--- airs weeknights on SBS Food at 7.00pm and 10.30pm, or stream it free on . Catch a chilli jam dressing being made in the 'Stolen Goods' episode. ---
Can you call a spoonable / spreadable savoury condiment a jam? Indeed you can, and many do. While most jams are sweet, and made with fruit, sugar and pectin, there are some familiar favourites on the savoury side that embrace the name, too - onion jam and chilli jam, for example. (Fun fact - chillies are actually fruits, so chilli jam is a fruity jam, just, well, not fruity!) These condiments usually have something to sharpen up the flavours - often vinegar. Here are some great recipes that add punch to burgers, salads and more.
Made with two kinds of chilli, this recipe from Angela Nahas will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, and is great to use in sandwiches or on grilled meats.
Tomato chilli jam Source: Feast magazine
Chilli jam is a family that embraces a range of consistencies, from semi-set jams to Asian-style dressings - such as the one used on this salad. "The chilli jam in the dressing for this salad is inspired from David Thompson's Thai Food. It's sweet, spicy, sour and savoury. I like to drizzle it on some fresh herbs, cabbage and add some grilled meat or prawns to make a delicious salad," says Suren Jayemanne of the recipe she shares in the new season of The Cook Up with Adam Liaw.
Salad with chilli jam dressing Source: Adam Liaw
This chilli jam will keep for months in the fridge, making it a great one to have on hand. Use as a base for tom yum soup, in stir-fries or salad dressings.
Chilli jam Source: Petrina Tinslay
Add a slather of rich onion jam to make a burger amazing - like these . Made with onion, thyme, chilli, brown sugar and balsamic vinegar, this jam is rich, sweet and juicy.
Edamame burgers with red onion jam Source: Smith Street Books
"We have this quite often, with a really nice piece of pork and some of the jam on the side and a fresh salad," says Clarissa Feildel of this caramelised, jammy condiment made with fennel, onion, capsicum, honey, red wine vinegar and sage leaves that she shares on The Cook Up with Adam Liaw.
Warm fennel and capsicum jam Source: Danielle Abou Karam
Jack Campbell describes this as "bacon-laced jammy goodness" and it's easy to see why. Along with beer and bacon, there's brown sugar, maple syrup, malt vinegar, onion and chilli in there, "This jam is particularly good on burgers and sandwiches. It has a lovely salty–sweet punch," Campbell says.
Bacon, beer and rosemary jam Source: Smith Street Books
Looking to change up your bacon and egg breakfast? Try making bacon jam (spiked with black coffee and maple syrup) and putting it on a breakfast pizza!
Egg and bacon jam breakfast pizzas Source: China Squirrel
But what about chutney?
Good question! For this list we've stuck with recipes where the creator has called them a jam, but chutneys share a lot of the same characteristics, with chopped fruit, onion or other vegetables cooked with sugar, spices and vinegar. Find a brace of ideas in our , including this number from Paul West.
Quince chutney Source: Benito Martin
