Chinese Huamei Preserved Plums 話梅
Every Chinese kid has eaten these preserved fruit treats when they're little, I think, and puckered up with glee at the deliciously sweet and sour taste. These Chinese Huamei Preserved Plums 話梅 are a perfectly preserved fruit candy, sour and sweet and plum-y in equal measure!
- Prep time
- 5 min
- Cook time
- 4 min
- Yield
- 50 servings
- Difficulty
- EASY
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 lb green plums, 450g
- 1/3 cup salt, 100g
- 1 1/2 cup sugar, 300g
- cool boiled water to cover
Instructions
- 1
Clean the plums: Wash the plums gently, removing any stems.
- 2
Salt the plums: Add plums to a large clean pot or bowl. Add the salt to the plums and mix gently until all the plums are completely coated with salt. Let sit in a cool area for 8 hours. Juices will seep out and collect on the bottom.
- 3
Brine the plums: Pour out seeped juices. Add completely cooled boiled water to cover the plums. The water mixes with the remaining salt on the plums to make a light brine. Place in a cool area to brine for 2 days.
- 4
Dehydrate the plums: Drain the water and spread the plums out in one layer and let dry in the sun for 2-3 days until the skin becomes wrinkled but the plums are still plump. If you don't have sunshine use the oven to dry the fruits. Place the plums in one layer on baking trays. Set the oven at 140°F (60°C) and dehydrate the plums, with the door propped open slightly to allow moisture to escape, for 6-8 hours or until the plums are wrinkled but still plump.
- 5
Sugar preserve the plums: In a sterilized glass container that will fit all the plums with at least an inch to spare lay down one layer of plums to fill the bottom of the container. Add sugar to cover the plums. Repeat until all the plums are laid down. Add the final layer of sugar to completely cover the plums.
- 6
Close the container and place in a cool, dry and dark place for around 3-4 months or until the sugar is completely melted. At this point the preserved plums ready to eat and/or use. Be sure to use a clean dry utensil to remove the preserved plums as needed.
- 7
Store the plums: Store in the same (or different sterilized jar) lidded container with the sugar syrup for up to 3 months in a cool dark place. For longer storage keep in the fridge.