Love and Olive Oil

Roasted Garlic Jelly

Roasted Garlic Jelly

You know what? Canning in the winter is quite enjoyable. I need to do more of it. Especially when the temperature drops, standing next to three boiling pots on the stove is quite lovely. A nice change from the frigid depths of the living room.

Earlier this year I received a note from Tom of Singer Farm Naturals, who found one of my posts touting the deliciousness of garlic scapes (which, I agree, are underutilized). Tom offered to send me a sampling of his organic garlic varieties (he grows over 20 unique varieties). How could I say no?

When the box came just this past week, I was overwhelmed. Think about it. You buy garlic in little mesh bags in the grocery store. It’s just garlic. Plain old, generic garlic. It’s not like apples, there are no options… garlic is garlic. Or so I thought.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Ever since the fragrant box arrived, we’ve been exploring the varieties like fine wines. Spaghetti with garlic and olive oil, garlicky spinach soup, classic garlic bread…

Anyone have a breath mint?

But I wanted to do something that would really highlight the garlic. And I wasn’t quite sure what that would be, until I saw this:

Smoked Gouda and garlic jam.

It was a comment left on the Kerry Gold giveaway post by Michelle, describing her ultimate grilled cheese. I saw the words “garlic jam” and I knew I had it. Thanks, Michelle, for the inspiration I needed!

While I couldn’t find any recipes for garlic jam, recipes for garlic jelly were all over, including in my canning bible, which had a recipe for Roasted Garlic Jelly that I ended up using. I made two batches, one featuring the Lorz Italian variety of garlic, and the other featuring Persian Star. Both delicious, both garlicky and wonderfully rich, and oh so slightly different. While I think the varieties are best distinguished in their raw forms, (garlic tasting party, anyone?), this jelly is a real treat.

Yes, indeed. I think this will make one fine grilled cheese.

Roasted Garlic Jelly

Makes 9 4-oz. jars. Recipe from Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving.

Ingredients:

  • 3 medium heads garlic
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, divided
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns, crushed
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 (3oz) pouches liquid pectin

Directions:

  1. Using a sharp knife, cut off tops of garlic heads, exposing cloves. Place each head on a small square of aluminum foil set on a baking sheet. Top each head with 1 teaspoon olive oil and 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar. Scrunch foil loosely around garlic heads and roast in preheated oven until garlic is golden and very soft, 45 to 60 minutes. Let stand until cool enough to handle. Separate cloves, pinching each one to extract the soft roasted garlic. Discard skins.
  2. In a medium stainless steel saucepan, combine roasted garlic, wine, water, white balsamic vinegar and peppercorns. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and boil gently for 5 minutes. Cover, remove from heat and let steep for 15 minutes.
  3. Transfer garlic mixture to a strainer lined with several layers of dampened cheesecloth or a dampened coffee filter set over a deep bowl. Let drip, undisturbed, for about 30 minutes. Measure 1 2/3 cups garlic juice. If you do not have the required amount, add up to 1/4 cup dry white wine or water. (This step can be done up to one day in advance. Cover and refrigerate juice until ready to use).
  4. Meanwhile, prepare canner, jars, and lids.
  5. Transfer garlic juice to a large, deep stainless steel saucepan. Stir in lemon juice and sugar. Over high heat, stirring constantly, bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Stir in pectin. Return to a boil and boil hard, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Remove from heat and quickly skim off foam.
  6. Quickly pour hot jelly into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Screw band down until resistance is met, then increase to fingertip tight.
  7. Place jars in canner, ensuring they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil and process for 10 minutes. Remove canner lid. Wait 5 minutes, then remove jars, cool, and store.
All images and text © / Love & Olive Oil

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This is one situation where garlic breath is actually a good thing.

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264 Comments

  1. Chicken with Forty Cloves of Garlic is my favorite garlic recipe, although, of course, I love garlic in so many things!

  2. I would love this. We put garlic in almost everything. i love garlic on foccaccia bread.

  3. Oy! What way to choose? I love garlic in just about everything, including a cup of herbal broth I drink two or three times a day… but I think my favorite is just plain garlic butter on bread or noodles, full flavor of the garlic in buttery yumminess and easy to have any time!

    I have to try your jelly recipe! Can’t wait to see jars of garlic jelly next to my jars of jalapeno jelly!

  4. I can’t wait to try this! Maybe this week! Been looking for the perfect holiday gift for my Italian neighbors. They go out of their way to help our family when needed!

  5. I love, love cooking w/ garlic (one of my favorite ingredients by far). Right now I’m on a swiss chard pesto kick & it’s key to use farm fresh garlic (found in your own backyard or local farmers markets, not the kind in the store). Prawn scampi sounds devine too!

    I have to say thank you for the push to make Garlic Jelly

  6. Garlic stuffed olives rule.

  7. I love good ol’ garlic fries! THank you so much for this amazing recipe!

  8. simple stir fried mushrooms with tons of garlic!

  9. I’m torn, but I would have to go with my Spaghetti with Clam Sauce recipe. Tons of minced fresh garlic, chopped tomatoes, artichokes, green olives and clams, served over spaghetti. Your house(and your face) will reek but your taste buds will thank you. Delicious!

  10. I am now following you on twitter under beachbabys,and I tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/#!/BeachBabys/status/16548022544506880

  11. HMMM Thats a tough one,because I love garlic in everything I eat lol..Its that italian in me.. My favorite would have to be FRESH garlic toast with garlic butter spread on it mmmmm

  12. Favorite garlic recipe would have to be Garlic sauce from Dp’s pub. I make it at home almost close to theirs :)

  13. Roasted garlic is delicious on everything.

  14. YUM Garlic anything is great. I am definitely going to try making this garlic jelly, even though I’ve never heard of it and have no idea what to do with it … thanks so much for sharing :)

  15. I make a pasta dish that they make at Carrabbas with garlic inflused in olive oil and then I add chopped tomatoes and basil. Serve it over angel hair pasta with some grated cheese. Its delish and I love the garlic flavor!

  16. I love fresh garlic in olive oil with italian spices to dip my bread .

  17. I like beef stir fry with a lot of ginger and garlic!

  18. Chicken marbella, though bagna cauda is also fabulous.

  19. I do like you on Facebook.

  20. A friend in Africa (Carol, we miss you) always made this recipe and was required to share with anyone who ate it – I’ve never had it written as it’s so simple. Plenty of garlic, mashed with salt, paprika & a knob of butter (these days I’d use Earth Balance). Boil good quality linguine til tender. Drain. Toss with garlic butter mixture. Eat while hot! Proportions of the ingredients are anybody’s guess – and no, you don’t cook the garlic beforehand.

  21. What a wonderful idea…garlic jelly! Printed you recipe and am going to make some for Christmas stocking stuffers..my foody grown sons will love it.

    Too many favorites, however, we also had fresh roasted red peppers at
    Christmas with lots of garlic, sardines, a sprinkling of oregano, salt, pepper and extra virgin olive oil..with a loaf of REAL Italian bread…mmmmmm.

  22. i’m a fb fan, too!

  23. i’m a fan of a simple roasted garlic and white bean spread. on.. pretty much everything savory.

  24. Fave Garlic recipe:
    Jajugh: Its Armenian, strained yogurt, dried mint, diced cucumber, and a good amount of mashed fresh garlic… once it sits the flavor gets stronger so don’t put TOO much garlic… YUM!

    I’m your fan on FB!

  25. I follow on Twitter and tweeted!

    http://twitter.com/ABCGP/status/16156378225704960

    @ABCGP

  26. I love hummus with lots of garlic…does that count? I also like to just roast it and spread it on bread with sea salt!

  27. I like you on FB! (Amber Shea F.)

  28. I tweeted (@AlmostVeganBlog)

  29. Oh my gosh…I am a garlic FREAK. Give me whole roasted cloves, on ANYTHING really, but especially pasta arrabiatta!

  30. My favorite ultimately garlic recipe is the 44 clove garlic soup from smitten kitchen. SO yummy! SO garlic-y!

  31. Mac and cheese with garlic and bacon… (I love bacon, it’s not a problem)

  32. A FB fan as well!

  33. I love garlic as well. I’m hoping to grow some next year. My favorite garlic recipe is garlic bread.

  34. Already a FB fan!

  35. I love garlic on and in anything, but my all-time fav. roasted garlic recipe is here: http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/roasted_garlic/

    We eat it with a warm baguette, brie and homemade raspberry preserves.

  36. my favorite garlic recipe is chicken with 40 cloves of garlic. yum!

  37. Oh, and I follow you on facebook!

  38. Oh please, i would love some garlic! This is my second year at attempting to grow it and we will see what happens! Are you ready for my favorite recipe? it’s super easy. Quarter small onions tomatoes, use several garlic cloves (to your taste), and toss with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Line a cookie sheet with tin foil and pour the veggies on the pan. Broil for about 5 minutes at a time till “roasted.” Dump contents into a blender and puree. Roasted Tomato Soup!!

  39. I’m a fan on Facebook.

  40. Butternut squash sauce for pasta. WIth loads of garlic – I always use about three times as much as it calls for.

  41. That is tough I love garlic….but If I have to pick one I have to say shrimp scampi.

  42. I’m torn between garlic bread and garlicky greens.

  43. friend on Facebook

  44. shrimp scampi, chicken with 40 cloves of garlic, spaghetti with garlic and clam sauce – just the start of favorite garlic dishes

  45. tweet tweet — check out me out on twitter :)

  46. already a fan :)

  47. I love garlic!!! so good for your blood pressure. I especially love garlic cream cheese on a black seed Montreal bagel with a tomato slice with pep :)

  48. I am a fan on facebook!

  49. Roasted garlic soup! Ok, really roasted garlic ANYTHING. But I love soup too.

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