Fresh honey blackberry basil jam with feta Just a quick “thank-you-for-coming-back-alive” treat I cooked up for Scrapple when he came home last weekend (we had our bachelor/ette parties). Nothing like a little positive reinforcement! We had a gorgeous half pint of blackberries in our CSA share - looking like gigantic gems ready to burst. I almost just gobbled them all fresh but had been wanting to try a berry basil combo of some sort and boy am I glad I did! I'm a huge fan of sweet-savory combos and this one did not disappoint.
Quick Blackberry Basil Honey Jam
Blackberries, honey, and apple cider vinegar1c blackberries
leaves from 1 stalk fresh basil, cut into strips
1tbs apple cider vinegar
3tbs honey
½c water
1. heat berries, honey, and apple cider vinegar to a simmer over low-medium heat in a non reactive (stainless is best) pan. Stir and smush the berries as they heat up to start getting the juices flowing.
2. once you have a good simmer going, add the ½ c water and bring back to a simmer.
3. continue to cook at a simmer, stirring frequently to prevent burning, until the berries break down, the water evaporates and you have a thick jam like mixture. You can taste as you go and add more honey if you prefer more sweetness (I tend to like less sweet, more berry, so you're likely to need more if you have a sweet tooth!).
4. add the basil strips, mixing in thoroughly, and enjoy! This will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 2 weeks and can also be frozen.
I spread this (liberally) on to some crusty bread and topped with feta crumbles for Scrapple’s snack but it’s also wonderful mixed into yogurt in the morning topped with some walnuts, or stirred into cream cheese or yogurt cheese.
Have any sweet-savory combos you can make my day with? Please share!
