Updated on April 9th, 2023
Whether a professional chef or amateur chef, it doesn’t matter here because no particular skill is required to use this versatile lingonberry jam. If you are making some potato cake, oatmeal porridge, or even some black pudding, this magnificent ruby-colored jam is something you should have in your arsenal.
Although lingonberry jam is an incredible ingredient to have in the kitchen, owning one might not be easy because it is quite expensive compared to other jams in the market. That said if you find yourself stuck on a recipe that requires lingonberry jam but you don’t have any, or your nearby grocery store is all out of it, no need to panic because some alternatives would work just fine.
Before we get into the substitutes for lingonberry jam, let’s talk about how this incredible jam is made.
What is Lingonberry Jam?
Lingonberry jam is a kitchen staple in Swedish homes, this jam has been in production for a long time, and ancient Swedes also consumed it.
This beautiful bright red jam production starts when the lingonberries are harvested. The berries have a tangy and sour flavor, so sugar is usually added to get a sweeter finished product.
Sugar can be added directly to a bowl of lingonberries and consumed in its raw form, or just like the lingonberry jams sold in grocery stores, it can be boiled together with sugar to create a jelly-like consistency.
Lingonberry jam is mainly produced in Sweden, where the plant grows in abundance. Still, the cultivation and production of this jam have gradually become popular in countries like Canada and the United States.
Uses of Lingonberry Jam in Recipes
If you snack on a raw lingonberry, you would get a spicy, sour tang, so it is only reasonable to combine it with something sweet like sugar to get a jam that is both sweet and sour.
Having a little bit of sweet and sour flavor means the jam is suitable for sweet and savory dishes, making it a versatile cooking ingredient. It is commonly used as a sauce for meat dishes like delicious Swedish meatballs, sausages, roast meat, or black pudding in Sweden. You can also use lingonberry jam as a spread for sandwiches, incorporated into pancakes and porridge, or even as dips for some desserts.
Below are fifteen recipes that make use of lingonberry jam.
- Swedish meatballs with lingonberry jam and mashed potatoes
- Seared duck breast with lingonberry sauce
- Goat cheese prosciutto lingonberry jam bruschetta recipe
- Lingonberry and creamy hand pies
- Banana toast with lingonberry jam
- Lingonberry shortbread bars
- Vegan lingonberry jam babka recipe
- Spinach pancakes and lingonberry jam
- Lingonberry bars
- Crispy Wiener schnitzel with lingonberry preserves
- Lingonberry jam tart with cardamom
- Lingonberry jam muffins recipe
- Dessert with lingonberry jam, whipped cream, and cookie crumbs
- Mustard-roasted salmon with lingonberry sauce
- Bangers and mash with lingonberry sauce
Substitutes for Lingonberry Jam
Lingonberry jam is a staple in Swedish homes, but if you live anywhere outside Sweden, you may not always have this jam in your pantry, and this may be inconvenient if you want to prepare a dish that calls for lingonberry jam.
However, there are some viable substitutes for lingonberry jam in whatever recipe you are faced with, and the key is to get a replacement sauce that compliments the other flavors in your dish.
So without wasting much of your time, I will be giving you five alternatives for lingonberry jam in recipes (these substitutes are my personal favorites, but feel free to explore more items and find the one that works best for you).
So without further ado, here are the substitutes.
Cranberries
Cranberries would work pretty well in place of lingonberries; just like the real deal, they also have a tart flavor accompanied by a sweet one, which would be perfect for baked goods. Cranberries are pretty easy to purchase; just heat some to get a jelly-like consistency; you can include little sugar if you want something sweet. You can substitute using a 1 to 1 ratio in your recipe.
Pomegranate Molasses
Molasses has a sweet and earthy flavor, and it would be an adequate substitute for lingonberry jam. You can also use molasses as a base for savory sauces or as a direct ingredient in baking.
It is pretty easy to find in grocery stores, so getting one should not be challenging. Just like cranberry jam, use a 1 to 1 ratio when subbing.
Cowberries
If you need a substitute for lingonberry jam with a strong tart flavor, then cowberries would work just fine. Cowberries would yield a more pronounced tartness than lingonberries in your dish. Because of this tartness, you should add some extra sweetener like sugar to balance the flavors.
Red Currants
Red currants have a sweet but tangy flavor that works well with sweet and savory dishes. They would make a good replacement for lingonberries in many recipes; you just have to make sure the flavor complements the other flavors in your dish.
Just like the other items on our list, red currants are pretty easy to get in grocery stores; you can make a jam out of it and substitute using a 1 to 1 ratio.
Rowanberry Jam
Popular in British and Scandinavian cuisines, the rowanberry jam is sure to leave your tastebuds craving for more. It has a similar flavor profile with the lingonberry jam, and its sweet and sour flavor will go pretty well with meat dishes.
Swap rowanberry jam in place of lingonberry jam in your recipe using a 1 to 1 ratio.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where can I get lingonberries?
Cultivation of these berries has gotten popular in countries like Canada and the United States, but you can get these berries in abundance in Nothern European countries. Still, you can also get them in Central and Eastern Europe.
What is the shelf life of lingonberry jam?
Lingonberry jam has a fantastic shelf life of about 700-900 days, that’s about two to three years.
Is lingonberry jam gluten-free?
The jam contains no added preservatives, and they are gluten-free. They only consist of lingonberries, water, and sugar.
Conclusion
Ever since I started using lingonberry jam, it has slowly become a staple in my kitchen, but occasionally I run out of this jelly goodness; despite how frustrating it is, it uses some substitutes, and boy, do they taste great too.