Blueberry Rhubarb Jam

A delicious, low sugar Blueberry Rhubarb Jam made with fresh berries, tart rhubarb, lemon juice, and a touch of honey.

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Have you ever bought rhubarb just because it’s pretty? But then you get home and realize you got way too much?!

Don’t get me wrong, I love rhubarb. But since it has such a strong, tart taste, most recipes only call for 1-2 stalks worth of this pretty vegetable.

So, if you find yourself with extra rhubarb on hand, this Blueberry Rhubarb Jam is for you! It’s a unique twist on rhubarb jam that doesn’t need any pectin, and has far less sugar than most jam varieties.

AND it’s equal parts tart and sweet…just the way I like it! I also just noticed that we can call this Bluebarb Jam for short…LOL. Another reason to make it!

Ingredients in Blueberry Rhubarb Jam

I absolutely love fresh berries on their own, but I like them in homemade jam even more! Slowly cooking berries to make jam amplifies their natural sweetness and extends their shelf life. It’s a win-win.

To make this jam, you’ll need:

Fresh blueberries (but you can also use frozen ones)
Fresh rhubarb
Lemon juice
Honey
A little bit of water

blueberry rhubarb jam ingredients in a sauce pan

How to Make Jam Without Pectin

As you can see, there’s no pectin in this jam. Pectin is a naturally occurring starch found in fruits. It’s typically extracted from fruits and sold as a stand-alone food product that helps thicken jams and jellies.

While using pectin can speed up the process of making jam, you don’t need to use it! Instead, you can capitalize on the natural pectin found in berries to make a thick jam, by following these simple tips:

Add an acid: Acid, such as lemon juice, reacts with the fruit to draw out its natural pectin (1).
Add some sugar: Sugar can help absorb water, which in turn promotes thickness.
Maintain a low, slow boil: Making a jam without pectin requires some patience. You need to heat your jam ingredients over a low boil until the jam begins to set, which can take anywhere from 30-75 minutes, depending on the acid and pectin content of your fruit. The jam will be looser than store-bought jam, but you’ll know it’s done once it starts moving with your spoon as you stir it.

Tips for Storing and Using Blueberry Rhubarb Jam

This jam needs to be stored in the fridge (in a glass mason jar) or freezer (in freezer-friendly containers). It should last for a long time (a few months), as long as it is tightly sealed.

Here are some ways you can use this Blueberry Rhubarb Jam:

On toast or in a PB & J sandwich
On muffins, biscuits, scones, etc.
Mixed into hot oatmeal
Spread onto salmon or chicken before grilling or baking it
Spooned into yogurt

Looking for more rhubarb recipes?! Check out my Sweet Strawberry Rhubarb Salsa and Strawberry Rhubarb Baked Oatmeal Muffins. If you make this recipe, be sure to let me know in the comments below.