411 preserving recipes

Old-fashioned candied figs, apricots, or tomatoes preserved in sugar syrup over several days, then sun-dried and sugar-dredged. A slow, sweet, heritage preserving project.

Homemade apricot-raisin jam with lemon and orange juice creates a thick, spreadable preserve perfect for gift-giving and holiday baking.

Crispy deep-fried Chinese vermicelli topped with stir-fried chilli vegetables in a soy, vinegar, and brown sugar sauce. A crunchy, sweet-sour vegetarian noodle dish.

Homemade lemon shred marmalade with fine lemon peel and grapefruit, cooked low and slow with no added pectin. Just four ingredients for a classic citrus preserve.

Fresh cherries preserved in grappa with sugar, sun-steeped for a week then aged 3 months. A classic Italian after-dinner treat with boozy, fruit-soaked elegance. Only 3 ingredients.

Homemade bran flakes cereal made with wheat bran, whole-wheat flour, molasses, and brewer's yeast. Rolled thin, baked crisp, and broken into flakes. No preservatives.

Bright lemon lime marmalade made from thinly sliced whole citrus fruit cooked with sugar until set. A tangy, bittersweet preserve with no added pectin needed.

Fruit Cheeses are closely related to jams and jellies but have a firmer texture and are usually served moulded and cut into chunks as an accompaniment to roast or cold meats. Quince really makes the best cheese and is a wonderful rich amber colour. It is a particular speciality of Spain and is traditionally eaten as a sweet snack. This recipe will keep for 2 years and makes a wonderful and unusual gift.

Slow-simmered kumquat chutney with rhubarb, fresh ginger, raisins, and warm spices. A complex sweet-tart preserve that cans beautifully for gifting.

Rose hip chutney blends foraged rose hips with apples, raisins, apple cider vinegar, ginger, and cayenne for a tangy-sweet preserve that pairs with holiday ham, turkey, or game.

Green tomato dill pickles canned in a vinegar brine with garlic, whole cloves, and fresh dill. A tangy, crunchy way to preserve the end-of-season garden harvest in quart jars.

Classic yellow mustard pickles with cucumbers, gherkins, pearl onions, cauliflower, and red peppers in a turmeric-mustard brine. Old-school preserving-kettle recipe that stocks a pantry.

Traditional tamarind and guava chutney with fresh ginger, mustard seeds, currants, and warm spices, boiled and canned for preserving. A tangy, complex Indian condiment.

Home-canned rabbit stew: deboned rabbit meat with potatoes, carrots, celery, onions and peas, preserved in jars for a hearty pantry stew anytime. Old-school homesteader cooking.

Broiled duck breasts marinated in black raspberry preserves, mustard, lime, soy sauce, and caraway seeds. Sliced thin and drizzled with a fruity, tangy sauce that screams date night.

Homemade banana butter made from 10 ripe bananas, maraschino cherries, and pectin. This spreadable fruit preserve yields 8 to 9 half-pints for gifting or stocking the pantry.