Homemade Lingonberry Jam prepared with 2 ingredients.
My preserve recipe is without artificial pectin and it's all natural!
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📕 What are Lingonberries?
Lingonberries are bright red hard berries, native to Scandinavia and the Austrian/Swiss/North Italian Alps.
They grow in a certain height only and they resemble cranberries.
However, cranberries are larger, native to the American continent and they can be eaten raw.
Lingonberries on the other hand need to be cooked. Well, you can eat them raw but they don't taste that great raw.
I have dedicated a whole post to the humble lingonberry with more infos, tips to collect, and much more.
🔪 How to make Lingonberry jam?
Preparing a lingonberry preserve isn't that complicated if you know how.
I have outlined the process in 3 main steps. This should help you to get going.
Detailed ingredients and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1
Combine clean lingonberries and sugar in a large pot and heat up.
Bring to a rolling boil.
Step 2
Cook down jam until translucent. That can take 30 minutes.
Blend jam (optional) and test to see if jam is set.
Step 3
Pour jam into jars.
Drop some liquor into the lids to kill remaining germs, close jar with lid and turn upside down to create vacuum.
🥣 Serving Ideas
Lingonberry jam can be enjoyed like any other jam OR it can be used as a sauce with meats in a main course meal, just as you would use cranberry sauce.
In fact, you might know this jam thanks to IKEA. They advertise it with Swedish meatballs.
In Sweden, lingonberry jam is served with wild game and well, with meatballs.
In various alpine regions in Austria, Bavaria (South Germany) and South Tyrol (Northern Italy), preserved lingonberries are served with Wiener Schnitzel, pork roast, baked savory doughnuts, Sauerkraut and Wild Game Goulash.
It's also used as a sweet cake and doughnut filling. Yet people mainly use it as a breakfast bread spread with butter.
You can serve your lingonberry jam either way you like. Don't limit yourself.
💭 FAQs
Yes, you can use frozen lingonberries to make this jam too. Just follow the recipe as instructed
Sugar helps in preserving and sets the jam. If you reduce the sugar, you will reduce the shelf life. You may decrease the sugar quantity of your jam but you will need to consume all your jam soon after.
Pectin helps jams to set and preserve. Artificial sugar pectin is added to jams but that can change the flavor of your jam. This lingonberry jam is without pectin because lingonberries contain enough natural pectins.
If you follow all instructions and work in a clean manner, your jam will last for over 12 months, if stored in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep in the fridge after you unsealed it!
Yes you can if you want. You don't have to because the European technique with turning the jars upside down is safe too, but to add another layer of safety, do the water bath canning technique.
Yes! A tablespoon of lingonberry jam (just like cranberries) is consumed to get relieve from urinary tract problems. I get urinary tract infections all the time and I can tell you out of my own experience that lingonberry jam has helped me every time without fail for years!
📖 Recipe
Lingonberry Jam Recipe
Instructions
- Rinse your lingonberries and pick out any impurities.
- Place clean lingonberries into a large cooking pot.
- Stir in sugar and keep over medium to high heat.
- Bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat and simmer for at least 30 minutes or until it looks set. The jam will appear translucent.
- Drop some rum into the lids. That will keep it clean.
- Fill your jars with the hot lingonberry jam, close well with the lid and turn the jars upside down to create a vacuum.
- When cooled, store in a cool and dry place.
Notes
- 1 serving = 1 Teaspoon, 70 servings = about 3 jam jars
- Store them in a dry and cool place and keep away from direct sunlight. If you live in a humid tropical climate, please store the jam in the fridge. Also, store in the fridge once you opened your jar.
- The jam will always appear liquid when cooking hot. It will set when it cools down, hence why we test with an ice-cold plate.
Rose Rea says
I ordered 18 pounds of frozen linginberries. Can can you modify recipe for me for 18 pounds
Helene Dsouza says
Hi Rose, you can't just cook 18 pounds of fruits at home. The jam won't set properly. Reduce the quantity. I recommend using 2.2 pounds at one time. The most that I would recommend is 4.4 pounds.
Elny says
I think you mistaken wrote 150°C, it will be burnt in no time. It should be 105.
Helene Dsouza says
Oh yes! Thanks for pointing out my typo!! I fixed it. Much appreciated.
Ms. Willie Cobb says
Where can you get lingonberries from in California
Choc Chip Uru says
What a beautiful jam recipe, I want to try lingonberry for sure! 😀
Delicious!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Joanne T Ferguson says
G'day! Love lingonberry jam and love you made it without pectin too!
Gorgeous photos Helene!
Cheers! Joanne
Liz says
I think I have a jar of lingonberry jam in my pantry. I'm ashamed to say I've never tasted it..I think I need to crack open the jar and give it a try. But I'm sure it cannot compare to your homemade version!
Ramona says
I love jams like this.. just hand me a spoon! 🙂
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
You make this jam sound like it's a culinary destination. I've been to Austria several times but I've never had lingonberry jam. At least none that I was told.
Could a traveler be mistaken if they thought it was another red berry jam?
I look forward to the day that I could taste REAL lingonberry jam from foraged berries.
Sissi says
What a beautiful jam! No wonder you didn't use pectin: I have heard they have as much pectin as red currants at least... I wish I could have a jar of lingonberry jam right now...
ATasteOfMadness says
This looks amazing! I have always wanted to make jam!
Rosa says
A fabulous jam. Perfect with Swedish meatballs or duck breasts.
Cheers,
Rosa