This writer has a rich plum heritage, and a secret ingredient in her family’s favourite sauce recipe.
Words: Kristina Jensen
In the Chronicles of Narnia, Digory states that the wonderland of talking beasts and heroic children is “…a rich place: as rich as plum cake.” Plum cake is ok. But give me fresh plums and that’s all I need.
I can’t resist stopping on the side of the road to try the fruit from any plum trees I see, to find out if they fall into our family’s Best Plums in The World list. We spent five years travelling in a house truck in the late 1990s, and roadside fruit was one of our gypsy delights.
From early December, our boys would spy out plum trees from their vantage point in the upper levels of the truck and call out to us through a hatch in the cab. We’d stop, assess the fruit for taste and degree of ripeness (no-one likes a rotten plum), and then harvest if the plums were up to standard. The truck made a great plum tree ladder for the boys, and we would add another tree to our Best Plums in the World list.
My foraging instinct is strong. It was honed by my mother Nancy, who loved nothing more than discovering a laden fruit tree on the side of the road. Sometimes, the tree was just over a fence. Sometimes (not often), we didn’t ask if we could cross that fence (if we couldn’t see a house or an obvious landowner). The good thing is there were usually plenty of plums for everyone and the birds.
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Many people have tales to tell about ‘their’ tree, the one that produced so many bucket loads of fruit, it only took two weeks before you were heartily sick of them. The plum tree on the family farm near Te Kuiti was huge. Once the plums were ripe, my mother would call up everyone she knew and ask them over to help with the harvest. What she really meant was, ‘I’ll get my children to pick you some’. We spent a lot of time up that tree.
My mother never stopped behaving like a kid when it was time to pick plums. One day, she was stretching toget one last plum when there was a loud crack. The branch broke, and she fell some distance, sustaining a large bruise on her leg. My father was so angry at her for doing something so dangerous, he cut the plum tree down to make sure she couldn’t put herself at risk again.
Paul’s Asian-Style Plum Sauce
Time: 1.5 hours
Makes: 1.7-2.0 litres
I’m not fussy about what kind of plums I use for sauce or chutney recipes. I’m always (well, almost always) pleasantly surprised by the results. My husband invented this delicious recipe, but he chooses his plums with far more care.
Every year, we have to find either Black Doris or Omega as he won’t use any others. However, it’s your choice: you can follow my rather laissez-faire attitude or seek out Paul’s recommendation.
INGREDIENTS
1.5kg plum pulp (about 2kg plums with stones in)
½ cup cider vinegar
⅓ cup brown sugar
¼ cup lemon juice
½ cup soy sauce
5 tbsp grated fresh ginger (Kristina loves ginger, so reduce to 1-2 tbsps depending on preference)
1 chopped onion
4 minced garlic cloves
1 whole star anise
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp good quality chilli powder
½ tbsp mustard powder
½ tsp ground Sichuan peppercorns
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METHOD
If your plums aren’t free-stone, cook them first until soft, then scoop the stones out with a slotted spoon or mush through your fingers and remove them. Place all the remaining ingredients in with the plum pulp. Slowly bring to the boil, then simmer for an hour until thick. Stir often to prevent sticking.
Remove the cinnamon stick and star anise. If you wish, use a stick mixer to get the sauce super smooth. Carefully ladle into hot, sterilised bottles. Label and store in a cool, dark place for 2-3 weeks to let the flavours develop.
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This article first appeared in NZ Lifestyle Block Magazine.
FAQs
Plum Sauce, sometimes called "Duck Sauce," is a sweet and tangy condiment with the lively flavors of plums and ginger. It's often served with fried wontons and other appetizers.
What does plum sauce contain? ›
It is made from sweet plums or other fruit such as peach, pineapple or apricot, along with sugar, vinegar, salt, ginger and chili peppers.
How long does plum sauce last in the fridge? ›
When does plum sauce expire? Unopened, a commercially prepared plum sauce can last up to 3 years past the manufacturing date if stored properly. Once opened, it should be used within 6 months if refrigerated. Homemade plum sauce stored in the refrigerator should be used within 1 week.
Is hoisin sauce same as plum sauce? ›
Is hoisin sauce a plum sauce? Hoisin sauce is not a plum sauce. Plum sauce is typically made with plums, vinegar, sugar, and ginger.
What is the best substitute for plum sauce? ›
15 Delicious Plum Sauce Alternatives: An Overview
| Substitute | Flavor Profile | Conversion Ratio |
|---|
| Mango puree | Sweet, tropical | 1:1 |
| Tamarind paste | Tangy, sour | 1:1 (diluted) |
| Raspberry jam | Sweet, slightly tart | 1:1 |
| Hoisin sauce | Sweet, salty, umami | 1:1 |
16 more rowsJan 16, 2024
Ume plum sauce, also known as Umeboshi paste or Ume paste, is a versatile and tangy condiment made from Japanese ume plums. Ume plums are a type of Japanese plum that is typically small, sour, and slightly sweet when ripe.
What do you eat plum sauce with? ›
15,217 suggested recipes
- Moo Shu Vegetables with Chinese Long Beans & Plum SauceBlue Apron.
- Chinese Dipping SauceJohnsonville Sausage.
- Chicken Spring Rolls With Plum SauceLily Dale Free Range.
- Sour Plum Duck, A Hakka Chinese ClassicThe Woks of Life.
- Shrimp and Crab Toast on French Baguettes with Fresh Plum SauceGreat Chefs.
This plum sauce is an easy version that is very tasty and keeps well in the fridge. Serve hot or chilled with egg rolls, pork, or chicken.
What is Chinese plum sauce called? ›
It's become a popular Chinese American dipping sauce for egg rolls, spring rolls, crispy wontons, and other deep-fried snacks. It's also known as duck sauce because it's sometimes served with roasted duck. This homemade plum sauce recipe consists of only a handful of ingredients.
Can you eat plum sauce after the expiration date? ›
Is it safe to eat canned foods past their "expiration" date? While canned goods past their "best-by" date may not taste optimal, there's no real health risk in consuming canned goods as long as they remain in good condition.
Anything that was air-tight sealed in a bottle, jar, or can can be safely eaten for years after the expiration date. The ingredients may lose quality after a long period of time, but it's almost impossible for them to “grow” anthing that could make you sick.
Is duck sauce the same as plum sauce? ›
Yes, the plum sauce has another name which is duck sauce. It is the same thing. The name duck sauce became popular because the plum sauce was the accompaniment of Peking duck in China. From there, the name originated.
What nationality is plum sauce? ›
Plum sauce is supposed to be Cantonese. It has long been served in Cantonese-American restaurants, where it accompanies duck or deep-fried foods. It usually takes the form of a gloppy, pink sweet-and-sour sauce that may or may not include plums or any fruit at all.
Why is plum sauce called duck sauce? ›
It is speculated that the name "duck sauce" came about because its ancestor, tianmian sauce, was first served with Peking duck in China. When the Chinese emigrated to the U.S., they created Chinese dishes that would appeal more to the American palate, and developed a sweeter version of the sauce used in China.
Why is it called plum sauce? ›
Plum sauce is a flavorful condiment consisting of sweet plums, vinegar, ginger, chili, garlic, sugar, and salt. It has Chinese origins and is an often-seen condiment of choice in numerous Chinese restaurants.
Is plum sauce American? ›
Plum sauce was initially used as a dipping sauce for egg rolls, which were invented in New York's Chinatown during the chop suey era, and later as a condiment for roasted duck.
What is a substitute for Chinese plum sauce? ›
For example, hoisin sauce, with its sweet and savory notes, can be a suitable alternative. Additionally, a combination of apricot jam, soy sauce, and vinegar can mimic the sweet and tangy flavors of plum sauce.
What is the American equivalent of British brown sauce? ›
Many countries have their own sauces which are similar to brown sauce, often containing comparable flavour profiles, ingredients, and uses. Examples include Japan's tonkatsu sauce and Jamaica's Pickapeppa sauce. "Steak sauce" is a similar product in the United States.
What is the most famous sauce in America? ›
Ketchup, the all-American favorite condiment, reigns supreme as the most popular sauce in the United States, followed closely by barbecue sauce and hot sauce.
This article first appeared in NZ Lifestyle Block Magazine.