Making plum sauce at home also allows you to connect with the vibrant flavors of the ingredients and the joy of serving them to loved ones. This plum sauce recipe can be used to make a variety of foods better for family meals and parties. Check out this excellent seasoning that will make your cooking better!
What is Plum Sauce?
Often called Chinese red sauce, plum sauce is a sweet and sour condiment used in Chinese cuisine. Made mostly from plums, sugar, vinegar, and a range of spices, it creates a rich, fragrant sauce that complements a wide range of foods. Plum sauce gives each dish a distinctive taste, whether you’re pouring it over roasted duck or dipping spring rolls.
Why You’ll Love This Sauce
Plum sauce has many different reasons to be loved. Its adaptability lets it accentuate a wonderful variety of foods, from sweet to savory. Here are some of the numerous reasons you should incorporate this sauce into your cooking routine:
- Its sweet-tart balance enhances meats such as pork and chicken, thereby transforming everyday dishes.
- Simple materials and easy techniques enable anyone to create a pot of delicious plum sauce.
- Made from fresh fruit, plum sauce offers a better substitute for many store-bought sauces loaded with preservatives.
- Beyond the classic combinations, plum sauce finds application in marinades, sauces, and even sweets.
Original Methods of Plum Sauce Use
Plum sauce goes beyond simply a dipping sauce. These imaginative approaches can help you include it into your meals:
- Meat Glaze : Plum sauce glazes roasted duck or pig with a gorgeous gloss and rich taste. Brush the sauce on the meat in the last 15 to 20 minutes of cooking to caramelize and create a delightfully sticky coating. Each bite is a flavor explosion from the plum jam sweet-tart overtones and the meat’s flavorful richness. It makes roasted meals gourmet when coupled with fragrant herbs like thyme or rosemary.
- Simmer Sauce : chinese red sauce adds sweetness and depth to stir-fries. Add plum jam, soy sauce, and sesame oil to your favorite veggies and meats while sautéing. Sauce increases taste and gives the meal a glossy touch. This flavorful combination works well with chicken, shrimp, bell peppers, and snap peas for a quick, delightful supper.
- Salad Dressing : Make distinctive salad dressing by blending plum sauce with olive oil and vinegar. A pleasant fruity twist pairs well with crisp greens and other salad toppings. Whisk in mustard or honey for depth and sprinkle nuts or seeds on top for texture. This dressing enhances grilled chicken, avocado, and feta cheese salads, making them healthful and tasty.
- Plum BBQ Sauce : Combine plum and chili sauce for a spicy, grillable Plum BBQ sauce. This fusion enhances the plum sauce’s sweetness with fire. It gives ribs, poultry, and burgers a robust taste that sticks out at barbecues when marinated or basted. This sauce’s sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors make grilled meals stand out.
How do you make a plum sauce?
Ingredients Notes :
Get the following things together to make an easy but tasty plum sauce:
- Plums: 2 pounds, pitted and chopped (fresh plums are ideal)
- Sweet Potato: ½ cup, diced (adds richness and color)
- Onion: ½ cup, chopped
- Vinegar: ½ cup (apple cider or rice vinegar works well)
- Brown Sugar: ¾ cup (for sweetness)
- Soy Sauce: ¼ cup (adds depth)
- Honey: 2 tablespoons (optional, for extra sweetness)
- Ginger: 2 tablespoons, grated
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
- Spices: Cinnamon stick, star anise, cloves, and Sichuan peppercorns (or Chinese five spice powder)
Equipment and Tools
- Medium-sized pot
- Immersion blender or regular blender
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cheesecloth or spice sachet (for whole spices)
- Jars for storage
How to Make Plum Jam
- Prepare the Ingredients: In a medium-sized pot, combine all ingredients except for the spices. Bring to a boil.
- Simmer the Mixture: Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Blend the Sauce: Use an immersion blender to puree the sauce until smooth, or transfer to a regular blender and return to the pot.
- Add Spices: If using whole spices, toast them in a dry pan until fragrant, then add to the pot. Simmer uncovered for an additional 25-45 minutes until thickened to your desired consistency.
- Cool and Store: Let the sauce cool, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or can for long-term storage.
Nutrition and Richness
Not only is homemade plum sauce tasty, it’s also full of beneficial things for you. Plums are full of vitamins C and K, and when you mix them with the other healthy ingredients, you get a sauce that tastes excellent and is good for you.
Quick Tips
Cook Tips
- Adjust Sweetness: Depending on the ripeness of your plums, you may need to adjust the amount of sugar.
- Texture Preference: For a smoother sauce, blend longer; for a chunkier texture, blend briefly or mash with a spoon.
Storage and Reheating
- Storage: Keep your plum sauce in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, consider canning.
- Reheating: Gently reheat on the stove over low heat, adding a splash of water if it’s too thick.
Troubleshooting
- Too Thick?: If your sauce is too thick, add a little water or vinegar to reach your desired consistency.
- Not Sweet Enough?: Incorporate more honey or sugar to balance the tartness of the plums.
Conclusion
Creating your own plum sauce is a fun and educational way to improve your cooking skills. This sweet-and-sour sauce enhances any dish. You can use it as a sauce, a dip, or an ingredient in a stir-fry. The options are endless. Today, try this plum sauce recipe and see how it changes your food!
FAQ recipe
With more plums than needed, what can you do?
You can freeze plums and use them later or make plum sauce or jams with them. These might be used to soups to liven things or baked into treats.
What is the difference between duck sauce and plum sauce?
Duck sauce is usually sweeter and thicker, and it’s typically made with plums. Conversely, plum sauce is utilized in numerous dishes and offers a greater spectrum of tastes.
Can I make plum sauce with other fruits?
Yes! You can try this recipe with different fruits, like peaches or apricots, to make it your own.
More Sauce Recipes
Get recipes with plum sauce
Equipment
- Medium-sized pot
- Immersion blender or regular blender
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cheesecloth or spice sachet (for whole spices)
- Jars for storage
Ingredients
- Plums: 2 pounds pitted and chopped (fresh plums are ideal)
- Sweet Potato: ½ cup diced (adds richness and color)
- Onion: ½ cup chopped
- Vinegar: ½ cup apple cider or rice vinegar works well
- Brown Sugar: ¾ cup for sweetness
- Soy Sauce: ¼ cup adds depth
- Honey: 2 tablespoons optional, for extra sweetness
- Ginger: 2 tablespoons grated
- Garlic: 2 cloves minced
- Spices: Cinnamon stick star anise, cloves, and Sichuan peppercorns (or Chinese five spice powder)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: In a medium-sized pot, combine all ingredients except for the spices. Bring to a boil.
- Simmer the Mixture: Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Blend the Sauce: Use an immersion blender to puree the sauce until smooth, or transfer to a regular blender and return to the pot.
- Add Spices: If using whole spices, toast them in a dry pan until fragrant, then add to the pot. Simmer uncovered for an additional 25-45 minutes until thickened to your desired consistency.
- Cool and Store: Let the sauce cool, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or can for long-term storage.
Notes
Cook Tips
- Adjust Sweetness: Depending on the ripeness of your plums, you may need to adjust the amount of sugar.
- Texture Preference: For a smoother sauce, blend longer; for a chunkier texture, blend briefly or mash with a spoon.
Storage and Reheating
- Storage: Keep your plum sauce in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, consider canning.
- Reheating: Gently reheat on the stove over low heat, adding a splash of water if it’s too thick.
Troubleshooting
- Too Thick?: If your sauce is too thick, add a little water or vinegar to reach your desired consistency.
- Not Sweet Enough?: Incorporate more honey or sugar to balance the tartness of the plums.
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a 5-star review ⭐ below if you loved it! Tag @Heat_recipes on Instagram.