Homemade Chinese Plum Sauce

I am continuing the series of Chinese recipes with this wonderful plum sauce. I was captivated from the first time I served it with Peking Duck. After that, I wanted to taste Peking Duck at a Chinese restaurant, just to see the difference. Honestly, I wasn't impressed and it might have been because of this plum sauce. Don't worry if you don't have the Chinese 5 spice powder, I'll give you a list of combined spices that can replace it. But most of all, I like to marinate and serve the meat with plum sauce. It has a very fine aroma, it's a bit salty, slightly sour and sweetish, beautifully colored.

You can make it in small portions and keep in the fridge for 2-3 months, in an airtight jar. I say try a little at first and, if you like it, continue with a larger amount. But even if you don't immediately like it as such, you should know that if you use it to marinate the meat, you will change your mind.

Ingredients
Plums
500 g
Ginger
10 g
- 1 piece of fresh ginger about 1x1cm, or 1 teaspoon of powdered ginger
Sugar
7 tbsp
Chinese five spice powder
1 tsp
you can replace with: 2 star anise + 1 cinnamon stick + 4 cloves + 1 teaspoon coriander seeds - all ground
Light soy sauce
4 tbsp
meaning the classic soy sauce
Chilli pepper
0.5 pieces
if you want the sauce more spicy, if not, omit
Wine vinegar
1 tbsp
rice vinegar would be perfect
Garlic cloves
4 pieces
Water
5 tbsp
Step by step
Step 1

These are the plums I was telling you were suitable for sauces.

Surely it can also be made from cherry plums or more sour common plums.

Homemade Chinese Plum Sauce - Step 1
Step 2

Wash them, remove the pits and place in a deep pan.

Homemade Chinese Plum Sauce - Step 2
Step 3

Add the spices, sugar, garlic and the chili pepper, if you want the sauce hot.

Homemade Chinese Plum Sauce - Step 3
Step 4

Pour the soy sauce, vinegar and water, place over low heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes.

Homemade Chinese Plum Sauce - Step 4
Step 5

The cooking time may differ depending on the plum variety.

Use the texture of the plums to guide you. They must soften properly and change color to a beautiful and uniform one.

Homemade Chinese Plum Sauce - Step 5
Step 6

Puree the mixture thoroughly with the hand blender.

If you've put the spices whole (the cinnamon stick, the anise), remove them before blending.

Homemade Chinese Plum Sauce - Step 6
Step 7

Place the sauce over heat for another 5 minutes. You can adjust with sugar and vinegar to taste.

Homemade Chinese Plum Sauce - Step 7
Step 8

Don't forget to sterilize and properly dry the jars in which you'll keep the sauce - I put them in the oven for 30 minutes at 120 degrees.

Homemade Chinese Plum Sauce - Step 8
Step 9

Pour the hot sauce into jars and close tightly.

Store in the closet or refrigerator and use when you need.

Homemade Chinese Plum Sauce - Step 9
Step 10

It's perfect if served with any kind of meat or meatballs or used as a sauce for marinating. I'll give more details in the recipes that follow.

Enjoy!

Homemade Chinese Plum Sauce - Step 10
Quantity: 500 g ()
Prep time:
60 min
Difficulty: easy
Ready in: 15 min