Bergamot-Scented Meyer Lemon Marmalade

Bergamot-Scented Meyer Lemon Marmalade

1/2 pounds (about 4 medium) Meyer lemons
4 cups water
3 1/2 cups sugar
2 T. bergamot zest, grated finely using a microplane (about 1 bergamot)

Slice off the ends of 1 lemon and place it on one of its flat ends. Using a sharp knife or vegetable peeler, remove the peel in strips about 1 inch wide. Leave behind as much white pith as possible. Repeat with the remaining lemons. Use a sharp knife and then your fingers to peel off any extra pith or remaining patches of skin. Reserve the fruit. Julienne the lemon peel very thin by stacking 3 or 4 pieces on top of one another and slicing them. Place the julienned
lemon peel in your preserving pot and set aside. Now slice the reserved fruit in half lengthwise and slice the half lengthwise again. Cut each piece crosswise to form many 1/8-inch-thick Meyer lemon triangles. Reserve the seeds as you go. Put the lemon slices in a medium-size
nonreactive bowl as you work. Once the lemon flesh is sliced, tie up the seeds in a square
of cheesecloth or scrap of white tea towel. Add them to the preserving pot with the julienned peel and cover with the water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add the reserved fruit and any collected juices. Refrigerate overnight. Add the sugar and, for a less assertive bergamot flavor, the bergamot zest. (For a more assertive flavor, add it after the mixture has cooked for about 15 minutes.) Over high heat, bring to a boil that cannot be stirred down, stirring frequently. Cook until it passes the plate
test, about 18 minutes. 2 Ladle into prepared half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and wipe rims. Place the lids on the jars and screw on the bands until they are fingertip tight. Process in a water-bath canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude as needed. After 24 hours, check the seals. Label, date, and store out of direct sunlight without the bands for up to a year.

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