

CHILLI MARMELADE
Excellent as a condiment on lamb instead of mint sauce or with just about any kind of meat, as well as with eggs. You can also try it with whole chillies. Just stem, seed and de-rib, or cut in half or quarters, making them more suitable for meat.
Makes 500 ml
Basic syrup:
750 ml castor sugar
750 ml water
30 ml fresh lemon juice, strained
EXTREMELY HOT VERSION
125 ml red habanero chillis, seeded, ribbed and chopped (for a mind blowing extra-extra hot, by all means includes ribs and seeds.
HOT VERSION
125 ml fresh red chillies, 1/2 habanero, 2 thia chillies, seeded, ribbed and finely chopped.
MILD VERSION
250 ml fresh red chillies and equal mix of serrano, jalapeno and pimento, seeded, ribbed and finely chopped.
EXTREMELY MILD VERSION
250 ml fresh red chillies, seeded, ribbed and finely chopped.
Place water and sugar in a non-reactive saucepan.
Stir to dissolve sugar over low heat.
Add lemon juice and chopped chillies.
Sweep the inside of the pot at intervals with a pastry brush to keep sugar from sticking to the sides.
Boil slowly until syrup is thick and chillies have become translucent.
Remove from heat.
Bottle in sterilised jars while still hot.
HINT
For a very thick chilli marmelade you can use equal amounts of chillies to sugar and water, but it will also intensify the chilli heat.
Recipe: Trudie Grobler