Foraging Wild Violets + Jelly Recipe
Springtime in a jar. Wild violets are one of the first little flashes of color to arrive each year, and turning the blossoms into jelly is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the season.
Before you gather: Make a positive identification before eating any wild plant. Gather only where you have permission, away from roadsides, lawn chemicals and pet waste. Take lightly - leave plenty of flowers for pollinators and for the plant to keep thriving.
Wild Violet Jelly
You can scale this recipe up or down. The basic starting ratio is about 1 packed cup of violet blossoms to 1 cup boiling water for the floral infusion.
Ingredients
- 2 cups wild violet blossoms, correctly identified and gently cleaned
- 2 cups boiling water
- Juice of 1 large lemon or 2–3 small lemons
- Pectin according to the directions for your chosen brand
- About 3 cups sugar or the amount recommended for the specific pectin you are using
Make the Violet Infusion
Place the blossoms in a heat-safe jar and pour the boiling water over them. Gently press the flowers beneath the water, cover, and let steep for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
Strain the blossoms. The infusion may look deep blue or sapphire; lemon juice will shift it toward a vivid purple-magenta.
Make the Jelly
Combine the violet infusion, lemon juice and pectin in a saucepan. Follow the boiling time and sugar instructions for your specific pectin, since brands and formulations vary. Ladle the finished jelly into clean jars.
For refrigerator jelly, cool and store chilled. If you want shelf-stable jars, use a current, tested flower-jelly canning recipe from a reliable food-safety source and follow its exact acidity, processing time and jar instructions.
Other Ways to Use Violets
Correctly identified violet blossoms can also be used as a colorful garnish for salads and desserts, infused into syrup, frozen into ice cubes, or added to other spring kitchen projects.
Violets have a long history in food and traditional herbal practice, but traditional use is not the same thing as proven medical treatment. This recipe is shared for culinary and educational purposes rather than to diagnose, treat or cure illness.
Grace + Gratitude,
Elise Dixie Jane