Spiced Plum Sauce

Make homemade spiced plum sauce with ripe plums, ginger and warming spices. A sweet, tangy companion for ham, roast pork, spring rolls and thoughtful chilled gifts.

10/28/20262 min read

A glass jar of homemade dark red berry jam sits on a rustic wooden table with a silver spoon nearby.

Plum Sauce

The Old-Fashioned Pantry Staple Everyone Loves

Plum sauce is one of those jars that every Australian grandma had in her pantry. It was there on the table with the Christmas ham, beside the pork roast, next to the spring rolls and dolloped on a cold meat sandwich. Sweet, sticky and a little bit spicy, it's the kind of homemade gift that makes people say, "Oh, I haven't had that in years."

It's a gentle, forgiving recipe. You simmer plums with onion, ginger, vinegar, sugar and warm spices until everything is soft and glossy, then strain it (or don't) and pour it into pretty bottles. Your kitchen will smell like a cosy autumn day.

Troubleshooting guide for Spiced Plum Sauce showing solutions for thin, thick, sour, or bland sauce.

Packaging and Gifting

• Containers: 250 ml glass sauce bottles look gorgeous, but jars are easier to fill. A wide-mouth jar is also easier to spoon from. Choose lids that have a plastic lining.

• Decorate: tie a bow of red ribbon around the neck and thread a cinnamon stick or a star anise through a tag. Add a small fabric square under the lid if you like.

• Gift tag message: "For the ham, the pork, the spring rolls and the sandwiches. A spoonful of Christmas in a jar."

• Pairing ideas:

- A packet of frozen spring rolls or dumplings (with a note to keep them in the freezer).

- A jar of Tomato Kasundi for a lovely pair of homemade condiments.

- A pretty tea towel and a small wooden spoon.

Making It With the Kids/Grandkids

• Ages 3 and up: wash the plums, count them into the bowl and help tie the muslin bag (with the whole spices already measured).

• Ages 5 and up: twist the halved plums apart and pull out the stones, with plastic knives to help.

• Ages 6 and up: help press cooled sauce through the sieve (once it has cooled, never hot).

• Ages 8 and up: make the labels and decorate the bottles with ribbon and tags.

Adults only for chopping, stirring the hot sauce, sterilising and filling. Keep little ones well back from the stove and the oven.

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This post is part of my Edible Gifts From the Kitchen series. You will find loads more edible gift ideas and delicious Christmas recipes here.

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With love, Kim xx

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