Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam + Tutorial {Vegan, Gluten Free}

Jump to Recipe

This Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam is full of gorgeous colour and bright flavour. Bring an unusual twist to your breakfast with this delicious and low in sugar jam. Suitable for vegan and gluten free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

My gourmande friend J came to visit a few weekends ago. Gourmande as in he spent some time at Leith’s Cookery School, worked in a few London eateries and finally ran his own restaurant in Scotland. The meals he cooks are always so utterly amazing that I felt I had to push out the boat a little bit.

Cue various bits of sticky notes all over the kitchen wall as I wrote down a million and one ideas that somehow always came back to rhubarb. It might have had something to do with the lovely rhubarb patch just next to the swings in the garden. With the recent run of gorgeous weather, the kiddoes and I have been hanging at the swings A LOT.

And so this Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam recipe was born.

pot of strawberry rhubarb jam

My recipe for Basil Strawberry Rhubarb jam is quite easy to make. Plus it is full of strawberry flavour and has a particularly gorgeous colour. I also love that it is not too sweet thanks to the rhubarb and a lower than normal sugar content.

This jam really is perfect for using up the summer bounty of strawberries and rhubarb. And homemade jam recipes like this are especially helpful when you have a batch of strawberries that are slightly going off. No worry about wasting excess produce when you can simply turn it into a lovely jam.basil strawberry rhubarb jam spread onto a piece of bread and set next to three jars filled with jam

What makes this jam worthy of serving up to a gourmande like J. is that extra WOW flavour from the fresh basil. Unusual, exciting and amaaaaazingly good. Not only is rhubarb strawberry basil jam great for breakfast and sandwiches (talk about taking your usual PBJ to another level), I also love to heat it up a bit and serve on top of ice cream. You’ve got to try it! 

So, are you ready to learn just how to make this Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam? Then gather up those ingredients and let me show you….

How To Make Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

  1. Mix rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, lemon juice and basil in a non-reactive bowl and let stand for about one hour.
  2. Add mixture to a pot, and cook on medium heat till sugar dissolves.
  3. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a roiling simmer, and cook for about 15 minutes.
  4. Test to see if the jam is cooked by performing the saucer test (see section below for details). If not, then cook for a few more minutes.
  5. Remove pot from heat and allow the jam to cool.
  6. Pour jam into sterilised jars, seal and store in the fridge for up to 4 weeks. image collage showing the steps for making basil strawberry rhubarb jam

Tips for Making Rhubarb Strawberry Jam

  • Sterilise your jars and lids by submerging them in boiling water for at least 5 minutes.
  • You can add vary the proportions using more rhubarb and fewer strawberries. But you would need more sugar as the rhubarb is rather tart.
  • You can freeze this jam for longer term storage. Just remember to leave a half inch of space at the top of the jar to allow room for the jam to expand.

Variations in Strawberry Basil Jam

  • Change up the flavour profile by swapping the basil for fresh thyme or adding in a little balsamic vinegar.

Can You Use Frozen Rhubarb And Strawberries To Make This Jam?

Yes, you can. Feel free to buy rhubarb and strawberries when they are in season and freeze them for when they are needed. Defrost when needed and cook.

You may need to boil the jam for an extra few minutes to get rid of the little extra water from defrosting.

Strawberry Rhubarb Jam With Pectin

You can make strawberry rhubarb jam with pectin if you prefer. You would need to add 1 package of pectin to the fruit.

How To Test if Your Jam Has Set

My preferred method for testing jam is to perform the saucer test. Here’s what to do:

  • When you start cooking the jam, simply place a small dish or saucer in the freezer.
  • Once you think the jam has cooked enough and it appears to have thickened, place a spoonful of the jam onto the cold saucer and tilt it vertically so the jam will run down.
  • If the jam is streams down and runs off fairly quickly, it is not ready. And if the jam sticks together and doesn’t immediately run off, it is done.three jars filled with basil strawberry rhubarb jam set next to gold spoon and pieces of strawberry and rhubarb

Weight Watchers Points in Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

There are 4 Freestyle Points in a serving of this Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam.

What To Serve With Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

Air Fryer French Toast Sticks

Coconut Plantain Pancakes

5 Minute Yogurt Flatbread

Get The Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam Recipe:

Don't forget to tag #recipesfromapantry on Instagram or Twitter if you try Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam! It is really, really awesome for me when you make one of my recipes and I'd love to see it. You can also share it on my Facebook page. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest too! Thank you for reading Recipes from a Pantry.

Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam

This easy Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam is full of fresh flavor and gorgeous colour.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: American, Western
Servings: 32
Calories: 79kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 250 g (8.8oz) rhubarb thinly sliced
  • 500 g (1.1lb) strawberries halved
  • 600 g (1.3lb) sugar
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • 15 large fresh basil leaves

Instructions

  • Mix together rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, lemon juice and basil in a non-reactive bowl and let stand for about 1 hour.
  • Add mixture to a large pot, and cook on medium heat till sugar dissolves.
  • Bring it to a boil, then reduce to a roiling simmer and cook for about 15 minutes.
  • Test the jam for doneness. If not ready then cook for a few more minutes.
  • Remove pot from heat and allow the jam to cool.
  • Pour jam into sterilised jars, seal and keep in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.
**EASY AIR FRYER RECIPE EBOOK**Get the easy Air Fryer Recipe Binder which includes 40 quick and easy recipes all under 30 minutes cook time.
** INSTANT POT DUMP AND DASH RECIPE EBOOK**Get the Instant Pot Dump And Dash Recipes Ebook with easy recipes for busy lives.

Notes

Tips for Making Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
  • Sterilise your jars and lids by submerging them in boiling water for at least 5 minutes.
  • Change up the flavour profile by swapping the basil for fresh thyme or adding in a little balsamic vinegar.
  • You can freeze this jam for longer term storage. Just remember to leave a half inch of space at the top of the jar to allow room for the jam to expand.
Weight Watchers Points in Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
There are 4 Freestyle Points in a serving of this Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam.
What To Serve With Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
Coconut Plantain Pancakes
5 Minute Yogurt Flatbread

Nutrition

Calories: 79kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Potassium: 46mg | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 9.8mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Thank you for reading my Basil Strawberry Rhubarb Jam recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.

Similar Posts

5 from 5 votes

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




48 Comments

  1. This jam looks absolutely glorious – a great way to get through some of that rhubarb in your patch! And the Multicooker looks like such a great appliance – so handy. Must investigate further…

  2. 5 stars
    What a really lovely flavour combination, Bintu. I already do the strawberry and basil pairing (of course!), but adding seasonal rhubarb really ramps it up to another level.

    1. Thank Kellie. I was looking to add some slight sharp and thought the rhubarb would work well.

  3. Delicious flavour combo you’ve got going here! I’m baffled that you can make jam in a multicooker! Does it tell you when the jam has reached setting point? I really need to take a preserving class because every time I make jam it’s either over or under set.