Using the flowers of my nasturtium plants, I made Nasturtium Jelly.
Nasturtium is an Indian cress and has large, shield shaped, peppery leaves and cheerful, helmet shaped flowers in yellow, orange and red. These flowers make an attractive, edible garnish. (information sourced from The Complete Book of Herbs). I tossed a packet of seeds into the garden portion outside of our fence, and since then I have had an abundance of nasturtiums. A few years ago I removed ten plants for a friend to plant at her fence line and the following year, you could not even see the gap!
I made nasturtium pesto with the leaves, which is really amazing but I thought I could do one better, and make nasturtium jelly with the flowers. I have used the jam with cheese and it is perfect, as well as with pork and it made a great change from apple sauce. I gave a small jar to Greg as a gift, and he really enjoyed it as well.
Nasturtium Jelly
Ingredients
- 25 g nasturtium flowers
- 500 mls reserved liquid
- 30 mls lemon juice
- 380 g fructose
- 15 g pectin
Method
- Place the flowers into a large jar and cover with boiling water
- Make sure that the flowers are completely covered and submerged
- Seal the jar and leave overnight
- Strain through a muslin cloth and reserve the liquid
- Place 500mls of the reserved liquid into a sauce pan
- Add the lemon juice and the fructose
- Bring to the boil over a medium temperature, stirring until the fructose is dissolved
- Remove 60mls of the liquid and add the pectin to make a slurry
- Add this to the sauce pan and whisk in
- Skim off the scum, reduce the temperature and leave to simmer
- When at jam set stage (over 104° Celsius) remove from the heat - this took me an hour
- Place into sterilized glass jars
- Leave to cool before sealing and storing in the fridge
- Bring up to room temperature before using
Notes
Click on the links for conversions and notes.
What I blogged:
- one year ago – Haute Cabrière, Franschhoek
- two years ago – Lime Cordial
- three years ago – The Versatile Blogger Award
Don’t think I have had nasturtium jelly before – such a pretty coloured jelly.
Have an awesome day.
🙂 Mandy xo
I have never seen it before Mandy 🙂
What a delightful idea! In normal years I have masses of nasturtiums. Alas the drought took most of them this year. But hopefully after all this rain they will return. 🙂
I am so sure they will come back Krista 🙂
How gorgeous does this jelly look! I wonder if I could get some nasturtiums to make this? 😀
Ask Celia if she has any growing in her garden 🙂
Wow Tandy, you are a very clever cook!
Thank you for that compliment Liz 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever had anything with nasturtiums in it! Very cool.
Thanks Joanne 🙂
Nasturtiums are one of my favorite flowers ~ I love all the bright reds, oranges, and yellows so pretty! Try to make sure I do a couple hanging pots with them each year as those colors go so well with my brick work. But jelly? What a profound idea. Will have to try this summer! Thanks Tandy =)
I love the idea of hanging pots and might do that with some next planting season 🙂
YUM! Gotta love jellies and jams!! This looks delicious! 🙂
Thanks Cailee 🙂
I am so fascinated by Nasturtium – Sounds like I need to plant it on my fence line too – do you have any idea where to get it? I don’t recall seeing it at my local home depot…and this jelly looks wonderful!
I am so fascinated by Nasturtium – Sounds like I need to plant it on my fence line too – do you have any idea where to get it? I don’t recall seeing it at my local home depot…and this jelly looks wonderful!!
I am sure that a good nursery will stock the seeds, if they are available where you live.
What a great idea – Tandy – when we plant our new garden – definitely going to throw in some nasturtiums! My grandmother used to make nasturtium leaf sandwiches – imagine also included cream cheese.
Oh, that sounds so good I might have to go and pick some more today 🙂
Now I’m wanting to grow nasturtium again this summer…lots of nasturtium. This jam is so unique and sounds fabulous!
Thank you so much for the compliment and the visit 🙂
Hi Tandy, in the summer I grow nasturtium, tons of them, only have used them in salads. Will be making this for sure, love this recipe!
Thanks Cheri, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did 🙂
Wow this really blew my mind! I’ve always thought of these flowers more as decorative sprinkles on salads, and not an essential component or ingredient in cooking. Thanks for this Tandy, really taught me something new!
My pleasure!
this is so,cool, What a unique recipe with a plant that grows on my allotment so easily! Ha!
Hopefully you will try it Sophie 🙂
I love nasturtiums and this is so clever. Thank you Tandy.
My pleasure Tammy 🙂
Oh, I missed this one Tandy but glad I cam back to read it. You’ve given me two great ideas in the pesto and the jelly. They both sound great. I’ve bookmarked this for future reference. cheers Fiona
Cannot wait to see what you do!
Hello there! Nasturtiums have taken over the garden this year, there is so much rain here in Quebec. 2 questions. Can the pectin be replaced by anything else? AND can I use sugar or honey instead of fructose? Thanks!
Hi, you can use sugar in a gram for gram replacement. I am not sure about honey. The pectin is to help set the jelly. You can try with some lemon pips and lemon juice. Let me know! And hope you are safe from any wildfires.