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I love making pickles, chutney and relishes. As soon as the weather warms up and the summer fruit and veg hits the stalls, I am already plotting what tasty treats I am going to cook up next. Out of all my recipes, none is more popular than my Spicy Red Pepper Jelly. It’s not an exaggeration to say I have made hundreds of jars of this deliciously spicy and sweet jelly and it is as beautiful to look at as it is to eat.
Wait a minute… you’ve made hundreds of jars? An exaggeration, surely!
Not at all! When I was living in Cyprus I spent a very happy couple of summers running a stall at the local markets selling jams, chutneys, pickles and relishes. Every week I would buy up loads of the incredible local produce and then set to work like a mad scientist, with a kitchen full of bubbling pots.
Boiling up hundreds of jars of preserves every week was an enormous amount of effort, especially as the temperature outside crept over 40°C (104°F!), but it was an absolute joy and gave me a lot of practice in preserving.
So where did the Spicy Red Pepper Jelly come in?
It was one of my most popular recipes and guaranteed to sell out every week. I had to get creative however, as Pepper Jelly in the U.S.A is commonly made with commercial pectin to set it, however, in Cyprus pectin is nowhere to be found.
Can you make Red Pepper Jelly without pectin?
Yes! You don’t need to buy pectin to set red pepper jelly. The solution is to add some natural pectin in the form of pectin rich granny smith apples to the jelly to help it to set the natural way. This gives the jelly a lovely loose set – ideal for using as a dip or a sauce. This is such an easy, natural way of cooking, without any special ingredients.
Is this red pepper jelly very spicy?
I like to add a couple of mild chillies to my Spicy Red Pepper Jelly – after all, that’s what makes it spicy! You can adjust the heat to your taste. For a more mild heat, use jalapeños, for some serious spice throw in a couple of birds eye or habanero chillies. Experiment and see what you like.
The type of chilli peppers you add is up to you. For a mild heat go for jalapeños, if you like it extra hot use birds-eye or Trinidad Scorpions!
Red Pepper Jelly is for more than just dips
While pepper jelly it is often simply served with cream cheese as a party dip, my Spicy Red Pepper Jelly makes an excellent sauce for a quick stir-fried chicken or pork too. Stir fry the meat and any vegetables and simply stir through the jelly with a squeeze of lime at the end of the cooking time. Yum!
Looking for more preserves and chutneys?
Why not try my totally addictive Autumn Fruit Chutney? Or Deirdre’s famous Beetroot and Orange Relish?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How long will red pepper jelly last?
In sterilised jars, stored in a cool, dark place, Spicy Red Pepper Jelly will keep at least two years.
How do I fill the jars without making a mess?
If you are having trouble filling your jars without making a mess all over the counter (like me), try using a jam funnel (link in recipe card). Trust, me, life-changing!
Can I use dried chillies in red pepper jelly?
Yes, you can! Just add the dried chillies to taste while the jelly is cooking.
Can I use other coloured peppers to make pepper jelly?
Yes! Red, green or yellow peppers are all fine. Green bell peppers and green jalapeños make for an especially delicious jelly.
Do I have to use apple in red pepper jelly?
The purpose of the apple in this jelly is to add some natural pectin to help the jelly set. If you leave it out you will need to use another type of setting agent, or boil the peppers down until they are very thick – Which can affect the texture. Make sure to use a tart apple variety, granny smith apples are ideal.
Can I make a double batch of red pepper jelly?
Yes, though the larger batch you make the longer it will take to cook down, which can alter the flavour. When I am making larger batches of Red Pepper Jelly I use multiple saucepans so the cooking time remains the same.
You can use a mixture of red and yellow peppers to get a bright orange colour, or green peppers and jalapeños for a gorgeously green jelly.
You can make this jelly as spicy as you like, or even add extra flavours like ginger or lime to give it your own twist.
what to do if jelly doesn’t set
First of all, don’t panic! It is perfectly possible to recook jelly, though it does mean washing your jars again which I’ll admit is a bit of a pain. If you are having trouble with jelly setting it is a good idea to use a jam thermometer. Reboil the mixture until it reaches 104.5°C / 220°F (this will happen quickly as most of the water has already been cooked off!) and pour into clean jars.
Spicy Red Pepper Jelly
Sweet, tangy and delicious, Spicy Red Pepper Jelly is the perfect condiment to serve with cream cheese and crackers. It’s also delicious as a sauce for chicken or pork. This recipe is made NO added commercial pectin.
Ingredients
- 2 red bell peppers / capsicums (or 1 red, 1 yellow)
- 2-3 chilli peppers, to taste
- 1 granny smith apple, cored and grated
- 400g sugar (approx. 2 cups)
- 250ml (1 cup) white vinegar
Instructions
- DICE THE PEPPERS: Finely dice the peppers and chilli. It is better to use a food processor, as this helps to release the juices, but you can do this by hand if you like. Grate the apple, then put the peppers and the apple into a large, heavy-based saucepan.
- ADD SUGAR AND VINEGAR: Stir through the sugar and vinegar, then heat gently, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Bring the mixture to a rolling simmer, then simmer for 20 minutes until the mixture has reduced and begun to thicken.
- PREPARE YOUR JARS: Meanwhile, heat the oven to 120°C / 250°F / Gas ½ and wash your jars in warm soapy water. Place the jars in a baking dish in the oven to sterilise. Place the lids in a heatproof bowl and pour over boiling water.
- JAR AND COOL: After the jelly has reduced, allow to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a heatproof jug. Pour into the hot, sterilised jars. If you find the pieces of pepper are floating to the top of the jar, invert the jars every 10 minutes until set.
- SETTING TIME: The jelly will be still quite liquid while hot. Allow to set and gel overnight. Store in a cool dry place and don’t forget to label the jars.
Notes
If you are having trouble filling your jars without making a mess all over the counter (like me), try using a jam funnel like this one. Trust, me, life-changing!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1 TbspAmount Per Serving: Calories: 87Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 0gSugar: 21gProtein: 0g
Nutrition information is calculated automatically and isn’t always accurate.
I am making this for the second time! It is the best pepper jelly I have ever tasted or made. The Apple gives it the right amount of pectin. I am using less sugar on my second batch. Thanks,
Hi Cyndi! Thank you for your lovely words, I am so happy you like this recipe! J
I live in the caribbean and i can’t easily find pectin so I am very excited to have this recipe, thank you so much!!
Hi Vanessa, that’s my pleasure, I’m so glad you found this recipe! It was just the same for me living in Cyprus, no pectin anywhere! I’d love to know how you get on! J
What a great recipe! I doubled it using red and green bell peppers (2 of each) and 6 jalapeno peppers (2 with seeds and ribbing) Simply wonderful!!! Thank you so much!
Hi Leah! Thank you so much for your lovely comment. I am so happy you like this recipe, I love the idea of all those jalapeños and the red and green must look beautiful! Enjoy and Happy Christmas! J.
Hi Jay, can I replace the chilli peppers with chilli pepper flakes? I have bell peppers, just not the chilli ones. Thanks
Hi Jane! I’m so sorry for the delayed reply, I’ve just seen your message. Yes, you can absolutely replace the chilli peppers with chilli flakes, just adjust the amount to suit how spicy you like it! xJ
I made this today! I doubled the recipe and added a couple of small apples that I had in the fridge to use them up. It did, however take the better part of the afternoon to cook down but hubby says it’s yummy. We’re going to serve it with cream cheese tomorrow!
Hi Linda! I am so happy to hear it has the husband seal of approval! It is delicious with cream cheese too. Thanks for visiting!
How many and what size jars does this recipe make?
Hi Jessica! Thanks for dropping by. The amount depends a bit on the size of your peppers (sometimes they are huge!) and the apple, I usually get 3-4 standard jam/peanut butter jar sizes out of this recipe. That’s roughly 300ml / 10 fl. oz per jar. Have a great weekend – I’d love to know how the recipe goes for you! J.
How many and what size jars do I typically need for this recipe?
Hi Kim! The amount depends a bit on the size of your peppers (sometimes they are huge!) and the apple, I usually get 3-4 standard jam/peanut butter jar sizes out of this recipe. That’s roughly 300ml / 10 fl. oz per jar. J
Beautiful color and taste! I doubled the recipe , used Bell peppers and Trinidad Scorpions that I grew in my garden. Careful with those Trinidads, they are lethal! Did take a couple hours to cook down but well worth it Will definitely make it again
Hi Rebecca! Thank you so much for your lovely comment, those Trinidad Scorpions sound extra spicy! Delicious I bet. I’m so happy you like this recipe. If you are doing a double batch it can be quicker to use two saucepans – that way it cooks down faster :). J.
I just stumbled across your site looking for red pepper jelly – oh bless i am so excited to try your recipes – Thank You!
I am so excited you found me! Welcome! I hope you enjoy the recipes and have a wonderful weekend 🙂 xJ.
I have an abundance of Time Bomb peppers, would they work in place of the bell peppers? If so, do you have a guess as to how many would equal one bell pepper?
And can this recipe be canned safely? I’ll read your blog post again, it’s hard to navigate on my phone with the ads and such so I may have missed that 😉
Hi Elise! Ooh lucky you with all those peppers! I have never tried that specific variety but they look good! I see that they have a bit of heat in them, so it would depend on how spicy you like your food. I do know that readers have made it using Trinidad scorpions! It might be better to make a half and half batch and see if you like the amount of heat? This recipe can be water bath canned, there is plenty of acid and sugar in it though, so I usually don’t find it necessary – it all gets eaten up quickly anyway! I’d love to know how you get on! J.