Ingredients

350 g ripe strawberries, cleaned and coarsely puréed
150 g rice malt syrup
juice of half a lemon
half a teaspoon powdered cardamom
a few pinches of powdered vanilla
half a teaspoon agar agar powder, dissolved in 1 tablespoon filtered water

Makes about 1 jar.

Directions

Put the strawberries in a large heavy-based saucepan. Add the malt syrup, lemon, cardamom and vanilla and toss until combined. Cook the fruit over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, then turn the heat down to low and keep cooking for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the agar gar, stir well and simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until the fruit has thickened, stirring constantly to keep from sticking to the pan. Turn the heat off, pour the strawberry mixture into individual jars. Let cool before covering each jar with a tight-fitting lid. Store in the fridge, where it will keep for up to 10 days, 2 weeks.

Ingredients

1200 g peeled, cored and coarsely chopped, ripe pears
400 g rice malt syrup
juice of 1 lemon
half a teaspoon powdered cinnamon
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

Makes about 2 jars, 350 g each.

Directions

Put the pears in a large heavy-based saucepan. Add the malt syrup, lemon and cinnamon and toss until combined. Let the fruit marinate for 30-40 minutes then start to cook it over medium heat, stirring occasionally. As soon as the pears start to liquify, change the heat to low, add the thyme and simmer for 40-50 minutes, or until the jam has thickened, stirring constantly to keep from sticking to the pan. When the jam has reached setting point, pour it into individual jars. Let cool before covering each jar with a tight-fitting lid. Store in a very cool, dry, dark spot (I usaually store it in the fridge, this way it keeps for up to 1 year).

Ingredients

16 fresh, ripe figs
100 ml natural mineral or filtered water
400 g rice malt syrup
6 tablespoons muscovado sugar
2 handfuls of almonds, peeled
2 teaspoons dried minced rosemary
zest of 2 lemons (organic), cut into ribbons using a potato peeler

Makes about 2 jars, 300 g each.

Directions

Wash the figs, trim them and divide each one into four wedges (lengthwise) and put them in a large heavy-based saucepan. Pour the water, the rice malt syrup,  then add the sugar, almonds, rosemary and the lemon zest. Toss until combined and start cooking over medium heat, stirring now and then. When the figs start to soften, change heat to low and simmer for around 30 minutes, or until the jam has thickened. Stir to keep the jam from sticking to the saucepan. When the jam has reached setting point, pour it into individual jars (being very careful as it’s burning hot). Let cool before covering each jar with a tight-fitting lid. Store in a very cool and dark place (it keeps for around one year in the fridge).