This isn’t really “preserves” (i.e. no vacuum seal), so it’s perishable and needs to be kept in the refrigerator. But I promise you’ll be scraping the bottom of the jar before it goes bad. Banana jam is delicious on just about anything: toast and English muffins of course, baguettes, pancakes, turkey sandwiches, baked Brie…plus it’s great stirred into curries and sauces like a chutney. I know it sounds persnickety, but it’s much better if you use freshly squeezed limes (I tried with the juice in the plastic lime-shaped bottle once and it just wasn’t the same).
Homemade Banana Jam
(I multiplied everything in this recipe by eight, and it made a dozen 8-oz. jars of jam; as written, this makes about one jar — yes, that math is a mystery to me, too.)
Ingredients (all quantities are approximate)
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup dark brown sugar (or 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup regular sugar)
- juice of 2 limes (about 1/3 cup)
- 3 peeled overripe bananas
Combine lime juice and sugar in a pot and bring to a boil over medium heat (don’t let it scorch); add a small amount of water (1/4 cup or less) if needed to make a syrup. Slice the bananas and add to pot. Simmer the mixture for about an hour, stirring frequently and occasionally smashing the bananas with a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon. Once it starts to thicken, remove from heat. It will thicken more as it cools. Put in jars or Pyrex or whatever.
I have to say, I was a little reluctant to trying the jam but trusting the source, I knew it was a worthwhile try. We made the jam and served it over french toast made with cinnamon bread for Christmas morning. It was delicious. Of course, a second batch of jam was promptly needed. I continue putting it on anything I can. Love it!
Your comment is making me very hungry!
Bevin,
Hi-just when I thought we were “clean” eaters, well at least 80/20 or 60/40…RBST ugghh!! Is it in “organic” diary products like Horizon? I looked on my Horizon shredded cheese and could not tell if it was in the ingredients? I notice the “RBST free” is on the Fage greek yogurts. Your blog is great–Denise has inspired me on the jam. I was going to email you–do you know anything about Pininterest? I thought it would be a good way to organize my recipes. Keep reporting, hope to see you soon.
Hi Kelly:
You’re safe from rBST if you buy organic dairy products (including Horizon) because a product can’t be certified organic if it contains ANY genetically modified ingredients. They probably put the “rBST Free” label on FAGE because it’s not organic, so not necessarily assumed. Thanks so much for reading and I will definitely check out Piniterest!
[…] (okay and maybe a little salt). As for the jelly, in order to keep it healthy, watch the sugar. (My banana jam is fabulous, if I do say so myself, and is actually quite low in sugar.) Otherwise, I buy Crofters […]