Why it works: Red currant and sugar are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 26% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 1,156 recipes. Both carry 2,3-butanedione, which smells butter, sweet. The science ↓
Raspberry Jam
Ingredients
Directions
In a large pot, combine the mashed raspberries and red currant juice.
Add an equal amount of sugar to the mixture.
Bring to a boil and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Transcribed from a scanned cookbook and modernised for today's kitchens. Where the book gave no heat or time, or said "a moderate oven", the temperatures and times here may be modern equivalents rather than the book's own figures.
Photo for illustrative purposes only · Contact us to use it
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
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Red currant + sugartop 26% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together1,156 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,3-butanedione (butter, sweet).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Raspberries
- Provide the main fruit flavor and body of the jam as they break down while cooking.
- Red currant juice
- Adds natural tartness and acidity that brightens the flavor and supports setting.
- Sugar
- Sweetens the jam and helps it thicken and set as it cooks down.
The step that matters
Boiling and stirring the jam. Sugar and fruit must reach a steady boil to concentrate and thicken; stirring prevents scorching on the bottom of the pot while the mixture reduces.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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