How do you like your jam? On a toasted sliced bread with butter? Perhaps on bread with almond butter or maybe on a warm English muffin or a poppy seed bagel with schmear. One thing is certain; practically every human being loves jam. So let’s talk about our Paleo Strawberry Jam!
Why do we need a Paleo Strawberry Jam? Well like with a large majority of food recipes on Naturopathic Earth, conventional store-bought jam is frankly….red crap. Why is it red crap?
Because most jellies and jam are loaded with corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, vegetable oils and food dyes. In the case of strawberry jam, Red #40, perhaps the most insidious of all food dyes. (If you want more info on the pernicious effects of petroleum-derived food dyes, click HERE.)
Let’s look at corn syrup should you choose not to venture down the road of a Paleo Strawberry Jam. Corn is GMO in America. Close to 95% of corn grown here contains genetically-modified organisms. The only way to avoid it is to buy organic corn products (like organic blue corn tortilla chips) or to eschew corn products all together.
The problem is that some corn by-product, like corn syrup or corn oil, is found in 90% of packaged, middle-aisle foods in America. (To learn more about the 3 most common toxins found in practically all packaged foods, click HERE.)
Corn is subsidized by the American government making it cheaper to produce and refine than cane sugar. This is why all sodas contain high fructose corn syrup and not cane sugar. Let’s not mention that corn in general is high in calories, but low in nutrition, but that’s for another day.
Paleo Strawberry Jam
What is the difference between jellies and jams? Jellies tend to be more gelatinous in nature, but more importantly contain less, if any fruit, compared to jams. Jams are always the way to go. So let’s talk about this Paleo Strawberry Jam.
What makes it Paleo? Well, it isn’t “Paleo” in the true sense of the word that our Paleolithic ancestors were grabbing fresh strawberries smashing them and then spreading them on bread. Of course not, but it’s the closest we can get to Paleo jam in today’s world.
Of course the Paleo Strawberry Jam contains strawberries. Strawberries absorb a lot of pesticides as well demonstrated by the fact it is on the Environmental Working Group’s annual Dirty Dozen list of pesticide-laden produce. So it would behoove you to buy organic varieties of strawberries (or grow them in your garden like my colleague, Kim) so to avoid the endocrine and carcinogenic effects of glyphosate (RoundUp) on your body. (Listen to a Holistic Health News (HHN) episode on Monsanto being forced to pay millions to a landscaper who developed cancer after spraying RoundUp daily for years. Incidentally, throw this stuff out of your garage now!)
The beauty of this Paleo Strawberry Jam is its simplicity. It’s simply the fruit, some lemon, some honey, and gelatin. That’s it! Anyone can make that. Now you can sweeten it with conventional cane sugar or stevia, or maple syrup, but honey is the most micronutrient-dense sweetener out there. It contains loads of vitamins and minerals (especially if its Manuka honey). Check out our Review of non-Sugar Sweeteners HERE.
Enjoy this Paleo Strawberry Jam on anything. Later change the fruit to make my favorite, Paleo Blueberry Jam. If you are true Paleo you might not lather it up on bread, but you could put it on the numerous gluten-free recipes we have on this site. (Click on the captions below.)
If you are in the need for a good gelatin, click on the Amazon link below. I recommend this product.
Place the chopped strawberries, lemon juice, chia seeds, and raw honey in a small saucepan and place on medium to high heat. Allow the ingredients to boil for about 5 minutes, stirring at time. Once the mixture has softened, mash the strawberries until you reach the consistency you want. Remove from heat. Add the gelatin and stir until well-combined. Move the jam to a mason jar or glass/ceramic container and cool for 20 minutes. Store in fridge. This Paleo Strawberry Jam will last 5-7 days refrigerated.
Ingredients
Instructions
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