Ginger Pear Preserves

Dib's's Note:

This is a really good recipe-feel free to add another 1/2 tbsp ginger if you like.

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 7 quarter ...

• 5 1/2 cups pears, peeled and finely chopped
• 2 large limes
• 2 1/3 cups white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated gingerroot

Directions:

1. After you have peeled and chopped the pears you want 5 1/2 cups.
2. Using a zester remove green rind from limes; you want 1 T.
3. Squeeze the limes to get 1/3 cup.
4. Place pears, rind and juice in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan.
5. Stir in ginger root and sugar.
6. Bring fruit to a full boil stirring constantly.
7. Do this until it reaches the gel stage, around 15 minutes.
8. If desired mash the fruit.
9. Ladle into sterile hot jars leaving 1/4 inch head space.
10. Seal and process 5 minutes at altitudes up to 1000 feet.

Reviews

[kitchengrrl]

Oh GOLLY, this is good! I'm eating it right now! I made it with small Bartlett pears, so it took a long time peeling and chopping, but I'm sure it would be easier with larger pears. Even without mashing the fruit, this comes out with a very applesaucy texture. The ginger flavor is not overwhelming, it just gives a nice bright note to the pear. The lime isn't really noticible as itself, but I'm sure it contributes to the brightness and cuts down on what I normally find a cloying sweetness in pears.

[Chef #1412198]

I made this recipe following the directions exactly and LOVE the taste but could not get the preserves to gel. I did 4X everything because of the amount of pears I had. Once they were boiling they started to foam so I turned heat down. After boiling for almost 30 minutes they were still watery and I was on a time constraint so jarred them anyway. Any hints on how to avoid this next year when my pears come in?

[iris5555]

My pear tree never produces fruit, but it sure did this year. Not wanting to let it go to waste, I tried these lovely preserves and am very glad I did. I am not a big fan of ginger and was somewhat worried that the taste might be overwhelming. I add just a bit at a time and ended up adding as much as indicated with great results.