Cumquat Marmalade
Inroduction
About this Recipe
By: Sheridan Rogers
It’s that time of the year for making marmalade while the cumquats, Seville oranges and lemons are drooping from the trees. Cutting up the fruit does take a bit of time but can be very satisfying if you sit outside on one of these sunny winter days with a couple of bowls, a cutting board and sharp knife. You won’t regret the time spent as the flavour of homemade marmalade is so superior. This recipe is from one of my books, “The Cook’s Garden” (New Holland 2012).
Ingredients
- cumquats
- water
- sugar
To prepare the fruit: wash and scrub the cumquats (preferably the oval ‘Nagami’ variety which have a tart pungent flavour) . Halve or quarter them, depending on their size. Remove the seeds and put them in a cup covered with water. Place the cumquats in a large bowl and just cover with water. Cover with plastic wrap and leave them to sit overnight. Next day, measure the cumquat/water mixture into a large pot or preserving pan. For every cup (250ml), allow 185g (3/4 cup) caster sugar. Strain the seeds, adding the liquid to the cumquats. Tie seeds up in a muslin bag and add it to the cumquats (best if tied to the sides of the pan). Bring cumquats and water to the boil, turn down heat and simmer for 30 minutes, skimming off any scum that forms on top with a mesh ladle. While cumquats simmer, heat the sugar in a moderate oven for about 15 minutes. Pour warm sugar into cumquat mixture and stir well with a wooden spoon. Bring back to boiling point, and simmer, uncovered, for about 40 minutes or until it reaches setting point. A simmer pad is useful to prevent burning or sticking. From time to time, skim off any scum that forms on top. Turn off the heat and ladle into warm sterile jars Cover with a tight screw-top lid. Tip 1: To test for setting point, place a saucer in the freezer for five minutes. Remove and drop a small amount of the marmalade, onto the saucer, let cool for about 30 seconds. If it wrinkles when you run a finger through it, it is ready. Tip 2: A splash of malt whisky or brandy added after you spoon the marmalade into the jars will add an extra dimension of flavour and help to seal the marmalade. Tip 3: Try using the marmalade in marinades for pork or duck dishes to add extra flavour.
Hi.
I am a 76 Y.O. male, who happens to LOVE Cumquat marmalade, and whenever I can source some cumquats, I get busy. (unfortunately, my wife doesn’t share my enthusiasm for the tart little blighters, so I’m on my own.)
I see a lot of recipes where they tell you to remove the pips and place them in a muslin bag into the ‘brew’, as the pectin in the pips helps set the marmalade.
This is a lot of unnecessarywork removing all the pips!
Far easier to leave the pips until after the marmalade has cooked, then skim them off with a slotted spoon. Too easy.
I also see where some people advocate slicing the cumquats finely, which means by the time it’s cooked, there’s nothing left. Much better to just slice the fruit in half. (Either way.) I even read of one recipe where the person actually peeled each cumquat! What a terrible waste of time, and peel!
Trust me – this is quite unnecessary. Happy breakfasts!
Hi Don,
I’m about to make a batch of cumquat marmalade with cumquats from our farm at “Bend of the River” in Tally Valley, S.E. Queensland.
I’ll try your suggestion of skimming the pips from the top of the cooked marmalade (and not tying them in a muslin bag) and see how I go. Thanks for the suggestion 🙂
I agree that slicing the cumquats finely – or peeling them – is totally unnecessary.
cheers,
Sheridan