My homemade Fresh Plum Chutney is a versatile condiment that goes well with many foods, and you will be delighted to discover that it is not difficult to make. Savoury, tangy, sweet and gently spiced, it has a perfect balance of flavours. When plums are in season, I like to use them in as many ways as possible. So, if you find yourself with an abundance of fresh plums, this is a great way to preserve some.
Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- Making your own preserves allows you to enjoy Summer produce for many months ahead.
- Unlike jam, which requires freshly picked fruit in excellent condition, you can use slightly overripe, or imperfect fruit when making chutney.
- One of the great advantages of making your own chutney is that you have total control over the quality of the ingredients. There will not be any need for artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, just natural ingredients.
- Making chutney is not difficult, but you do need to invest a little of your time. However, I assure you that it is time well spent.
Recipe Inspiration: when fruits and vegetables are at the height of their season, I am passionate about using them in as many ways as possible, and making chutney is a family favourite.
Ingredients and Substitutions:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
- Plums - you can use any variety of plums, but I have used plums with ruby red skin as it adds great colour to the chutney.
- Brown/yellow onions - this is the most popular onion, but you can use white or red onions if you prefer. Onions add both sweet and savoury notes.
- Apple - I have used Granny Smith. It is a tart apple variety, ideal for cooking. Use another variety if you prefer.
- Light brown sugar - adds sweetness and a caramel note.
- Ground black pepper - adds spice.
- Yellow mustard seeds - I have used yellow mustard seeds to add bright, tangy flavour.
- Sea salt - we use coarse kitchen salt; fine table salt is not suitable as it is stronger. The salt lifts the flavours in the chutney, as well as assisting with preservation.
- Dried chilli flakes - add a spicy note; add more if you want extra spicy chutney.
- Star anise - a spice that is warming, slightly sweet with a hint of licorice.
- Ground cinnamon - a warm spice, it adds flavour and aroma.
- Vinegar - this is the main ingredient for preservation. I have used white vinegar with 5% acidity.
Variations:
Plums - if you have an abundance of peaches, you may like to use my recipe for Fresh Peach Chutney. Or, if you don't have quite enough plums, you could make up the weight using peaches or nectarines.
Spices - you could add a pinch of ground cloves or ground ginger. Fresh chilli is also a great addition if you like a very hot chutney.
How To Make Plum Chutney:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
1 - Add your ingredients to a large pot:
To a large, non-reactive saucepan, add all of your prepared ingredients.
2 - Stir to combine:
Give the mixture a good stir and place on a medium-high heat to dissolve the sugar.
3 - Cook the chutney:
Once the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has been brought to the boil, it will take approximately 40-45 minutes to cook. During this time, stir well to avoid the chutney from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
4 - Add to your jars:
Once cooked and allowed to stand for 10 minutes, the mixture can be added to hot jars and sealed.
Hint: I recommend that you label the jars with the name and date you made it. Otherwise, it can be difficult to identify.
Tips for Success, Storage and FAQs:
If you follow the recipe instructions precisely and your jars are thoroughly sterilised, the Plum Chutney should be shelf-stable for nine months.
Store unopened jars of chutney in a cool, dark, dry location. Once a jar has been opened, store in the fridge.
No, you don't need to peel the plums - the skin breaks down during cooking.
You can, but for the best result I recommend that you set the chutney aside for at least one week to allow the flavours to develop and the vinegar to mellow.
Top Tip:
Although this is a simple recipe, it does require your attention. Stirring the chutney regularly will stop it from sticking to the bottom of the pan and burning.
Serving Suggestions:
There are so many ways to use vibrant, tangy, full-flavoured chutney. Some of our favourite ways are:
- Plum Chutney is especially delicious with pork. Try it with our Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Apple and Fennel.
- Add to a sandwich or wrap; it goes so well with ham and cheese.
- Serve some with our Chicken Patties.
- Add to a cheeseboard; it's a great addition.
- Serve at a barbecue with a variety of meats.
- Mix with mayonnaise and use as a dip for French fries.
- Use as a glaze for a meatloaf.
- Wrap a pretty ribbon around a jar of chutney. It is an ideal homemade gift.
This recipe for Plum Chutney is certain to become a family favourite. And having discovered how easy it is to make your own chutney, you are likely to be encouraged to make more. I look forward to hearing how you enjoy it.
Alex xx
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Plum Chutney
Please note:
For accuracy, when weights are provided, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results. All oven temperatures listed are for fan forced.
Ingredients
- 1 kg (2.2 lb) plums - prepared weight, once stones removed See Note 1
- 500 g (2 ½ cups) light brown sugar
- 450 ml (1 ¾ cups + 2 teaspoon ) white vinegar - 5% acidity
- 2 medium brown/yellow onions - finely chopped
- 1 large Granny Smith apple - unpeeled and cut into small cubes
- 60 g (⅓ cup) sultanas/golden raisins
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon red chilli pepper flakes
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 whole star anise
Instructions
To Sterilise the Jars:
- Sterilise the jars you'll be using to store the chutney. Choose glass jars with an airtight, metal lid and ensure they have been washed by hand in hot soapy water then rinsed well. Check that the metal lids do not have rubber inserts - if they do, allow them to air dry, instead of placing in the oven.Preheat the oven to 130 Degrees C (270 F) and place the jars in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Keep the jars warm.
For the Plum Chutney:
- Cut the plums in half and gently twist the halves in opposite directions to separate them.Carefully remove the pit with a sharp, pointed knife and discard the pit. Cut away any bruises or blemishes from the fruit.
- Cut each plum half into four pieces, or smaller if they are very large.
- Place all of the ingredients into a large, non-reactive saucepan or stockpot. See Note 2.Stir over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves.
- Bring the chutney to boiling point then allow it to simmer for approximately 40-45 minutes.Stir occasionally until the mixture has reduced in volume, the surplus liquid has evaporated and the mixture thickens. The simmering time may vary as it will depend on the size of the pan and the amount of heat applied. As it thickens, you will need to be diligent with stirring and watch that it does not catch on the bottom of the pan. You can check that the chutney is ready by sliding a wooden spoon across the surface of the mixture. It is ready when the chutney does not immediately fill the gap. If the chutney is still too runny, cook it a further 5 minutes and test again.
- Be aware that as the liquid reduces, the mixture may bubble and spit and you need to take great care. I suggest that to be on the safe side, you wear a garment with long sleeves to protect yourself and use a long handled wooden spoon.
- After 40-45 minutes, or your chutney has thickened as per above, remove the saucepan from the heat and stand for 10 minutes to allow the fruit to settle. Remove and discard the star anise.
- Remove your sterilised jars from the oven, and whilst they are still hot, fill with the chutney and seal the jars immediately.
- When the jars are cool enough to handle, remove any spills on the outside of the jars and label and date the chutney. Store it in a cool, dark, dry location. Set it aside for a minimum of one week, ideally two-four weeks. This will allow the flavours of the chutney to amalgamate and the vinegar to mellow.When removing chutney, always use a clean, dry spoon to avoid spoilage. Store open jars in the fridge.
Notes
- Plums: for accuracy, we recommend weighing the fruit once you have removed the stones and any blemishes from the fruit. You can use different varieties of plums for this recipe - the colour may vary slightly depending on the variety.
- Non-reactive saucepans: are those which are ceramic, stainless steel, glass or enamelled cookware. Copper, iron and aluminium pans are reactive. Acidic foods, such as vinegar or lemons, may take on a metallic taste and discolour if cooked in such pans.
- Maturing the chutney: a preserve made with vinegar needs time to mature. Set it aside for a minimum of one week, ideally two-four weeks. This will allow the flavours of the chutney to amalgamate and the vinegar to mellow.
- Storage: when the recipe is made according to instructions and the jars have been sterilised properly, the chutney will be shelf-stable for nine months when stored in a cool, dark place. A jar should be refrigerated after opening. Always use a clean spoon when removing chutney from the jar. This recipe has not been tested using a canning method. Please refer to the USDA Canning Guidelines for techniques, or follow a recipe designed for long-term canning.
- Nutritional information: is based on one whole jar. The nutritional information is an estimate only.
Nutrition Estimate:
Nutritional Disclaimer:
The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Stuart Cross says
I made this chutney with plums that were only just ripe, the fruit was firm and had a slightly sharp flavour. The onions used were red, simply because that was what I had grown on my allotment. All fruit and vegetables grown in this dry year seem to lack the juiciness of other years and so have needed a shorter cooking time to reduce the volume. Despite all of the above, the chutney has turned out well and I am waiting for it to nature fully.
Alexandra Cook says
Thank you so much for trying to chutney, Stuart! 🙂
I am so glad you were able to make it work for you.
Alex xo