Pineapple jam is a jam made with pineapple, a tropical fruit that is known botanically as Ananas comosus. Native to Brazil and Paraguay, this fruit is widely cultivated in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and parts of North America.
It is possible to use fresh pineapple or preserved pineapple to make the jam; both are readily available in most supermarkets. If a fresh pineapple is used, the fruit will need to be skinned, cored and sliced. Other ingredients include sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and water. Some cooks may add a food coloring to get a bright yellow jam.
The pineapple pieces are put in a pan of water, and the pan is heated until half of the water has evaporated and the pineapple pieces have become tender. If a smooth jam is required, the pineapple pieces may be mashed or processed in a blender. The sugar is added to the pan then and stirred until it has dissolved. Lemon juice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves are added next and the mixture is cooked until the jam has thickened. This can take about 20 minutes, and it is necessary to keep stirring to keep the pineapple jam from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Once the jam is done, the pan is taken off the heat and the jam is allowed to cool for a while. It is then poured into clean containers with airtight lids. The lemon juice in the pineapple jam will help preserve it, and the jam can last for a few weeks if the sealed containers are stored away from direct sunlight. An opened container should be kept in a refrigerator and preferably finished within a week.
The pineapple jam can be eaten as a spread on toast, and as a filling for bread, buns, biscuits, cakes, tarts and other pastries. It can be used to make ice creams, yogurts, milk shakes and cocktails. This is a tasty food with many health benefits.
Pineapples are low in calories, and contain the bromelain enzyme which assists in digesting proteins and also has anti-inflammatory properties. Pineapple is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, copper, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese and carbohydrates. Eating pineapples is good for the eyes, and can prove helpful for people with high blood pressure, arthritis and bronchitis. There is a chance that some people may get allergic dermatitis from touching or eating pineapples.