Description
Sweet banana bliss jam delights palates with Caribbean flair and rich tropical essence. Home cooks can easily craft this luscious spread for morning toast or classic dessert pairings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 large ripe bananas
- ½ cup (120 ml) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (120 ml) brown sugar
- 1 lime (juice)
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) rum
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¾ cup (180 ml) water
Instructions
- Preparation: Peel ripe bananas and dice into uniform cubes, then drizzle with lime juice to prevent browning and add zesty undertones.
- Sugar Syrup Creation: In a medium saucepan, dissolve white and brown sugars with water over medium-high heat, stirring until a clear, glossy syrup forms.
- Flavor Infusion: Add banana pieces to the syrup, introducing vanilla extract and ground cinnamon, stirring to create a harmonious blend of sweet and aromatic notes.
- Simmering and Texturing: Reduce heat to low, gently simmering and periodically mashing bananas with a wooden spoon to develop a rustic, spreadable consistency while preventing scorching.
- Reducing and Thickening: Continue cooking until the mixture reaches a thick, glossy texture that coats the back of a spoon, indicating optimal jam consistency (approximately 25-35 minutes).
- Final Touches: Remove from heat and stir in rum, ensuring even distribution of the spirit throughout the jam.
- Jarring and Cooling: Transfer the hot jam into a sterilized glass jar using a clean funnel, then allow to cool completely at room temperature before refrigerating to set and enhance flavors.
Notes
- Prevent Browning: Lime juice acts as a natural antioxidant, stopping banana discoloration and adding bright, zesty undertones to the jam.
- Sugar Syrup Technique: Constant stirring prevents sugar crystallization, creating a smooth, glossy base that ensures even caramelization and flavor distribution.
- Mashing Method: Gentle, consistent mashing breaks down banana fibers, developing a rustic texture while releasing natural sugars and intensifying the overall taste profile.
- Cooling Wisdom: Letting the jam cool at room temperature allows natural pectin to set, enhancing thickness and allowing flavors to meld and deepen before refrigeration.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 135
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg