Plum Jam
Stoned plums simmered with sugar, a splash of water and lemon juice for 35 minutes into a rich, dark jam. Twenty-four servings of a spoonful in 50 minutes.
Photograph credit: Plum Jamming by cogdogblog · CC0 1.0 · Flickr
Where This Goes Wrong
Soften the plums before adding the sugar.
Stir often so it does not catch.
If your hob runs hot, test at 25 minutes.
Use the saucer test.
Making Plum Jam
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Simmer the plums with the water for 15 minutes until soft.
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Add the sugar and lemon juice and stir until dissolved.
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Boil for 20 minutes, until a drop wrinkles on a chilled saucer. Spoon into clean jars, cool and keep in the fridge.
Why It Works
Plum jam is dark, tart and a bit grown-up. The skins hold most of the pectin and all of the colour, so leave them on and let them soften as the fruit cooks.
Halve and stone the plums and cut each half in two. Cook them gently in a splash of water first, until they collapse. Add the sugar only when the fruit is soft, because sugar toughens the skins if they are still firm.
Boil for about 20 minutes, stirring often. Plums are sticky, so keep the heat medium and scrape the base as you stir.
Test with a chilled saucer. A drop that wrinkles when you push it is set. If your hob runs hot, test at 25 minutes. Spoon into clean jars and cool. A few stones in the pan add a faint almond flavour, if you remove them before potting. If the jam seems very tart when you taste it, add a spoon more sugar, but wait until the plums are soft so you can judge it properly.
After You've Cooked It
Keeps in a clean jar in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.
Good With
- Toast
- Yoghurt
- Rice pudding
- Cheese toasties
Questions and Answers
How long does Plum Jam take to make?
About 50 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 35 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 24.
What are the key tips for making Plum Jam?
Soften the plums before adding the sugar. Stir often so it does not catch. If your hob runs hot, test at 25 minutes. Use the saucer test.
What should I serve with Plum Jam?
Toast; Yoghurt; Rice pudding; Cheese toasties.
How should Plum Jam be stored?
Keeps in a clean jar in the fridge for up to 4 weeks.
Is Plum Jam suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, low-carb and keto. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
What's in a Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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