Description
Delightful dandelion jelly transforms golden flower petals into a sweet, sunshiny spread unique to springtime foraging. Wilderness enthusiasts and home cooks cherish this simple preserve as a tribute to nature’s edible treasures.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 ½ cups (907 g) granulated sugar
- 3 cups (720 ml) fresh dandelion petals (yellow part only)
- 3 cups (720 ml) boiling water
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) lemon juice
- 1 box (1.75 oz / 50 g) powdered fruit pectin
Instructions
- Petal Preparation: Gently collect dandelion blossoms from untreated, organic terrain, carefully separating golden petals from green stems and removing all non-petal components.
- Infusion Process: Pour boiling water over petals in a heat-resistant container, cover, and allow the floral essence to steep extensively for several hours or overnight, creating a vibrant golden liquid.
- Liquid Refinement: Strain the infusion through cheesecloth into a large cooking pot, ensuring a pristine, clear dandelion tea concentrate with no residual plant matter.
- Flavor Enhancement: Integrate lemon juice and pectin into the tea, stirring thoroughly to create a smooth, well-combined mixture that will support the jelly’s setting process.
- Boiling Transformation: Ignite the mixture to a robust boil, swiftly incorporating sugar while continuously whisking to prevent burning and ensure even sugar dissolution, maintaining an aggressive heat for approximately twelve minutes.
- Jellification Stage: Monitor the liquid as it transitions into a glossy, thickening consistency, reducing heat when the mixture reaches the ideal jellying point and removing any surface foam.
- Preservation Method: Carefully transfer the molten jelly into sterilized glass jars, wiping jar rims to ensure a clean seal, then securely attach lids and bands. Optionally process in a boiling water bath for added preservation and food safety.
Notes
- Harvest Wisely: Choose dandelions from untreated, pollution-free areas away from roadsides, ensuring no pesticide exposure for a pure, safe jelly.
- Petal Precision: Remove only bright yellow petals, carefully extracting them to avoid bitter green parts, which can create unwanted harsh flavors in the final product.
- Pectin Perfect: Adjust sugar and pectin quantities based on flower batch – some dandelion harvests might require slight recipe modifications to achieve ideal jelly consistency.
- Storage Strategy: Process jars in boiling water bath for secure preservation, creating shelf-stable jelly that can be enjoyed months after preparation, with proper sealing techniques ensuring maximum freshness and preventing potential bacterial growth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 243
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 61 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg