California Farm Fresh Agave Nectar

Name: California Farm Fresh Agave Nectar
Yield: 2 people: 10 pound agave core makes 1 pound nectar
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 blue agave plant heart, 8 years old, about 20 pounds, turkey size, quartered top to bottom

Hobby Horseman @HobbyHorseman

California, United States

A teaspoon of pure agave nectar is 50% sweeter than a teaspoon of sugar. Using agave nectar in jams lets the fruit flavors dominate instead of the sugar. You can buy agave nectar in the store, $2 per cup. Blue agave plants are harvested after eight years. You first strip the outer edges of the leaves to remove the spikes. Then you cut the leaves off the base till you have a giant pineapple. Cut roots the same way. Extract nectar on baking rack in baking pan in oven, 3 days at 118F degrees.

Hobby Horseman @HobbyHorseman

California, United States

Saved

Ingredients

Same as sugar

2 people: 10 pound agave core makes 1 pound nectar

1blue agave plant heart, 8 years old, about 20 pounds, turkey size, quartered top to bottom
Equipment: gloves, sharp knife, turkey pan, funnel, paper filter, mason jar
Cost: $10 for one plant, produces baby plants and endless nectar year after year. A 3 cup bottle of nectar is $8 in the store

Saved

Steps

Same as sugar

1

Select sunny row outside your fence for safety to plant blue agave, away from children and pets, transplant baby plants once a year, 7’ apart. After eight years, the oldest plant will be ready to be harvested for nectar. Transplant baby plants in winter.
2

Wear gloves. On summer evening, trim edges of leaves of motherplant to remove spikes. Compost. Cut leaves at base, remove, compost. Remove roots the same way, till you have a giant pineapple. Rinse clean with garden hose. Weight the agave. Trim top and bottom so agave fits on bottom of your oven. For every 10 pounds of agave, you will get 1 pound of nectar. Bake 3 days upside down in large deep turkey oven roasting pan at 118F degrees. Pour off nectar daily, stop when nectar stops flowing.
3

First few drops of nectar might taste bitter, discard, then collect daily. When nectar has stopped flowing, use tortilla press or wine press to press the last drops out of each piece of agave. Put fresh nectar in sterilized mason jar through funnel with paper filter. Keep in fridge. Use like sugar or honey.

Saved

Cooksnaps

Saved

Hobby Horseman @HobbyHorseman

on August 15, 2022 22:35

California, United States

I teach people at the farmers market to grow small scale fruits and vegetables. My grandparents and parents taught me growing, cooking and preserving home grown fruits and vegetables, eggs, meats and fish. I got certified by the University of California Master Gardener Program in 2005. I try to bring out the original flavor of ingredients, then add layers of spices, herbs and flavorings that enhance, not distort the taste. These are the global, organic and vegan family recipes we use.