Pickled Plums Recipes

Steps:

• Wash the fruit and prick each plum with a fork.
• Put all the other ingredients into a saucepan and bring to a gentle boil, stirring until the sugar has melted.
• Add plums and cook for 3-4 minutes.
• Put plums into sterilized jars.
• Keep boiling the syrup until it thickens, pour over plums.
• Check the jars are sealed, keep for 2 months before using.

Steps:

• Slit skin of each plum lengthwise from top to bottom with a sharp paring knife evenly around plum in 4 to 6 places, then put in a heatproof jar.
• Bring water to a boil with remaining ingredients in a 3-quart nonreactive saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.
• Immediately pour pickling liquid over plums. Cool, uncovered, then chill, covered, at least 1 day.
• Available at Latino markets and Chile Today-Hot Tamale (800-468-7377).
• ** Available at Fauchon (212-308-5919).