Tomato jam facts for kids
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Melba toast topped with goat cheese and tomato jam
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| Alternative names | Tomato jelly |
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| Type | Fruit preserves |
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Tomato jam is a sweet and tangy spread made from tomatoes and sugar. It's also sometimes called tomato jelly. It belongs to a group of foods known as fruit preserves, which are foods preserved by cooking them with sugar.
Contents
What is Tomato Jam?
Tomato jam is a delicious food that combines the fresh taste of tomatoes with the sweetness of sugar. It can be a bit like a mix between marmalade (a citrus fruit preserve) and ketchup (a popular tomato sauce).
How it's Made
Most tomato jam is made with ripe, red tomatoes. However, some recipes use green tomatoes for a different flavor. Besides tomatoes and sugar, some people add honey for extra sweetness. You might even find recipes that include bacon for a savory twist!
How to Use Tomato Jam
Tomato jam is a great condiment, which means it's used to add flavor to other foods. It's very popular in South Africa. You can spread it on toast or use it in sandwiches. For example, some people use tomato jam instead of fresh tomato in a BLT sandwich (which usually has bacon, lettuce, and tomato).
History of Tomato Jam
People have been making tomato jam for a long time! Recipes for this tasty preserve appeared in the United States in the mid-1800s.
Early Recipes
- In 1840, a recipe was printed in a newspaper called the American Farmer. This recipe told people to strain cooked tomatoes through a cloth. Then, they would add the same amount of sugar and boil the mixture for several hours until it became a jam.
- Just a few years later, in 1843, another recipe for tomato jam was published in the Boston Cultivator. This method involved rubbing cooked tomatoes through a sieve (a tool with small holes). After that, sugar was added, and the mixture was cooked until it turned into a thick jam.
