Tomato Jam

The perfectly balanced sandwich is a comfort food that relies heavily on the right condiment. With picnic and grilling season right around the corner, put this tomato jam into heavy rotation. It’s mostly savory with just the right amount of sweetness to make you swap out the ketchup on your next burger, and it’s equally satisfying on sandwiches of all kinds.

Since honey has a more complex sweetness than sugar, I use a combination of both to create a jammy consistency with plenty of robust tomato flavor. Layered with soft cheese and peppery arugula, the jam is part of a satisfying trio that makes my list of go-to toppings. After all, the toppings are what help you to create a homemade sandwich that’s as satisfying as one from your favorite shop.

Ingredients

1 pound ripe cocktail tomatoes such as Campari
¼ cup honey
3 tablespoons sugar
1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
⅛ teaspoon cayenne
Pinch of chile flakes
Salt to taste

Start with ripe, juicy tomatoes that are free of any mealiness. Even though you will be cooking them down, the flavor of the jam will suffer if the tomatoes aren’t delicious on their own. I prefer to use Campari or another cocktail tomato, as their mid-sized shape yields a good ratio of skin to the tomato jelly found inside. Don’t seed the tomatoes or you will lose the flavorful compounds that the jelly contains. If a little bit of white core is found when you cut the tomatoes, remove only that part.

Chop the tomatoes and add them to a saucepan with the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently, and then reduce to a simmer. Continue cooking the mixture until it reaches the consistency of a thick jam, which may take over an hour. Reduce the heat as necessary to maintain a simmer as the jam cooks, being careful that the bottom does not burn. Season to taste with salt when almost done cooking.

Once the jam has thickened, remove it from the heat and allow to cool before refrigerating. Use it to top burgers and sandwiches, or enjoy it with soft cheese and a crusty bread.