Quince Jam (Preserves) Recipe

4.89 from 51 votes

Assyrian quince jam recipe, just like mom used to make!

Prep Time15

Cook Time1

Total Time1 15

Course: Condiments

Cuisine: Assyrian, Middle Eastern

Servings: 8 oz jars

Calories: 81kcal

Wash and chop quince into 1" pieces. If you prefer, you can dice the quince into smaller pieces. I choose not to peel the quince but they can be peeled if you prefer a smoother texture.
Place quince in a five-quart Dutch oven. Add enough water to completely cover the quince. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes.
Place a strainer over a bowl and drain quince, capturing the liquid. Reserve two cups of liquid. This liquid will be used in the recipe instead of plain water because quince have a lot of natural pectin. This will aid in the jelling process.
Place quince back into the empty Dutch oven and add the remaining ingredients, including the reserved liquid. Bring to a boil, while stirring over medium heat. Simmer anywhere from 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the syrup thickens.
Ladle the hot jam into hot jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles, wipe rims with a clean cloth, then add lids. Screw on collars, hand tight. Place the filled jars back into the boiling water bath and process the jars for 15 minutes.
Use jar-lifting tongs to remove the jars from the boiling water. Make sure they seal then store in a cool dark place for up to a year.

Later in the process, I use a handheld immersion blender to break the quince down to the consistency that I like. If you don't want to do this, you can just dice them into smaller pieces now.
Keep in mind the preserves will thicken further upon cooling off.
If you prefer the consistency of jam, use one of these handy emulsifiers to achieve the results you're after. To avoid splatter, keep the blade deep in the pot while using it, and make sure to turn it off before pulling it out of the preserves.
When Assyrians make quince preserves, they usually cut the fruit into slices or wedges. So if you prefer, you can do the same. I personally prefer cutting the fruit into small squares.