Chinese plum sauce
Description
If you enjoy a spicy flavor, in addition to cinnamon and star anise, you can add coriander and cloves to the plum sauce. For a more piquant and spicy taste, include ground hot pepper. White sugar can be replaced with brown sugar, which will add a caramel flavor to the sauce. Serve the sauce with meat, fish, or use it as a salad dressing.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Prepare the ingredients for making Chinese plum sauce. The most delicious sauce is made from seasonal plums with a rich sweet-and-sour taste.
- 2
Step 2
Wash the plums, dry them, cut in half, and remove the pits. Place the fruit in a thick-bottomed pot of suitable size. Add peeled garlic cloves and pieces of ginger to the pot.
- 3
Step 3
Pour a little water into a saucepan and place over medium heat. Bring to a boil, cover the pan with a lid, and cook the plums until soft for 7-10 minutes.
- 4
Step 4
When the plums become soft, blend them with a blender into a homogeneous mixture. The sauce consistency can be uneven, according to your preference. If you prefer a smooth texture, you can strain the mixture through a sieve.
- 5
Step 5
Add sugar, a star anise, and a cinnamon stick to the plum mixture. Cook the sauce over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 20-30 minutes.
- 6
Step 6
Pour in the soy sauce and rice vinegar, and simmer the sauce over low heat for another 10–15 minutes until it reaches the desired consistency. Be sure to taste and adjust the seasoning. In this recipe, adjust the salty flavor with soy sauce and the sourness with rice vinegar.
- 7
Step 7
Prepare glass containers. If you plan to store the sauce for winter, sterilize the containers and lids by any available method. Pour the hot sauce into jars (bottles) and seal tightly with lids.
- 8
Step 8
Chinese plum sauce goes well with any fried meat and poultry.