Tomato Jam

Do you ever get tired of the same old condiments? Tomato Jam is about to change your life! 

tomato jam on small knife


 

What You’ll Need

You only need four simple ingredients to make this tomato jam. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.

  • Plum tomatoes – I prefer plum tomatoes, but any type of fresh tomatoes will work. Grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes would be the next best bet. You can also green tomatoes and make green tomato jam, another family favorite! 
  • White vinegar
  • Sugar
  • Salt
angled shot of bowl of tomato jam

Perfect Pairings

Of course the options for using this delicious sweet tomato jam are endless. Here are a few good options to get you started:

  • Stir into soups for an extra zing
  • On hot dogs
  • Mixed with cream cheese or goat cheese for a savory dip
  • On pork chops
  • Spread on avocado toast
  • On scrambled eggs
angled shot of grilled cheese with tomato jam

5S Philosophy 👩🏻‍

  • Salt – I like to use a pinch of fine sea salt or kosher salt to finish it off for a little extra flavor. But you can use this to taste or leave it out all together if on a low sodium diet.
  • Seasonings – Try adding black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes or fresh jalapeno for a sweet and spicy aftertaste. Cumin, smoked paprika and ginger are also popular.
  • Swaps – If you want a sweeter jam, add a little more sugar. Aiming for tart? Up the vinegar. If you want a super sweet jam, substitute brown sugar for white sugar.
  • Senses – Sweet and tangy, tomato jam glistens with a rich, ruby hue, filling the air with a caramelized aroma and delivering a luscious, sticky bite with hints of spice and sun-ripened tomatoes.
overhead shot of bowl of tomato jam on board with tomatoes and knives
tomato jam on small knife

Sweet Tomato Jam Recipe

4.45 from 56 votes
Tangy and sweet, tomato jam is excellent on everything from grilled cheese to deviled eggs, adding a balanced acidity that will complement a wide variety of other foods.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 1 cup

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Chop and deseed the 8 plum tomatoes, getting out much of the pulp. Combine the tomatoes, 1/3 cup white vinegar, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/3 cup water and a Dash of salt in a small saucepan. Stir over low heat for about 60 minutes. Tomato jam is ready when liquid has evaporated and tomatoes are sticky.
  • Allow to cool and use warm or cold.
  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Notes

This recipe is more simple, but will have splinters of tomato skin. If you wish to have no skin, dip whole tomatoes in boiling water for 30 seconds, transferring to an ice bath immediately. Skins should peel easily.

Nutrition

Calories: 362 kcal, Carbohydrates: 85 g, Protein: 4 g, Sodium: 31 mg, Potassium: 1175 mg, Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 79 g, Vitamin A: 4130 IU, Vitamin C: 68 mg, Calcium: 50 mg, Iron: 1.3 mg
Author: Chef Jessica Formicola
Calories: 362
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Keyword: tomato jam
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!

Storage and Freezing

How to store?

This savory spread makes a great gift and can be stored in a glass jar or other airtight container. It will keep for up to two weeks if stored correctly.

Can I freeze tomato jam?

This easy tomato jam recipe also freezes well. Freeze the same way, in an airtight container, and it will last for up to six months.

close up of grilled cheese with tomato jam

More Homemade Condiments

If you know me, you know how much I love homemade sauces and condiments. Here are some of my favorites.

collage of tomato jam
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.45 from 56 votes (40 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 4 stars
    I have a question concerning the storage of this tomato jam. How is it that you can store fruit jams in your cupboard for a year (if they make it that far), but that this jam has to be canned? Isn’t putting it in sterilized jam jars enough to keep it for a longer time? I am definitely going to try this recipe, it seems double yummy!

    1. Hi Floortje! The water bath sterilizes it and seals it. And in all honesty, I am not a canning expert, I asked a friend for the advice on this one. I’ll go back and ask her your question too- stay tuned!

    2. Hi there! I’m the canning friend 🙂 I grew up with my grandmas and mom simply placing jam in sterilized jars and flipping them on their heads to seal, and we’re all okay! But canning science now says that even our fruit jams need to be canned in a water bath for 10 mins to be safely stored at room temperature for a year, it eliminates all risk of botulism and spoilage.

      Tomato jam has acid and sugar, but because the sugar is significantly less than fruit jams it does absolutely need to be canned for 15 mins in a water bath. Sugar is the preservative in fruit jams that makes it so shelf stable, and it does the same here it just needs a little extra sterilization help from a long boiling bath.

      I hope that helps! Happy to answer any more questions you may have :).

  2. 5 stars
    Holy moly, was this a tasty recipe! A little zingy and I loved it. Served on a grilled cheese sandwich and just ate the leftovers on crackers.