Pink Guava Jam Recipes

Steps:

• Use only ripe pink guavas for this recipe; pink guavas are ripe with they either fall off the tree on their own or when they come off the tree when barely touched. They will be bright pink on the inside and quite soft. Wash.
• Cut the guavas in half, using a small spoon to carefully spoon out the middle sections containing seeds. Do not allow a single seed to remain as they are quite hard and unpleasant to bite into; people with dentures may want to injure you if one slips inches Set aside seedless guava "meat." (Shells and seeds make good fertilizer for the garden.) Freeze if you cannot make jam on the same day -- a good option as guavas mature at greatly varying times.
• Place guava "meat" into blender and pulse until relatively but not completely smooth. Measure before placing into nonreactive pot for boiling. Using this measurement, add the same amount of sugar to the "meat." If you have two cups of guava "meat," add two cups of granulated sugar (i.e. one-for-one). Add two tablespoons of pectin and the juice of two small limes (or one large Persian lime). Bring to rolling boil for 20 minutes, stirring continually. The jam will be become a more intense pink/red color at this point.
• Pour guava jam into sterilized jars and process in boiling water for ten minutes, with at least one inch of water over top of jars. Remove from canner pot and place on a towel, allowing jars to cool. Listen for lids to pop signifying airtight seal. Remove rings only, dry, and re-place them on the jars. Store away.

Steps:

• Cut each guava into 8 pieces. Place in a pot and fill with water until guavas are just covered; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until fruit is very soft, about 1 hour. Remove from the heal and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Strain contents of the pot through a fine mesh sieve into a 1-quart liquid measure, using a spatula to push fruit through the sieve so only seeds and skins remain. Take note, you should get about 4 cups fruit. Clean the pot and pour the fruit back in.
• For every cup of fruit, add 1 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon lime juice. Stirring constantly, bring to a simmer and continue to cook until sugar is dissolved and jam has thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. If the jam thickens on its own and drips very slowly off a spoon, do not add pectin. However, if it does not thicken up enough, add liquid pectin and simmer for 1 minute longer. Pull off the heat.
• While jam is cooking, inspect six 1/2-pint jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until jam is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Fill hot, sterilized jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a clean knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars to remove any air bubbles. Wipe rims with a moist paper towel to remove any residue. Top with lids and screw rings on tightly.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and let rest, several inches apart, for 12 to 24 hours. Press the center of each lid with a finger to ensure the lid does not move up or down. Remove the rings for storage and store in a cool, dark area.