Tomato Jam Recipe | Thakkali Jam Recipe

Last Updated On: Nov 8, 2024 by Aarthi

Tomato Jam Recipe with step by step pictures. Easy Tomato preserves or Thakkali jam recipe is made with tomatoes, sugar and cardamom. Healthy and simple jam using juicy tomatoes and sugar can be used as a spread for your toast or enjoy as dips too. In this blog post learn how to make homemade tomato jam without any preservatives or pectin.

Tomato Jam

One jam which Amma makes often is tomato jam. Believe it or not we usually have this jam with either veg biryani or chicken biryani. Yes It is true, we enjoy jam with biryani. If you haven’t tried the combination yet, I strongly suggest you to give it a try.

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Every time tomatoes are in season, Amma makes a batch of tomato jam and tomato pickle. One of the staple dish we have in our fridge are these two.

About Tomato Jam (Thakkali Jam)

Jam making can be a therapeutic and satisfying process. Making homemade jam is not only healthy but it is cheaper and rewarding. The taste of homemade jam cannot be compared to the preservative and pectic packed store bought bottled jams. You can literally make jam using any vegetables or fruits. This tomato jam is a staple one in our home.

Easy and delicious tomato jam made with fresh tomatoes. This recipe is also called as tomato jam or thakkali jam. This is a simple jam recipe made without any preservatives or pectin. Combination of tomatoes, sugar and flavouring like cardamom makes the jam taste so good which makes it go perfect with a slice of toast or made into jam sandwich.

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Tomato Jam Ingredients

Tomatoes – Make sure to use ripe tomatoes for this recipe. I like to choose country tomatoes more than Bangalore variety. Since country tomatoes also known as nattu thakkali has a little acidity, the jam taste delicious.

Sugar – I used white sugar in this recipe. You can use brown sugar which may alter the colour of the jam. If that doesn’t bother you, you can use brown sugar.

Cardamom – this is the main flavouring for the jam. You can skip it if you prefer.

Salt – a pinch of salt goes a long way. It balance the taste and makes it delicious.

Ghee – I like to add a tsp of ghee purely for flavour.

How to Make Tomato Jam (Stepwise Pictures)

Making Tomato Puree

1)Take few tomatoes and wash them well. Make a plus like slash sign on the bottom of the tomatoes. This makes the peel of the tomatoes to come off easily.

2)Drop the tomatoes in boiling water and blanch for few seconds. It takes literally 30 seconds or so.

3)Now immerse the tomatoes in cold water. This stops the cooking process which makes the peel come off easily.

4)Now you can see the skin of the tomatoes will start to peel off. Gently Peel off the tomato skin.

5)Take the peeled tomatoes in a cutting board.

6)Chop them roughly.

7)Take chopped tomatoes in a blender jar.

8)Puree till smooth.

Cooking Tomato Jam

9)Now take pureed tomatoes, sugar in a cooking pot. Place the kadai on high heat and bring this to a full boil.

10)For flavouring I am using crushed cardamom. You can skip this if you don’t prefer cardamom flavour.

11)Add a pinch of salt. This balance the taste of the jam.

12)Mix everything together and cook on medium high heat for 8 to 10 minutes.

13)Once the jam has thickened. Add in a tsp of ghee and mix well.

14)Tomato Jam is ready.

15)Once the jam is cooled. Store in a clean dry glass jar in fridge. Enjoy with toast.

Expert Tips

Use fresh ripe tomatoes, particularly country variety for the slight tart taste.
Peeling tomato skin is optional, you can skip if you don’t want too.
You can add more or less sugar depending to your preference.
You can use vanilla extract for flavouring.
For brighter tomato jam, a small pinch of red food colour can be used.

Storage

You can store homemade tomato jam in fridge and use up to 3 weeks. For more storage, add a tbsp of lemon juice to the jam which helps in the preservation.

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