Louisiana Red Pepper Jelly

4 servings Prep: 15 m Cook: 16 m Total: 31 m Intermediate
5.0/5 (1)
Louisiana Red Pepper Jelly
A very popular and easy to make treat with red pepper sauce, lemon juice, and sugar for all your parties and family gatherings. Add more flavor - for crawfish-shrimp jelly flavor add 1/8 teaspoon of Zatarain’s Concentrated Shrimp & Crab Boil for every pint of your favorite pepper jelly recipe. Serve with crackers or over cream cheese.

Ingredients

4 servings
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tsp red pepper sauce
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 1/2 bottle fruit pectin
  • red food coloring optional

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. In a large saucepan mix water, pepper sauce, lemon juice and sugar. Bring to a boil on high heat, stirring constantly.
  2. Add fruit pectin and a small amount of fruit coloring, stirring well, until mixture comes to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 1/2 minute (30 seconds). Remove from heat, skim off any foam.
  3. Pour into 4 hot sterilized 5-oz jelly glasses. Process in a hot water bath for 15 minutes.
  4. For crawfish-shrimp jelly flavor add 1/8 teaspoon of Zatarain’s Concentrated Shrimp & Crab Boil for every pint of your favorite pepper jelly recipe.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Why didn't my jelly set properly?

A: Make sure you brought the mixture to a full rolling boil (one that can't be stirred down) after adding the pectin. The boil must be hard for the full 30 seconds. Also ensure your jelly glasses were properly sterilized and sealed.

Q: Can I adjust the heat level?

A: Absolutely! Use more or less red pepper sauce to your taste. Start with 1 teaspoon if you prefer mild, or go up to 1 tablespoon for extra kick. You can also add a few dashes of cayenne pepper.

Q: How do I know when it's at a rolling boil?

A: A rolling boil is vigorous and cannot be stirred down - the bubbles will keep coming even as you stir. This is different from a regular boil where stirring makes the bubbles stop.

Tips and Techniques

For the best flavor, use a Louisiana hot sauce like Crystal or Tabasco. Serve this jelly over a block of cream cheese with crackers for an instant party appetizer that always gets rave reviews.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • red pepper sauce: fresh minced jalapeños or bell peppers with cayenne
  • fruit pectin: Sure-Jell or any liquid fruit pectin
  • lemon juice: bottled lemon juice

Equipment Needed

  • large saucepan or pot
  • wooden spoon for stirring
  • ladle
  • 4 sterilized 5-oz jelly jars with lids
  • canning pot or large stockpot for water bath
  • jar lifter (for safe removal from hot water)
  • skimmer or spoon (for removing foam)

Historical Context

Pepper jelly has been a Southern tradition since the 1970s and quickly became a Louisiana favorite. The sweet-heat combination makes it perfect for entertaining, and the seafood boil variation is pure Cajun ingenuity.