How to make Damson Jam, Damson Gin & Crumble the fast way!
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- Damsons signify that Autumn is here with their ripe purple fruits and they couldn't be easier to cook with, especially as a beginner gardener. Damson trees are one of the lowest fuss fruit trees to look after and gather fruit from. This guide will show Garden Ninjas top 3 speedy Damson recipes with equipment and ingredients you probably already have lying around the kitchen.
Presented by Garden Ninja, Manchesters Garden Designer and blogger Lee Burkhill. He's an RHS Award winning garden designer and expert panellist on BBC Radio Manchester's Saturday morning garden phone in.
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DAMSON RECIPES
So I’ve decided to give you my Top 3 speedy Damson recipes. September is the ideal time to harvest juicy Damsons and if you haven’t got your own tree you can often find people online complaining of too many Damsons. So you can always find someone with spare fruit to go and pick. Obviously always ask permission but they are really easy to harvest by simply twisting off the fruits. Now as a disclaimer, there are two camps of Damson cookers. Those who destone their damsons and those that dont. Destoning damsons is laborious but it does result in an easier eating experience. I tend not to destone my damsons for speed. It’s entirely up to you but you have been warned!
HOW TO MAKE DAMSON GIN
500g Damsons Frozen
75cl of Dry Gin
250g Caster Sugar
Airtight container
This method for making you own Damson Gin could not be simpler.
homemade damson recipes
Freeze your Damsons overnight in a bag or Tupperware
Add the Damsons, Sugar and Gin to an airtight container like a mason jar or Kilner jar. Give it a really good shake.
Put it into a cupboard, somewhere out of direct sunlight, for 2-3 months. Shaking each week to ensure the sugar has dissolved.
When ready pass the gin through some muslin to sift out the debris and decant into a bottle. That’s it!
DAMSON JAM RECIPE
1kg Damsons
1kg Caster Sugar
Again this method is so simple, especially if you can tolerate leaving the stones in the Damson. This way it’s effortless.
Damson jam recipe
Add your Sugar to the largest pan you have and place on the highest heat of the stove or hob.
Add the fruit and stir until the sugar dissolves.
Bring to a rapid boil for 10 mins - don’t stir
Whilst this is happening wash 4 jam jars. Then place in an oven or microwave to sterilise them. Usually, 5 mins does it.
Either use a Jam thermometer to check if it has reached the setting point. Alternatively, use a cold saucer out of the fridge. Add a blob of jam onto it, if it quickly forms a skin it’s done. If not give it another 2 mins.
Lift out your jars and use a ladle to pour the jam into the jar. Leave to cool then add your lids.
This jam will store for over a year if you don’t devour it first!
DAMSON CRUMBLE (SERVES 6 OR 4 HUNGRY DINERS)
800g Fresh Damsons
1 tablespoon of Brown Sugar
2 peeled and cored Apples
Crumble:
250g Plain Flour
160g Brown Sugar
150g Butter
A home made damson crumble
This crumble recipe is so easy and delicious. Especially if you have unexpected guests. You can be kind and destone but if in a hurry I wouldn’t bother. Just explain to your guests to watch out when they tuck in. It depends on how friendly you are!
Add your Damsons (stoned or not) to an ovenproof dish.
Peel and core your two apples. Slice and add to the Damsons.
Sprinkle over a tablespoon of brown sugar - any type of brown sugar will do.
Make your crumble by adding all the crumble ingredients to a food processor. Blitz until it turns to crumbs.
Cover the fruit and bake for 30 mins at 180c
Serve immediately with cream or ice cream.
There we have my seriously simple Damson recipes. Unapologetically, they make the most of the tart taste of Damson without adding all sorts of other sweeter fruits. I like to keep things simple and celebrate the humble Damson. If you’ve liked this recipe why not let me know or show me your Damson success stories on social media? Tweet, Facebook or Instagram me to share your love of Damsons.
Happy Baking/Gardening!
Such a lovely straightforward presentation and so have subscribed. Thank you.
Thanks Julia. I always like to keep things as simple as possible so gardeners can succeed! Glad to have you as one of the new garden ninja subscribers. Happy gardening and more content to come soon! Lee 🥷🤘🌿
Crumble looked bloody lovely!
Oh it was Richard, took me about 3 days to get through it. It was a mix of tart yet sweet. I'm not going to lie I had it for breakfast one morning it was that good! :-)
We'd like to see a video like this for your gooseberry jams 👍
Loved it. Cant wait to pick them 😍
Youve got my mouth watering now! I havent had any damsons this year, kind of feel Im missing out now!
Petals on the Paving Slabs my damsons only kind of appeared about a month ago. I know a few other gardeners have mentioned theirs are rock hard this year. Maybe the mad heat wave has effected our national plums? Haha. All the best. Lee
When I do damson jam i was told to cook the damsons down first then add sugar as this will stop the sugar from burning, nice to see some other things which I will give a try
Hi Tracey, Great to hear from you. To be honest when making jam you need to be stirring and keeping your eye on it at all times so I wouldn't bother cooking them first. Think that's a bit of a faff. I stir mine until the sugar has dissolved. Due to the crazy high pectin in Damsons, especially if you leave the stones in, they reach their set point really quickly without the need to boil for ages. I'll be making more jam next week as my Damsons are just about to turn ripe! Happy Jam Making. :-)
Love this , I crumble at a crumble 🤭. Went damson and blackberry picking yesterday , sloes during the week. Elderberry the week before , I could go on but won’t bore you. Loving the glorious British countryside. Last thought have you noticed the abundance of Hawthorn this year ?!
Great to hear from you. My Damon’s are about to get harvested this weekend! I’ve noticed an abundance of all hedge row this year. Think it’s the reduced pollution from the lockdown. One benefit of Corona I suppose!!! I must admit I’m mental for Damsons whether its jam, crumble or tarts!!! Happy Gardening! Lee
Garden Ninja Ltd my thoughts also regarding the lockdown. Thank you and it’s great to have connected with your channel. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. 😊
Thanks Mamzelle. Welcome to the Garden Ninja community! Lee
Garden Ninja Ltd Thank you, I will. 😊
Is there no end to your talents? You (and your damson crumble) look delicious! I was gonna ask you about japanese knot weed but I got distracted!
It was very tasty! Ohh knotweed. Total nightmare. Always call in the professionals with that one who will have proper removal methods. Manual methods are digging down about a foot to clear the area. Sending waste to a specialist facility and repeating this over the course of a year or two. If always call someone in for proper management of it. Sorry there’s no easier answer!!
Best time to prune huge holly bush?
I have a massive variegated holly tree in my front garden that has just grown completely natutral for about 15/20 years. It is smothered in berries and I get flocks of redwings (birds) during the winter season to feast on the berries. Unfortuneately, it also attract thieves during the run up to Christmas - they come after dark and just chop huge chunks out of it for their xmas wreaths - and it doesn't grow back!
Any ideas to deter those thieving bastards but also to repair gaping holes in my bush?
Hollys pretty slow growing but I can be hard pruned. I’ve had pruned many. They should grow back. Cut the stem back to the next node. It maybe they’ve just severed it in the middle so that easy stolen piece back to the next leaf or ‘node’ where another branch forms. As for thieves hmm it’s hard. It’s lovely they love it. But bad news they’re snipping without permission. I know this may sound bonkers. But why not cut off bits you don’t need and add a bucket near the tree come usual thieving time and a donation box. Then at least you’re getting something back and can buy yourself something nice (like a bottle of fizz) for xmas. It’s n out fair they’re doing that but you can become really smart to getting something back from your gorgeous specimen. Hope that helps and keep me informed!! 👍😊
@@Gardenninja Thank you so much for your reply. "Usual thieving time" - so I'm not alone with this problem? I already have a bottle of fizz in the fridge. Any time you want to come round - there's a glass or two for you! ;)
Last question ever - I promise I won't take advantage of your expert advice any more after this. You are more than generous with your knowledge!
On my lawn (which is 94% moss, 5% weeds and 1% grass) there has suddenly appeared a disgusting pool of green mossy slime. I doesnt smell of anything, but looks really squishy and horrible - is it decaying fungus or algae of some sort? I have no idea how long its been there because moss doesn't need to be mown very often! I'd attach a photo but I've no idea how to do that here :(
Yes!
May have to rewatch, was too busy looking at the kitchen and range cooker
Is there a stone in the damson and does this need removing for the jam making? 🤔
Hi Barry. There are stones in Damsons. You can remove them which is a bit fiddly but they do add extra pectin to help the jam set. So you could always strain the jam to make a jelly instead to remove the stones. Happy damsoning! Lee
@@Gardenninja cheers for that 👍
Hi! I prefer to get the stones out of the damsons first so that I can then work with the damsons as they are - skin and all. The skin adds flavour and apparently the 'bloom' on a lot of the skins has a yeast content which is good for you. I also don't wash the damsons - why would you want to wash them? They come straight from the tree! I use a sharp knife to get the stones out - it's worth the effort! Pete
I live in the US. It is so strange that I’ve never tasted Damson as a fresh, dried, canned fruit, jam or any other form. Never came across one, even in specialty stores. We have the expression down south (Dam, son!) but no fruit. (See what I did there?) Like it’s the forbidden fruit in these here parts...
stal1ng thanks for the comment. Damsons are native to the UK which is why they maybe hard to find Olin the states. However, they were introduced to America and are sometimes known as the European Plum. Hope that helps. If not I’d highly recommend trying to grow your own or ordering one from a nursery. Once established they fruit reliably with no real need for pruning. They also have huge amounts of pectin for jam and puddings! Hope you manage to find some illusive Damsons soon! Happy gardening. Lee