Plum Ginger Relish Food

GINGER PLUM CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Cut plums in half and remove the stones
• Tie stones into a piece of muslin so they can easily be removed from the chutney after cooking
• Cook the plums (with stones in bag), vanilla extract, chilli and ginger with the vinegar until the plums are tender.
• Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.
• Raise temperature to boil then lower heat and simmer for approximately 30 minutes.
• Puree the chutney till smooth and spoon into a sterilised jar.
• Makes one large jar.

GRILLED SALMON WITH HOISIN GLAZE AND PLUM-GINGER RELISH

Steps:

• In medium bowl, stir together plums, ginger, and vinegar. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Prepare grill for cooking: If using charcoal grill, open vents on bottom, then light charcoal. Charcoal fire is medium-hot when you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 4 to 5 seconds. If using gas grill, preheat burners on high with hood closed 10 minutes, then turn down to moderately high.
• Rub salmon fillets on both sides with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange fillets on grill, skin sides down. Grill, turning once, until just cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes per side, brushing with hoisin sauce during last 30 seconds of cooking on each side.
• Transfer fillets to platter and sprinkle with scallions and sesame seeds. Serve, passing plum relish on side.

PLUM-GINGER RELISH

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat oil over medium. Add shallots and ginger, season with salt and pepper, and cook until softened, 3 minutes. Add plums, sugar, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook until plums have softened (add 1/4 cup water if needed), about 12 minutes. Stir in vinegar and zest. Season with salt and pepper.

PLUM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine jam, vinegar, brown sugar, dried onion, red pepper, garlic and ginger. Bring to a boil, stirring. Remove from heat.

SPICED PLUM CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients, except the sugar, into a large pan and stir well. Bring slowly to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 10 mins, until the plums are tender.
• Stir in the sugar plus 2 tsp salt and keep stirring until it has dissolved. Boil the chutney for 20-30 mins, uncovered, stirring occasionally to prevent it catching on the bottom, until it is thick and pulpy.
• Pot into sterilised jars (see Know-how, below), seal, label and store for at least 2 weeks before eating. Will keep for up to 6 months in a cool dark place.

DUCK BREASTS WITH FRESH PLUM-GINGER GLAZE AND TOMATILLO RELISH

Steps:

• For the relish: Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• For the sauce: Preheat grill or side burner. Heat the oil in a large nonreactive saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook until soft. Add the Thai chiles, ginger, curry powder and cinnamon and cook for 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and cook until the sauce becomes thick, about 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Place plum mixture, in 2 or 3 batches, in a food processor and process until smooth. Remove marinade to a large bowl and let cool completely. Reserve 1 cup. Yield: 4 cups
• For the duck: Preheat grill medium-low heat. Season breast with salt and pepper on both sides to taste. Grill skin-side down for 5 minutes. Baste, using 3 cups of the plum sauce, turn, baste again, and grill for 5 minutes. Baste, turn and baste again; cover the grill and cook the duck skin-side down for 5 minutes. Baste, turn and baste again; cover and cook another 5 minutes or until well-browned on the outside but medium-rare doneness (total 20 minutes). Remove breasts to a platter and brush with the reserved plum sauce. Cover with foil and let sit 10 minutes. Grill the tortillas for 15 seconds on each side. Cut the duck on the bias into 1/4-inch thick slices. Brush some of the reserved sauce in the center of each tortilla, place 3 or 4 slices of the duck and a few green onions, wrap and serve. Serve with Tomatillo Salsa.

CHINESE PLUM SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the plums, sugar, apple cider vinegar, unseasoned rice vinegar, soy sauce, Chinese five-spice powder, ginger coins, chile and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small pot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, cover and simmer until the plums are soft, about 20 minutes.
• Allow the mixture to cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a blender, filling halfway. Put the lid on, leaving one corner open. Cover the lid with a kitchen towel to catch splatters, and pulse until smooth. Alternatively, use an immersion blender until smooth.
• Transfer the blended plum mixture back to the same pot and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture is thick and you can see the bottom of the pot when you run a rubber spatula across the bottom, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer to a medium bowl or plate to cool to room temperature, about 2 hours.
• The sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

SPICED PLUM CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Finely grind star anise, clove, and cinnamon stick in spice mill or coffee grinder.
• Combine spice mixture, vinegar, sugar, ginger, mustard seeds, and pepper in heavy large saucepan. Stir over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves and bring to boil. Add plums; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until chutney thickens and chunky sauce forms, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Cool. Season to taste with salt.
• *Available in the spice section of some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Asian markets.

PLUM RELISH

Steps:

• Pare the rind from the orange into long pieces, then cut across into fine strips. Place strips in a pan with the plums, sugar and pears.
• Squeeze the juice for the orange and make up to 1 1/4 cups with the vinegar and add to the pan with the salt.
• Heat gently stirring until the sugar is dissolved and then simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the fruit is tender.
• Pour into hot sterlized jars and seal.

PLUM-GINGER FREEZER JAM

Steps:

• Using a potato masher or fork, gently crush the plums in a large bowl to release some pulp and juices while keeping the fruit chunky. Toss with the sugar, then add the ginger and lemon zest and juice. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Measure the volume of your fruit mixture; you should have about 6 cups.
• If your package of pectin comes with calcium powder, stir 1/4 teaspoon of the calcium powder into 1/4 cup water to dissolve. Set aside. Place the 4 1/2 teaspoons pectin in a stand blender, or have it measured and ready if using an immersion blender. Bring 1 cup water to a boil, then pour it into the stand blender and blend. (If using an immersion blender, add the pectin to the saucepan and blend.) The mixture should become very smooth and look like a soft gel. Stir the pectin mixture into the fruit until evenly combined, then stir in 4 teaspoons of the calcium water, if using. The jam should thicken and be softly set. Add the salt, stir and taste. Adjust after tasting with more teaspoons of lemon juice, if necessary, for a good balance of sweet and tart.
• Transfer to clean airtight containers, cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours and up to 2 weeks before serving. Or, store in the freezer for up to 3 months; defrost completely in the refrigerator before serving.

GINGER-PLUM DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the dry mustard with 1 tsp of water; let stand for 10 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the orange juice with the soy sauce, plum sauce, vinegar, ginger, lemon juice, sugar and salt.
• Whisk in the peanut oil and sesame oil and then the mustard paste.