Recipes Section - Val’s Preserves

My favourite preserve recipes.
The allotments are very productive and would probably feed a family of four, but we are a family of two and some cats – who aren’t very keen on vegetables – so we tend to have a bit of a surplus. I decided to share with you some of the recipes I’ve used to take care of the glut.
I have to find something to do with the lined up carrier bags that John brings back full of produce and strategically places where I’m most likely to trip over them and break my neck! Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas?
Where a recipe calls for muslin, I usually end up using a laddered pop sock (preferably clean!) as I’ve failed to find a local supplier of muslin in sensible amounts

Spiced Plum Jam with Walnuts Recipe

Recipe for Spiced Plum Jam with Walnuts. All Plum Jams are really easy to make as plums have a lot of pectin so setting is seldom a problem.

Apple and Mint Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Apple and Mint Chutney. A fresh and fragrant chutney with a bite! Goes well with fish, chicken and meat dishes and is delicious with Leg of Lamb.

Celery and Sweet Pepper Pickle Recipe

Recipe for Celery and Sweet Pepper Pickle. A crunchy pickle that is excellent with fish dishes and cold meats. Makes about 3 lbs (1.4 kg) of pickle.

Pickled Gherkins with Dill Recipe

Recipe for Pickled Gherkins with Dill. Serve with ham and other boiled meats. Makes about 3 lbs (1.4 kg).

Sweet and Sour Melon Pickle Recipe

Recipe for Sweet and Sour Melon Pickle. Delicious served with sea food, especially prawns or shrimps served in their shells. Also goes well with salads.

Apricot, Apple and Peach Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Apricot, Apple and Peach Chutney. Goes particularly well with cheddar cheese and tomato sandwiches or with cold roast turkey or other cold meats

Turnip Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Turnip Chutney. An old-fashioned chutney that is particularly good with all cold meats. Ready for use in 4-6 weeks but better if left longer!

Courgette and Onion Pickle Recipe

Recipe for Courgette and Onion Pickle. Particularly good with both ham and lamb dishes but can also accompany cheeses.

Sweet Pepper Jelly Recipe

Recipe for Sweet Pepper Jelly. An unusual jelly that is great with cold meats, especially lamb and chicken. Also goes well with prawns and cream cheese.

Bread and Butter Pickles Recipe

Recipe for Bread and Butter Pickles. The perfect accompaniment to your sandwiches and cold meats. Also a way to use up some of the glut of cucumbers!

Gooseberry Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Gooseberry Chutney. Perfect with cheese. It can be used after about a month but the flavours continue to develop for a month or two afterwards.

Chilli Jam Recipe

Recipe for Chilli Jam. This recipe can be adapted to use up gluts. I have made it with red peppers, celery and even rhubarb! Courgettes are our favourite.

Onion Marmalade Recipe

The important thing about onion marmalade is to cook the onions down really well and evaporate all the moisture before you go for the browning part.

Cucumber Pickle Recipe

With cucumbers, it seems that you go from none to that many you don't know what to do with them! This recipe will make about 4 lbs of cucumber pickle.

Apple & Date Chutney or Relish Recipe

Like Pan Yan Pickle but could equally be called Apple and Date relish/chutney. Makes several jars depending on the size. No cooking involved.

Gooseberry and Ginger Chutney Recipe Variation

A dark, spicy Gooseberry and Ginger chutney that is perfect with cheese. It can be used after about a month but keeps for much longer.

Pear, Fig and Walnut Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Pear, Fig & Walnut Chutney. If you prefer a less chunky texture, chop everything (including the walnuts) into smaller pieces.

Old Ma Donothey’s Beetroot Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Old Ma Donethey's Beetroot Chutney. A very sweet chutney that is delicious with ham, sausage, pork pie, cheese and savoury snacks.

Beetroot and Orange Preserve Recipe

Recipe for Beetroot and Orange Preserve - an easy to make, sweet and spicy preserve that is great with cold meats and cheese.

Microwave Green Tomato Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Microwave Green Tomato Chutney. A good recipe as it is cooked in the microwave and not for hours in a preserving pan on the hob.

Green Tomato Marmalade Recipe

Recipe for Green Tomato Marmalade. A lovely breakfast marmalade, makes a good side dish with curry, and brilliant with cheese.

Rhubarb and Date Chutney Recipe

Easy to make recipe for Rhubarb and Date Chutney. A lovely warm and well-rounded chutney. Serve with cheese, pâté, cold meats, sandwiches etc.

Marrow & Courgette Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Marrow & Courgette Chutney. Goes lovely with cheese or cold meats. Best to leave in a cool, dark place for 2 - 3 weeks at least before consuming.

Pear & Walnut Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Pear & Walnut Chutney. Makes about 4 lb (1.8 kg) of chutney. Leave for at least a month to allow to mature.

Onion Pickle Recipe

Recipe for Onion Pickle. Makes 1 to 1¼ lbs (500g) . This pickle needs to be refrigerated and used up within a month but you'll have eaten it before that!

Sweetcorn & Runner Bean Relish Recipe

Recipe for Sweetcorn and Runner Bean Relish. A good accompaniment for chicken, fish and vegetables and delicious in pasta salads and fried rice.

Sweet Chilli Jam Recipe

This sweet chilli jam recipe is straightforward to make and produces an unusual jam that can be used as an accompaniment to a curry like a mango chutney.

Sweet Beetroot Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Sweet Beetroot Chutney. This chutney can be eaten fresh or will keep for 3-4 months unopened. Lovely with buttered crusty bread and cheese.

Green Tomato Marmalade Recipe

Recipe for Green Tomato Marmalade An unusual recipe that makes use of green tomatoes at the end of season combined with lemons for a fresh tasting marmalade

Sweet Green Pickle Recipe

Recipe for Sweet Green Pickle. Makes about 5.5kg (12lb) and the vegetables can vary with the seasons so a good way to use up gluts and surplus

Lemon and Carrot Marmalade Recipe

Recipe for Lemon and Carrot Marmalade. The same proportions can be used for Grapefruit, Half Lemons and Limes and all Limes.

Plum and Orange Jam Recipe

Recipe for Plum and Orange Jam. This unusual jam mixing two very different flavours actually works exceptionally well.

Sweet Cucumber Fridge Pickle Recipe

Recipe for Sweet Cucumber Fridge Pickle. If you have an over productive cucumber patch try this - will keep for 2 weeks if you can leave it alone!

Caramelised Onion Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Caramelised Onion Chutney. Makes about 3 lbs. This recipe was given to us by a friend who lives in France where she served it with pate on toast

Hot Carrot and Chilli Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Hot Carrot and Chilli Chutney Makes about 4 lbs The carrot adds a sweetness and body to the chutney which gets its heat from the chilli of course

Apple, Date and Chilli Chutney Recipe

This easy recipe for Apple, Date and Chilli Chutney makes about 5 lbs which may sound a lot but it won't last long once you taste how delicious it is

Dried Apricot Jam Recipe

Recipe for Dried Apricot Jam. A lovely jam with a beautiful color and flavor. A big advantage is that it can be made when apricots are not in season.

Prune, Apple and Walnut Chutney Recipe

Easy recipe for Prune, Apple and Walnut Chutney. Pour into sterilised jars and leave for at least 8 weeks to allow the flavours to develop if you can wait.

Tomato and Orange Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Tomato and Orange Chutney. An experiment as I had oranges to spare! Made at the end of August and tasted today (13th December) and it's lovely.

Gooseberry and Ginger Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Gooseberry and Ginger Chutney. A dark, spicy chutney that is perfect with cheese - can be used in about a month but keeps for much longer.

Runner Bean Chutney Recipe

Recipe for Runner Bean Chutney. One way of dealing with the runner bean glut! Serve with cold meats or cheese. Allow to mature for at least 6 to 8 weeks.

Pineapple & Courgette Jam Recipe

Recipe for Pineapple and Courgette Jam. Adapted from an old book and it's worked good enough for everyone to be eating it without going YUK!

Plum Jam 2 Recipe

Another recipe for Plum Jam. There is enough jam for 8 jars about 450g in each or whatever you have. This jam is lovely on rice puddings or on Ice cream.

My Grannies Apple and Rhubarb Chutney Recipe

Recipe for My Grannies Apple and Rhubarb Chutney. Leave for a couple of months, somewhere cool and dark, before eating. Great with cheese and cold meats.

Quince Cheese Recipe

Recipe for Quince Cheese submitted by Swing Swang. Once cool the cheese should be as solid as a soft bit of cheddar. Will keep for a few weeks in the fridge

Sweet Orange and Chilli Chutney Recipe

An easy recipe for Sweet Orange and Chilli Chutney which gives a clever balance of the orange sweetness and chilli heat in this unusual chutney

Tangerine Jelly Marmalade Recipe

Recipe for Tangerine Jelly Marmalade. Makes about 5 lbs (2.3 kg) of marmalade. A lovely smooth breakfast marmalade, wonderful on hot buttered toast

Old English Marmalade Recipe

Recipe for Old English Marmalade. Makes about 6 lbs (2.7 kg) of marmalade. The traditional marmalade to accompany a great British breakfast's toast.

Lime Marmalade Recipe

Recipe for Lime Marmalade. Makes about 6 lbs (2.7 kg) of marmalade. A sharp flavoured breakfast marmalade to wake you and your tastebuds up in a morning.

Lemon Marmalade Recipe

Recipe for a thick Lemon Marmalade. Makes about 6 lbs (2.7 kg) of marmalade. A fresh breakfast marmalade that makes a change from orange.

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