Chinese Plum Sauce
Chinese plum sauce offers a sweet, tangy, and slightly spiced flavor profile, perfect for glazing pork or poultry and enhancing Asian-inspired dishes.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Remove pits from the purple plums.
- Puree the plums and syrup in a blender.
- In a saucepan, sauté the minced onion in salad oil until softened.
- Add the pureed plums, molasses, sugar, and soy sauce to the saucepan.
- Cook until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 20 minutes.
- Use to glaze pork or poultry.
- Store in a covered jar in the refrigerator.
Tips & Substitutions
For a thicker sauce, allow it to reduce longer than 20 minutes. If you don't have purple plums, try using canned peaches or apricots for a different flavor. Adjust sweetness by adding more sugar or molasses according to your taste. This sauce can also be spiced up with a dash of ginger for an added kick, making it a fantastic complement to grilled meats.
Serving Suggestions
This Chinese Plum Sauce is perfect for glazing grilled pork or poultry, enhancing their flavor beautifully. Serve it alongside stir-fried spinach or as a dipping sauce for spring rolls. For a delightful meal, pair it with rice or noodles and a side of Beef Strips With Green Peppers to create a balanced plate.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover plum sauce in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Make sure to let it cool completely before sealing. To reheat, simply warm it gently in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, or microwave in short intervals, ensuring it doesn’t boil.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Chinese Plum Sauce contains roughly 183 calories, with 4g protein, 38g carbohydrates, and 4g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin C (49% of the Daily Value) and dietary fiber (20% of the Daily Value), and a good source of potassium. Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 1077mg per serving (47% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use fresh plums instead of canned?
Yes, fresh plums can be used. You'll need about 1 pound of pitted fresh plums. Cook them down with a little water to help them break down before pureeing, as canned plums come with syrup that adds sweetness.
Is this sauce suitable for vegan diets?
Yes, this plum sauce is suitable for vegan recipes as it contains no animal products. It's a great addition to tofu dishes or vegetable stir-fries, offering a sweet and savory flavor profile.
How can I make this sauce spicier?
To add heat, incorporate red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce during cooking. Alternatively, blending in a small piece of fresh ginger can provide warmth and depth to the sauce without overpowering its sweetness.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).