Prickly Pear Jelly Recipe
This vibrant magenta-colored jelly has an exquisite, unique taste that combines the sweetness of berries with the delightful tang of cactus fruit.The recipe for this jelly is surprisingly simple and can be enjoyed by experienced and novice jelly-makers.
Equipment
- 1 large pot
- 16-ounce/500-mL plastic beverage bottle
- 1 food processor
- 1 bowl
- 2-part canning lids.
Ingredients
- 27 prickly pear fruits cactus fruit
- 3 cups prickly pear juice extracted from the cactus fruit
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 1.75 ounces package of fruit pectin (such as Sure-Jell® powdered pectin)
- 4 1/2 cups white sugar
Instructions
- To collect prickly pear fruit without getting the painful prickles on you, cut the top half off of a 16-ounce/500-mL plastic beverage bottle and place the bottle around each prickly pear fruit (without touching the fruit).Twist and bend the bottle to detach the fruit from the plant.Slice the ends of each fruit and make one long vertical slit down each one.
- Place the peeled fruit in a food processor or blender and puree until liquefied.Press the puree through a fine mesh sieve over a bowl to separate the juice from the pulp and seeds.Discard the pulp and seeds.Measure three cups of prickly pear juice for the recipe.
- In a large pot, combine the measured prickly pear juice, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and the package of powdered fruit pectin.Stir the mixture thoroughly.
- Place the pot over medium heat and bring the mixture to a rolling boil, stirring continually.Once boiling, add the 4 1/2 cups of sugar and return the mixture to a boil.Ensure that it reaches a full rolling boil where stirring doesn't stop the boiling, and then let it boil for exactly 1 minute.
- To check if the jelly has reached the desired consistency, use a metal spoon and scoop a small amount of the mixture.Let it cool to room temperature.If the jelly has a jam-like texture, it's ready.If not, boil the jelly for another minute and check again.
- Fill the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top and seal with 2-part canning lids.Process the prickly pear jelly in a boiling water bath canner for 10 minutes, ensuring that the lids are at least 1 inch below the water line.Remove the jars from the canner and allow them to cool completely before checking the seals.Now, you have successfully made your delicious Prickly Pear Jelly.Enjoy spreading it on toast or using it in various recipes!
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