Homemade Tomato Jam
Old-Fashioned Homemade Tomato Jam – This easy recipe makes the best tangy, sweet, and savory jam with tomatoes! It can be prepared as a tomato freezer jam or for canning, and is terrific to spread on sandwiches or serve as a dip.
Why We Love This Tomato Jam Recipe
Let me just start by saying: We LOVE making jam. There is nothing more satisfying than smearing a sandwich or cracker with a scoop of sweet and/or savory preserves that you made yourself from scratch.
And there’s no better time to jam out than summer when the fresh fruits and veggies are plentiful and perfectly ripe!
Fruity, savory, spicy, and oh-so scrumptious – there are countless varieties that you can make. A few of our favorites include this Best Easy Freezer Jam and Strawberry Rhubarb Jam recipes.
This Old-Fashioned Tomato Jam recipe is a classic for whenever we have a bounty (or excess) of summertime tomatoes. It’s a rare savory jam that’s brimming with deep, smoky, and slightly sweet flavors.
Old-Fashioned Tomato Jam
Tomato Jam is a classic Southern condiment that’s been enjoyed for generations. It’s distinct for its savoriness and wonderfully chunky texture and is often enjoyed as a spread or dip. (Keep reading for some great suggestions for tomato jam uses!)
Not only is it a delicious jam to enjoy, but this recipe is also terrifically easy to prepare – no pectin needed! Prep time is only 10 minutes, then you can finish the Old-Fashioned Tomato Jam either in the freezer or using traditional canning methods.
Ingredients You Need
There are only 8 simple and wholesome ingredients used to make this homemade Tomato Jam recipe. And no pectin!
You probably have all of these in your kitchen right now:
- Ripe tomatoes – Roma or plum are best
- Brown sugar – for sweet, deep flavor
- Fresh ginger – grated
- Spices – salt, ground cumin, crushed red pepper, garlic powder
How to Make Tomato Jam
The first step is to prep the ingredients: Chop the tomatoes and remove any loose seeds. Grate the fresh ginger.
Next, set out a medium saucepot. Add all the ingredients. Yup, everything goes right in there.
Bring to a boil, and stir.
Then lower the heat and simmer for 1 – 1 ½ hours, stirring regularly, so it doesn’t burn on the bottom.
Get the Complete (Printable) Best Tomato Jam Recipe Below. Enjoy!
It should cook down a bit, but not reduce to the point of no moisture. Once the tomato jam looks thick and glossy, turn off the heat.
Place the tomato preserves in jars and either can, freeze, or refrigerate.
How to Store Tomato Preserves
Homemade jam can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 months, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Once it has been opened, keep stored in the fridge and use within 2-3 weeks.
How to Use Homemade Tomato Jam
There are so many delicious ways to enjoy Old-Fashioned Tomato Jam!
Here is just a quick little list to get the ideas flowing:
- Use as a savory spread on burgers and sandwiches (like a grilled cheese sandwich or BLT!)
- Include a ramekin of jam on charcuterie boards.
- Serve as an appetizer with cheese and crackers.
- Spread on a piece of toast with a layer of ricotta or cottage cheese.
- Enjoy as a dip for crackers and chips.
- Add a spoonful to creamy soups, like tomato bisque.
- Serve on warm biscuits.
What’s your favorite way to get your tomato jam on? Let us know in the comments!
Recipe Variations
Want to make this recipe a bit less “old-fashioned?” Try any of these swaps:
- Add an extra 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes for a jam with even more spicy heat.
- Make Bacon and Tomato Jam! Add in 1 cup of crumbled cooked bacon before simmering.
- Use this recipe and use a classic canning method for longer storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tomato jam is a spread that is made out of tomatoes, sugar and spices for a deeply flavorful jam experience.
Technically, yes. Any tomato can be used, however, the yield will change depending on the water content of the tomato! Large heirloom tomatoes might result in less jam since they have more water that will be cooked off. You can use a combination of tomatoes such as cherry tomatoes and plum tomatoes or roma tomatoes!
If you need the jam to be thicker, simply keep cooking it! It will start to cook down with more time and become thicker and thicker. Make sure to stir occasionally to make sure it doesn’t burn!
You can tell your jam is done when most of the liquid has been cooked out of it, but not all. You want it to be a dark, jammy consistency. If you can drag a spoon through the middle of the pot and the jam just slowly filled the hole back in, then you are good to go!
You can store tomato jam in the fridge for up to 2 weeks after it has been opened. You can also freeze it for up to 6 months! So you can have fresh tomato jam on hand all year long.
Looking for More Classic Condiment Recipes? Be Sure to Try:
- Quick Pickled Jalapeno Recipe (Spicy Pickled Recipe)
- Magic Aioli Sauce
- Best Homemade Cocktail Sauce (Seafood Sauce)
- The Best Homemade Salsa Recipe
- Southern Comeback Sauce
Tomato Jam Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ripe tomatoes roma or plum
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Chop the tomatoes and remove any loose seeds. Grate the fresh ginger.
- Set out a medium saucepot. Add all the ingredients. Bring to a boil.
- Lower the heat and simmer for 1 – 1 ½ hours, stirring regularly, so it doesn’t burn on the bottom.
- Once the tomato jam looks thick and glossy, turn off the heat. Place in jars and either can, freeze, or refrigerate.
I was given an overwhelming amount of fresh picked cherry tomatoes. They are very sweet. Will this recipe work with them?
Hi Kelley,
Yes, they will make great jam!
Delicious. Quick. Perfect texture. The skin on my garden tomatoes (no Romas) were tough, so I removed those first. Got about 12 ounces of jam. Next time I’ll play with spices for a different flavor.