Tested and Perfected by Food and Wine

Zinfandel-Chile Jam

Contributed by
  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME:
  • SERVINGS: MAKES 3 CUPS
  • •BASIC-EASY
  • •MAKE-AHEAD

Although Michael Lomonaco calls this a jam, the texture is more like that of a thick sauce.

Plus: More Grilling Recipes and Tips

  1. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  2. 1 small onion, finely chopped
  3. 1/2 cup ancho chile powder
  4. 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  5. 2 garlic cloves, minced
  6. 1 1/2 cups red Zinfandel wine
  7. 1 1/2 cups water
  8. 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  9. 3/4 cup black currant preserves
  10. 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
  11. 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  12. Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over moderate heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the chile powder, cumin and garlic and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, 5 minutes. Add 1 cup of the wine and cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until the mixture is thick, 5 to 6 minutes. Whisk in the water, balsamic vinegar, preserves, brown sugar, tomato paste, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 tablespoon of pepper. Cook over moderately low heat, stirring frequently, until reduced to 3 cups, about 50 minutes. Whisk in the remaining 1/2 cup of wine and simmer over high heat for 5 minutes. Let cool. Scrape the jam into a blender and puree until smooth. Transfer to a jar and refrigerate.
Make Ahead The jam can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. Serve With Smoky Short Ribs with Zinfandel-Chile Jam.