Grapefruit jam: 3 Recipes

The citrus family has several dozen representatives. There are very small and giant, known and little known. Grapefruit has long been popular and successful for its unique taste with a slight bitterness and great benefits for the body. Most often the fruit is used fresh. But in culinary delights there are dishes based on grapefruit. Particular success enjoys citrus jam.

A little about grapefruit

The large fruit has a sunny yellow, thick peel and a red, sour-sweet flesh with a distinct bitterness. It is grown commercially in China, Mexico, South Africa and Israel. The plant is so valuable for export that there is even a harvest festival which begins on February 2 and lasts several days.

The tree that produces these valuable fruits is an evergreen, named for the peculiarity of fruit formation. Even though they are quite large, grapefruit grows in clusters, which is reflected in the double name, translated as bunch of fruit. The tree itself is tall, up to 15 m, feels good in the subtropical zone. There are regionalized varieties that can bear fruit in colder conditions, but they are thick-skinned and slightly inferior in sweetness.

Exactly which point on the planet was the birthplace of the grapefruit is unknown. There is speculation that the first fruits originated in India as a natural hybrid of orange and pomelo.

The grapefruit tree blooms with delicate white flowers, they look stunning against the background of dark green oblong leaves. They take a long time to harvest, varying from nine to twelve months depending on the variety. There are two major flesh color groups, with the light golden flesh being more orange-like and the orange being more traditional. The diameter of the fruit varies from 10 to 15 cm in diameter.

About 20 varieties, varying in seed number, sweetness level, and size, have been developed. The most popular have been:

• Ruby;
• Flame;
• Rio Red.

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

Composition and health benefits of grapefruit

Like the entire line of citrus fruits, it contains large amounts of ascorbic acid. In addition to it, the juicy pulp contains a significant portion of the Mendeleev Table, 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. The caloric value is small, about 32 kcal, in fresh juice 2 units less. The product refers to low-calorie, recommended in dietary diets.

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

The usefulness of the fruit is recognized at the official level. They are included not only in the diet, but also in complex therapy for avitaminosis, anemia, elevated cholesterol and sugar levels, gastrointestinal disorders and slagging of the body.

What is useful for grapefruit jam?

Most often, grapefruit is eaten fresh. But if you are lucky enough to buy a few kilograms of ripe fruit that is not subject to long storage, you can make amazing dishes, including jam, marmalade and fragrant jam. With minimal heat treatment, most of the useful substances and vitamins are preserved.

A few spoonfuls of this delicacy can:

• lift your spirits;
• Strengthen the immune system and resistance to viral diseases;
• improve bowel function;
• lower blood pressure;
• reduce the risk of atherosclerosis;
• reduce the frequency of migraine attacks;
• Give you energy for half a day.

The plant flavonoid naringin is found in the sepals, giving them a bitter taste. It is indispensable for those who have had any kind of hepatitis, suffer from fragility of capillaries and fatty liver dystrophy. Nutritionists recommend in old age to eat 1-2 fruits a week to prevent blood thickening and avitaminosis.

Contraindications to grapefruit

There are a number of restrictions for fresh fruit. These include allergies to citrus fruits, individual intolerance, hyperacidity of the stomach, nephritis. With care, the fruit and juice are consumed during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

How to choose a grapefruit for jam

Grapefruit has an interesting feature. The more intense the coloring of the flesh, the juicier and sweeter it is. Preference is given to fruit with a reddish shade of skin and an orange core. If the fruit is chosen as an additive to create mixes based on sweet berries or fruits, it is better to stop at the yellow, more sour species to balance the taste balance.

When choosing any kind of fruit should be firm, with a bright citrus flavor, intact rind. If there is an odor of mold, flattened areas, scratches and punctures, the skin is sticky, then it is a clear substandard, and a tasty delicacy from it will not turn out.

How to make jam from grapefruit: recipes

Classic cooking involves only the pulp of the fruit and sugar. In other cases, there are author's variations, sometimes bringing a stunning result. Taking the classics as a basis, you can prepare a whole palette of flavors, adding new ingredients at your discretion.

The traditional

For 1 large fruit with orange flesh you will need 100 grams of sugar. Based on these proportions, it is easy to calculate the right amount. The beauty of cooking is that there will be no waste and leave the mass to infuse too. The juice is abundantly released during the cooking process.

The ripe grapefruit is carefully washed, peeled off very thinly and boiled in boiling water for 10 minutes, changing the water 3-4 times to remove the bitter taste. Then they are cut in thin slices and combined with pulp, cleaned of seeds and membranes.

On top add sugar and the mixture is put on low heat. It takes 30-35 minutes, you can tell when it is ready by the degree of thickening. You can check it with a drop on a saucer. If you plan to use the dainty as a filling for baking, it is worth to keep it on the stove longer.

With apple

The combination of citrus and apple gives a great multifaceted taste. The most successful version comes when combining sweet fall varieties with the yellow, sourish kind of grapefruit.

Worth considering: If you use dense apples, the slices will not fall apart, will be transparent, and will look amazing.

To make it you will need:

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

You can cook in two ways, with grapefruit pieces or with pure juice. Apples are cut into thin even slices, mixed with sugar and citrus. The mixture is put on low heat. It is better to stir it with a wooden spatula, so as not to crush the apples. After boiling the mass boil for 10 minutes and remove from the stove until it cools. Needed 3-4 approaches, the final jam stand up to the desired thickness and immediately placed in jars. Stored at room temperature. The finished dainty turns out almost transparent, rich golden color with slices that have retained their shape.

With orange

The recipe is considered quite costly, since the mass is heavily boiled. But the resulting treat has a truly royal taste, where the pleasure begins with the first spoonful.

You need 1 kg of grapefruit and oranges, 1 lemon and 500 grams of sugar. Juice is squeezed from a lemon and the rest of the citrus fruit is broken down into wedges without any filters. Grate the zest from 1 fruit of each type into a fine shavings. All the ingredients are placed in a saucepan, stirring gently and boiled over low heat 2-2.5 times. The mass is constantly stirred, so it does not stick. Stretch into small jars. Opened containers do not store long, so optimal would be containers of 250-500 ml.

What else you can make from grapefruit

Candied grapefruit rinds

Sometimes you want something original. Then it's time for exotic recipes, where the main ingredient is not the pulp of the fruit, but the crusts. The finished dish goes as a stand-alone or as a filling for pies. It's worth making a test batch first and then adjusting the amount of sugar and thickness to your liking.

You will need the peels of 2 oranges, 1 grapefruit and half a lemon or lime, 1.5 liters of water, 350 grams of sugar and a small vanilla pod. Cut the peels into thin shreds, pour 1 liter of water and put in a cool place for a day.

Important: Only glass or ceramic containers are used.

After 24 hours, the liquid is drained, add sugar and the mass is boiled over very low heat for 4-5 hours. Vanilla is added 15 minutes before it is ready. The result is an unusual, but very tasty treat.

Marmalade .

Instead of buying candy and traditional jam in a simple recipe is prepared something in between, the so-called jellied candies. You need the juice of a large grapefruit, half a lemon, 400 grams of sugar and 50 grams of gelatin.

Squeeze the juice from the pulp, grate the zest on a fine grater. The mixture is boiled for 5 minutes over medium heat. After cooling to room temperature, strain the mixture, add sugar and pre-soaked gelatin. The whole mass is heated again, without bringing it to a boil, and carefully poured into molds. It takes 10-12 hours to harden in the fridge. The resulting delicacy with a sour-sweet taste ends very quickly, but in an all-natural composition has no dyes and other not the most useful food additives.

Interesting facts about grapefruit

1. When it was first described, the name "forbidden fruit" was used.
2. A ripe grapefruit is 92% water.
3. The main division into species goes by 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. The sepals contain unique antioxidants.
6. The fruit lowers sugar and cholesterol levels, dissolving fat and cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels.
7. The fruit reduces the risk of infection during seasonal epidemics.
8. Fruit with red flesh is considered to be sweeter and healthier.
9. Grapefruit reduces the effectiveness of erectile dysfunction drugs and contraceptives.
10. The essential oil has an invigorating effect and is used to combat apathy, depression and loss of energy.

Bright and fragrant grapefruit with regular use will lift your mood and serve as an excellent base for jams, marmalade and confit, preserving in these dishes their useful properties.

Photo of grapefruit jam