Three-in-one kumquat marmalade recipe: juicy chunky preserves encased in firm candied fruit peel covered with clear jelly.

step-by-step instructions

Prick kumquats using a corn holder or a thin skewer; make sure fruit is firm and plump, and brightly colored without blemishes.

Place into a non-reactive heavy-bottomed stainless steel pan and pour boiling hot water over fruit to cover.  Bring to a gentle boil for 5-to-7 minutes, drain, and repeat once more.

Add sugar and water to the same empty pot, do not mix, and cook on low until sugar crystals dissolve.  Cover and cook for another minute.  Uncover, cook on medium-heat 10-to-15 minutes to a medium-thick syrup; swirl pan every so often.   Add fruit to syrup and cook uncovered on medium heat for about 12 minutes.

At this point, white foamy scum will start to appear on the surface; remove froth with a metal spoon as needed.  Remove from heat and let sit in syrup 8-to-12 hours.

after 8-to-12 hours

Add lemon juice, corn syrup, and orange liqueur and vanilla bean seeds.  Bring mixture to a rapid boil on medium-high heat as you stir, reduce to medium heat and simmer until fruit is soft and translucent and syrup is set – anywhere from 10-to-25 minutes.

Add a few drops of jam onto a frozen plate, let sit 2 minutes then gently push with your fingertip – jam is set if top slightly wrinkles.  Do not overcook, you will otherwise caramelize flavor, hard set jam and toughen fruit.

Meanwhile, place a canning jar in a 200F oven for 10-15 minutes.  Once marmalade is at room temperature, spoon into sterilized jar, run a knife around edges to remove air bubbles, seal tightly and store at room temperature.

 

KUMQUAT AND VANILLA BEAN MARMALADE

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16-to-18 oz kumquat, about 40-to-45 pieces
1 ½-to-2 cups sugar; preferably preserving sugar (not gelling/jam sugar)
2 ½ cups water
2-to-4 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, strained
2-to-3 tablespoons corn or glucose syrup
2 teaspoons orange liqueur
A third of a vanilla bean, seeds scraped off

Prick kumquats in four places using a corn holder or a thin metal skewer; make sure fruit is firm and plump, and brightly colored without blemishes. Place into a non-reactive heavy-bottomed stainless steel pan and pour boiling hot water over fruit to cover. Bring to a gentle boil for 5-to-7 minutes, drain, and repeat once more. Dry between paper towels; set aside.

Add sugar and water to the same empty pot, do not mix, and cook on low until sugar crystals dissolve. Cover and cook for another minute (steam will dissolve remaining sugar stuck to sides).

* Sugar helps gel formation, adds sweetness and acts as a preservative. Preserving sugar has larger crystals that dissolve slowly and do not settle at the bottom of the pan; this prevents burning and reduces froth formation, so you do not have to stir and skim as often. To avoid graininess, make sure sugar is completely dissolved before bringing to a boil.

Uncover, cook on medium-heat 10-to-15 minutes to a medium-thick syrup; swirl pan every so often.

Add fruit to syrup and cook uncovered on medium heat for about 12 minutes. At this point, white foamy scum will start to appear on the surface; remove froth with a metal spoon as needed.

Remove from heat and let sit in syrup 8-to-12 hours.

Add lemon juice, corn syrup, and orange liqueur and vanilla bean seeds.

* Acid must be present in sufficient amounts for a gel to form; lemon juice and kumquat seeds act as natural pectin. Corn syrup controls the formation of sugar crystals.

Bring mixture to a rapid boil on medium-high heat as you stir, reduce to medium heat and simmer, uncovered, until fruit is soft and translucent and syrup is set – anywhere from 10-to-25 minutes.

* Add a few drops of jam onto a frozen plate, let sit 2 minutes then gently push with your fingertip – jam is set if top slightly wrinkles. Do not overcook, you will otherwise caramelize flavor, hard set jam and toughen fruit.

Meanwhile, place a canning jar in a 200F oven for 10-15 minutes. Once marmalade is at room temperature, spoon into sterilized jar, run a knife around edges to remove air bubbles, seal tightly and store at room temperature.