Marmalatha Kythoni: Quince Jam

Quince jam in jar with fruit, close up
Westend61/Getty Images
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 2 hrs 15 mins
Total: 2 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 48 to 64 servings
Yield: 3 to 4 cups

Mediterranean countries have been growing and using quince for more than 4,000 years, including in traditional jam recipes known as Marmalatha Kythoni. It looks and tastes a little like a lumpy pear, but it's not necessarily a fruit you want to eat raw. The flesh of the quince is dry, hard and has a very tart flavor, so it's best when it's been cooked. The fruit has a high pectin content, though, which makes it ideal for cooking down into a jam or jelly. In Greece, lamb and pork also use with quince, so the taste of this jam goes well as a condiment with roasts of either.

This jam is all-natural—meaning no additives or preservatives, just simply quinces, sugar, and a little lemon juice. It's a light jam, and perfect for toast, as a filling for croissants and as a condiment.

Ingredients

  • 4 1/2 pounds quince

  • 1 1/4 cups water, divided

  • 4 cups sugar

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed

Steps to Make It

  1. Clean the quince the way you would prepare an apple for a pie, peeling and removing the seeds. Cut the quince into small chunks or grate it and put into a bowl of water as you are cleaning and cutting the remaining fruit. Quince will turn dark if not covered with water.

  2. Drain and transfer the quince to a pot with water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil for 30 minutes, turn off the heat and leave the pot on the stove for 30 minutes.

  3. Drain and discard the liquid.

  4. Place fruit in the food processor bowl with the 1/4 cup of water and pulse for 8 seconds. The consistency should be similar to chunky applesauce.

  5. Transfer to a large saucepan, add sugar and 1 cup of water, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon to prevent sticking and browning. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring frequently, until the jam melds, the excess liquid cooks off, and the jam drops from a spoon in chunks.

  6. Add lemon juice, stir for 5 minutes, and remove from heat. Allow to cool for 30 minutes, then transfer to jars with airtight lids, but do not seal until the jam has cooled completely.

Tips

  • If the jam starts sticking to the pan and browning, remove from heat immediately and pour into a bowl. Use a spoon to remove brown parts, transfer to a clean pot and continue to cook.
  • Feel free to play around with extra flavors in the jam, adding a little bit of vanilla extract, nutmeg, or cardamom.
  • To change quantities, use this ratio: 2 parts peeled and seeded quince to 1 part sugar, by weight.
  • Quince jam can be stored for up to a year and the color of the jam will darken over time to varying shades of red.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
67 Calories
0g Fat
17g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 48 to 64
Amount per serving
Calories 67
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 5mg 24%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 63mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags: