for the first time make many mistakes, which in turn negatively affect the taste characteristics, aroma and appearance of the finished product.

The most common errors include the following:

1. Use of cookware unsuitable for cooking jam. Zucchini is a tender vegetable that cooks very quickly. That is why it is recommended to use pots with a double bottom for making squash jam. This will prevent the burning of vegetables and other ingredients to the bottom of the container and get the desired result.
2. Too little sugar. Of course, not everyone loves too sweet jam. However, if we talk about jam from zucchini, then reducing the amount of sugar specified in the recipe will lead to a decrease in the shelf life of the workpiece. If the amount of granulated sugar is reduced by 100-200 g, the storage period will be reduced by a small amount of time, but if you reduce the sugar content by half, the shelf life will be minimal.
3. Adding vegetables with signs of rotting. Vegetables that show signs of decay cannot be used to make jam, even if the damaged part of the zucchini has been cut.
4. Time for preparing. Cooking time for zucchini jam should be the same as that specified in the recipe. If you cook the workpiece for too long, its taste and color will be far from ideal. In addition, with prolonged exposure to high temperatures, many vitamins and other nutrients that make up the body disappear. Naturally, the benefits from the consumption of such a product can no longer be discussed.
5. Wrong cutting vegetables. When slicing zucchini, one should take into account the fact that during cooking their size will decrease several times.

Consider each of these nuances and prepare squash jam correctly. Only in this case, his taste will delight every member of the family.

Jam storage rules

To preserve the taste characteristics and all the beneficial properties of squash jam, it should be stored correctly. If the treat is prepared for long-term storage, the main condition is the use of thoroughly washed and sterilized cans. At the same time, it is worth considering the fact that the jars for closing the jam must be glass. Plastic or metal containers will not work for these purposes.

Jam, during the preparation of which the amount of sugar specified in the recipe was used, can be stored for no more than two years (only if it is protected from direct sunlight and too high temperatures). Jars with such jam can be placed in the pantry or in a closed kitchen cabinet, which should not be located in close proximity to the stove.

If during the preparation of jam the amount of sugar was reduced, then it should be stored only in a cold place. It can be a refrigerator or a cellar. At the same time, its storage time is reduced by more than two times.

If the storage rules of squash jam are not observed, not only its taste and appearance changes. Such a treat can go bad very quickly. Remember that eating spoiled foods can cause serious food poisoning!

Interesting facts about zucchini

1. Zucchini can be eaten raw.Some varieties of zucchini can be consumed without prior heat treatment. They have a pleasant, delicate taste and can be consumed as a standalone product or used as an ingredient for vegetable salads.
2. Young zucchini is much tastier than the old ones and have a rich taste, which cannot be said of those who lingered on the beds. In addition, the skin of older vegetables is denser, which does not allow them to be used for some dishes.
3. Zucchini is a pumpkin. Botanists claim that zucchini belongs to the same family as pumpkin.
4. The birthplace of this amazing vegetable is the territory of modern Mexico. Although zucchini is most common on the territory of the Russian Federation, Mexico is their historical homeland. People living on its territory ate them long before the arrival of the conquistadors. However, only zucchini seeds were considered edible.
5. Inflorescences that appear before the formation of fruits can also be used as a food product.
6. Some national dishes of French and Greek cuisine are prepared based on zucchini flowers. Such culinary masterpieces are very popular among the local population and have excellent taste characteristics.
7. Zucchini can grow to huge sizes. In 1998, zucchini was grown, the weight of which exceeded the mark of 60 kg.
8. This product contains very few calories. One serving of zucchini (100 g) contains only 25 calories.
9. Zucchini can be consumed during a diet, the purpose of which is to reduce weight. This vegetable contains a minimal amount of calories, which allows you to include it in the diet menu.
10. Zucchini will help not only to saturate the human body with vitamins necessary for its normal functioning, but also to preserve female beauty. With the systematic use of dishes prepared on the basis of this vegetable, there is an improvement in the appearance of hair, a slowdown in its loss and accelerated growth.
11. This vegetable is widely used in cosmetology. Beauticians advise representatives of the beautiful half of humanity to regularly make masks, which include squash flesh. Such care products will help preserve the beauty of the skin, moisturizing and saturating it with a large amount of vitamins.
12. In European countries, zucchini were used as decor. This vegetable was introduced to Europe in the 16th century. However, they started using it as a food product much later. Zucchini has long been grown exclusively for decorative purposes.
13. Zucchini will help strengthen immunity. The composition of this product includes a large amount of ascorbic acid, which is able to improve the functioning of the human immune system. At the same time, to increase immunity, zucchini can be consumed not only by adults, but also by children. It does not cause allergic reactions and is easily digested.
14. Zucchini ripen in record time. When growing in favorable conditions, the first ripe fruits can be harvested already 45 days after sowing seeds in open ground.
15. Vegetable or berry? Surprisingly, botanists say that zucchini, like pumpkin, can hardly be called a vegetable. Based on certain facts and characteristics, experts call its fruits berries.

Zucchini jam is a delicacy that will surprise you with its taste and mouth-watering aroma. In addition, when it is consumed, the human body will receive a huge amount of vitamins, macro- and microelements, which makes it possible to call jam from zucchini one of the most useful desserts. Therefore, if you have never tried this delicacy, do not waste time. Choose one of the proposed recipes, start cooking and be sure - you can’t tear yourself away from this jam!