35 minutes
A flavorful sauce made with ripe plums, honey, and a mix of spices, perfect for desserts or as a topping.
Ripe Plums, halved, pitted, and cut into 3/4-inch wedges
0 lb
cups
cups
cups
teaspoons
Ground Cardamom
teaspoons
teaspoons
teaspoons
1. Combine Ingredients
In a medium, heavy saucepan, combine the plums, granulated sugar, honey, water, fresh lemon juice, ground cardamom, ground ginger, and pure vanilla extract. This initial combination ensures that all ingredients mingle together, creating a uniform base for your sauce. You'll notice a deepening of color as the flavors start to meld.
2. Bring to Boil
Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Keep an eye on it until the sugar dissolves completely. You'll know it's ready when the liquid starts bubbling and the sugar is no longer visible. This step is crucial as dissolving the sugar evenly distributes sweetness throughout the sauce.
3. Simmer and Thicken
Once the mixture reaches a boil, reduce the heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer. Let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. During this time, the plums will begin to break down and the sauce will start to thicken, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
4. Thicken Juices
If the juices need further thickening, use a slotted spoon to transfer the fruit to a bowl temporarily. Increase the heat to high and boil the remaining juices until they become syrupy. This step concentrates the flavor, making the sauce rich and luscious.
5. Adjust Seasoning and Serve
Return the fruit to the pan and taste the sauce. Adjust the sweetness or tanginess by adding more sugar or lemon juice if necessary. A well-balanced sauce will have a perfect blend of sweetness from the plums and honey, and a slight tang from the lemon juice. Serve the sauce warm, at room temperature, or cool, depending on your preference. As it cools, the sauce will thicken further, making it versatile for various uses.
Spiced Plum Chutney** By adding chopped onions, mustard seeds, and maybe a hit of chili, the sweet sauce transforms into a savory chutney. This variant can be a perfect accompaniment to roasted meats, especially pork and duck, or a cheese platter.
Spiced Plum Jam** By adjusting the consistency and sugar levels, the sauce can be turned into a jam. Spread it on toast, swirl it into yogurt, or use it as a topping for oatmeal or pancakes.
Instead of vanilla extract, scrape out a vanilla bean and let it simmer with the sauce. It will impart a more intense and rich vanilla flavor.
Plum Coulis** Puree the Spiced Plum Delight Sauce and strain it to create a smooth plum coulis. This can then be used to drizzle over desserts like panna cotta, cheesecake, or ice cream. Adjust the sweetness and spices to complement the dessert.
Add the zest of an orange or lemon to the sauce, which will bring a bright, aromatic note to the plums. This can be done in addition to or in place of any citrus juice you might already be using.
Use a mix of black, red, and yellow plums that are ripe but not overripe to achieve the best flavor and texture balance in your sauce.
Opt for classic spices like cinnamon, star anise, and cloves, and consider cardamom or nutmeg. Toast them to intensify their flavors before adding to the sauce.
Add a splash of high-quality vinegar or fresh lemon juice to balance the sweetness and enhance the plums' natural tartness.
Freshly ground spices and freshly squeezed lemon juice will significantly enhance the sauce's flavor depth.
Adjust sugar based on the plums' sweetness and your preference. Substitute some sugar with honey or maple syrup for a more complex flavor.
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