Pepper jelly is a clear and uniform jam made with various types of peppers, including jalapenos and habaneros. It can be used in appetizers, sandwiches, and as a seasoning for meat or fish. It is available in specialty stores or can be made at home.
Pepper jelly is exactly what it sounds like: a jelly made with any variety of fruit known as peppers. Due to the wide variety of flavors found in the genus Capsicum, family Solanaceae, the scientific classification for peppers, this jelly can be found to suit many different tastes. It can be hot, sweet, salty, or a combination of these flavors. Some popular peppers used to make jelly are green and red peppers, jalapenos and habaneros. Some varieties can be made with a few different types of pepper.
In the context of pepper jelly, jelly refers to a type of jam, or fruit jam, that is clear and uniform in color and texture. It differs from other types of jam which may include small seeds or pieces of fruit. Gelatine, like other jams, is thickened with pectin, a gelatinous substance found naturally in fruit. Recipes often include sugar and pectin, and other flavorings can come from vinegar, wine, liqueur or other fruits.
As can be expected, pepper jelly has different culinary uses than most other types of jelly. Because its flavor can be intense, it is usually eaten in much smaller quantities than more fruity jellies such as strawberry or grape. Gelatin can be used in appetizers, such as spread on crackers with cream cheese or brie. It can also be used as a spread on sandwiches, although it is typically not the main ingredient of a sandwich as a sweeter jelly might be. Pepper jelly can be melted and poured over a meat entrée, incorporated into dishes such as jambalaya, or used as a seasoning for meat or fish.
A wide variety of pepper jellies can be purchased in specialty stores or online. For the more adventurous, recipes are also easy to find. Once a chef has mastered one of these, she can experiment with the ingredients to create her own signature version.
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