Ina Garten’s Sweet & Tangy Strawberry Rhubarb Preserves Recipe

Fresh strawberry rhubarb preserves burst with vibrant colors and tantalizing flavors that dance across your palate.

These seasonal delights capture the essence of summer’s most beloved garden treasures.

Sweet berries mingle with tart rhubarb, creating a complex and intriguing taste profile that surprises and delights.

The combination transforms ordinary fruit into an extraordinary culinary experience that elevates morning toast or afternoon scones.

Homemade preserves represent more than just a spread – they symbolize tradition, care, and personal creativity in the kitchen.

Each spoonful tells a story of carefully selected ingredients and thoughtful preparation.

Summer’s most delectable fruit fusion promises to transform your breakfast routine: dive in and savor the magic.

Why Strawberry Rhubarb Preserves Are Worth the Stir

• Bursting with Seasonal Freshness: This preserve captures the vibrant essence of ripe strawberries and tangy rhubarb, delivering a pure celebration of summer's most delightful produce straight to your table.
• Effortlessly Gourmet Technique: Ina Garten's simple yet sophisticated method transforms basic ingredients into a luxurious spread, requiring minimal skills but producing restaurant-quality results that will impress anyone.
• Versatile Culinary Companion: These preserves shine beyond toast, working beautifully as a topping for yogurt, swirling into morning oatmeal, glazing pastries, or serving as a sophisticated accompaniment to cheese boards.
• No-Fuss Preservation Magic: With just one pot and straightforward steps, home cooks can create a professional-grade preserve that keeps fresh in the refrigerator for two weeks or can be frozen for four months, ensuring delicious memories of summer last much longer.

Gather These for Strawberry Rhubarb Magic

• Strawberries: Sweet and juicy berries that provide the primary flavor and natural sweetness of the preserves.
• Rhubarb: Tart stalks that add a unique tangy dimension and beautiful color to the preserve.
• Apple: Helps to add natural pectin for thickening and provides additional depth to the fruit mixture.

• Sugar: Essential for creating the preserve's structure and balancing the tartness of the fruits.
• Grand Marnier: Adds a sophisticated orange-flavored liqueur note that complements the fruits.
• Orange Zest: Brings bright, citrusy aromatics that elevate the overall flavor profile.

• Water: Helps to create the initial cooking liquid and supports the preserve's cooking process.

How to Cook Up Fresh Strawberry Rhubarb Preserves

Step 1: Gather Gorgeous Ingredients

• Fresh strawberries
• Rhubarb stalks
• Green apple
• Granulated sugar
• Grand Marnier liqueur
• Orange zest
• Water

Grab a medium heavy pot like a Le Creuset and combine all ingredients, tossing them lovingly together.

Step 2: Bring to Bubbly Life

Cover the pot and heat over medium-low flame. Let the mixture dance and bubble, stirring occasionally. Watch magic happen as ingredients meld and transform.

Step 3: Simmer and Bubble

Uncover the pot and maintain a gentle boil. Use a candy thermometer to track temperature until it reaches 220°F. This process takes about 25 to 30 minutes.

Step 4: Chase Away the Foam

While cooking, gently skim off any white foam that rises to the surface. Discard the foam to ensure a smooth, beautiful preserve.

Step 5: Test Preserve Perfection

Spoon a small amount onto a chilled plate. Freeze for 5 to 10 minutes. Check consistency – it should be slightly runny but not too liquid. If needed, cook a bit longer and retest.

Step 6: Cool and Store Carefully

Let preserves cool completely in the pot. Transfer to a covered container. Refrigerate up to 2 weeks or freeze up to 4 months for future enjoyment.

Tips for Sweet and Tart Balance

• Select Peak-Ripeness Fruits: Choose strawberries and rhubarb at their absolute prime, ensuring maximum sweetness and vibrant flavor for your preserves.
• Monitor Precise Cooking Temperature: Watch your candy thermometer carefully, hitting exactly 220°F to guarantee perfect jammy thickness without runny results.
• Remove Surface Foam Quickly: Gently skim foam during cooking to create a crystal-clear, professional-looking preserve with stunning visual appeal.
• Perform Gel-Setting Test: Drop a small amount of preserve onto a chilled plate and run your finger through it to check if it wrinkles, confirming ideal setting consistency.
• Allow Gradual Cooling: Let preserves rest and cool naturally in the pot, allowing natural thickening without disturbing the delicate texture you've carefully created.

Store Your Preserves the Smart Way

• Freeze Flat: Transfer preserves to freezer-safe zip-lock bags, removing excess air. Lay bags flat in the freezer to save space and create thin, easy-to-thaw portions. Frozen preserves maintain peak flavor for 4 months when properly sealed.
• Vacuum Seal: Invest in a vacuum sealer for ultimate preservation. This method removes air completely, preventing freezer burn and extending the preserves' shelf life up to 6 months. Perfect for preserving summer's fresh fruit flavors during winter months.
• Glass Container Strategy: Choose wide-mouth mason jars with tight-fitting lids for refrigerator storage. Leave about 1/2 inch headspace to allow for expansion, and always use clean utensils when scooping to prevent bacterial contamination. Refrigerated preserves stay delicious for 2-3 weeks when handled carefully.

Try These Flavors with Strawberry Rhubarb

• Berry Burst Preserves: Swap strawberries with a mix of raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries for a vibrant, multi-berry preserve that bursts with intense fruity flavors.
• Spiced Tropical Preserve: Replace rhubarb with diced mango and add a pinch of cardamom and cinnamon for a warm, exotic preserve that transports your taste buds to tropical landscapes.
• Lavender Citrus Preserve: Infuse the mixture with dried lavender buds and replace Grand Marnier with lemon liqueur to create a fragrant, sophisticated preserve with subtle floral notes.
• Ginger Kick Preserve: Add fresh grated ginger and a splash of rum to introduce a spicy, warming element that complements the sweet fruit and creates a more complex flavor profile.

Final Jar of Strawberry Rhubarb Delight

Seasonal strawberry and rhubarb preserves showcase Ina Garten’s culinary brilliance with classic French technique.

Fragrant orange zest and Grand Marnier elevate this traditional preserve into a sophisticated spread.

Sweet-tart flavors dance across palates with complex depth and nuanced elegance.

Homemade preserves connect generations through shared culinary experiences and memories.

Kitchen artisans can craft these preserves with simple ingredients and careful attention to detail.

Let passion guide you through each delicious spoonful – share this recipe, spark conversations, and inspire fellow cooking enthusiasts to create something magical.

Ina Garten Fresh Strawberry Rhubarb Preserves Recipe

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4.8 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s fresh strawberry rhubarb preserves showcase summer’s sweetest harvest in a luscious, bright spread. Homemade magic combines tangy rhubarb with sun-kissed strawberries, delivering a preserve so delicious you’ll want to savor each spoonful on warm toast or elegant pastries.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Fruits and Vegetables:

• 2 pounds (900 grams) fresh strawberries, hulled and halved or quartered
• 4 cups (1 liter) diced fresh rhubarb
• 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and grated

Sweeteners:

• 6 cups (1.2 kg) sugar

Flavor Enhancers:

• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) Grand Marnier
• Zest of 2 oranges

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Instructions

1. Gather fresh, ripe strawberries, tender rhubarb, crisp apple, granulated sugar, Grand Marnier liqueur, fragrant orange zest, and cool water in a spacious 11-inch (28 centimeters) heavy-bottomed pot.
2. Thoroughly mix all ingredients, ensuring even distribution of flavors and sugar coating across the fruits.
3. Position the pot over medium-low heat, covering with a tight-fitting lid to trap steam and initiate the cooking process.
4. Once the mixture reaches a gentle boil, remove the lid and allow the fruits to simmer, stirring periodically to prevent sticking.
5. Monitor the temperature closely using a candy thermometer, aiming for 220°F (104°C) which typically occurs after 25 to 30 minutes of active cooking.
6. During simmering, use a clean spoon to carefully remove any white foam that accumulates on the surface, discarding it to maintain a clear, vibrant preserve.
7. Conduct a consistency test by placing a small amount of the mixture onto a chilled plate, then refrigerate for 5 to 10 minutes to assess thickness.
8. If the preserve seems too liquid, continue cooking for an additional few minutes, repeating the chilled plate test until achieving the desired texture.
9. Allow the preserve to cool naturally in the pot, reaching room temperature without stirring.
10. Transfer the finished preserve to a clean, sealed container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze for a maximum of 4 months.

Notes

• Grab ultra-fresh strawberries and rhubarb from local markets or your garden to guarantee vibrant, punchy flavors that sing through every spoonful of preserves.
• Watch your candy thermometer closely, aiming precisely at 220°F (104°C) to transform fruit into perfectly thickened, glossy goodness that spreads like dream.
• Gently skim away persistent foam bubbles during cooking, revealing a crystal-clear preserve that looks as stunning as it tastes.
• Perform the freeze test by dropping a small dollop onto a chilled plate, checking whether your preserve transforms into a luscious, spreadable texture that holds its shape.
• Allow preserves to rest and settle completely in the cooking pot before jarring, letting natural pectin work its magic and creating a smooth, luxurious consistency.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Desserts, Breakfast
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 tablespoon (15 grams)
• Calories: 50
• Sugar: 12 grams
• Sodium: 0 milligrams
• Fat: 0 grams
• Saturated Fat: 0 grams
• Carbohydrates: 13 grams
• Fiber: 0 grams
• Protein: 0 grams
• Cholesterol: 0 milligrams