This plum conserve is a condiment that veers a bit of the more commonly tread canning ground. However, once you try it, I’m certain it will become one of your regular pantry players.
Italian plums are one of my favorite things to come out of late summer. Sturdy, sweet, and with a flavor that improves upon cooking, they are a fabulous primary ingredient for all manner of jams, spreads, and compotes.
This particular conserve (it’s the addition of dried fruits and nuts that turn a basic preserve into a conserve) is a good gift giving, serving at holiday gatherings, and eating with a spoon when you’re craving something sweet.
I canned my batch in a collection of mismatched pint jars (we’re getting to the end of the canning season and I’m starting to run short on smaller jars), but because a little goes a long way, you’d be better off opting for half pints.
Plum Conserve with Golden Raisins and Toasted Walnuts
Ingredients
- 4 pounds plums quartered and pitted
- 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups golden raisins
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise pieces
- 1 cup lightly toasted walnuts
Instructions
- Prepare a boiling water bath canner and 8 half pint jars.
- In a large, non-reactive pan, combine the prepared plums, sugar, raisins, cinnamon stick, and star anise. Stir to combine and let the fruit sit until the sugar begins to dissolve and you develop a bit of syrup in the bottom of the pan. This will take at least 15 minutes, but you can also let the fruit macerate overnight, if that works better for your schedule.
- When you're ready to cook, set the pan on the stove over high heat. Bring the plums to a boil and reduce the heat to medium high.
- Cook the fruit at a low boil, stirring regularly, until the liquid has thickened, the raisins have plumped up, and the total volume in the pan has reduced by at least a quarter. Conserves don't need to be as thick as jams, so don't fret too much over the finished texture. Just take it to a place that pleases you.
- When you've determined that the cooking time is up, remove the pan from the heat and remove the cinnamon stick and star anise pieces. Once they're out, stir in the toasted nuts.
- Funnel the finished conserve into the prepared jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
- Wipe the rims, apply the lids and rings, and process in a boiling water bath canner for 15 minutes.
- When the time is up, remove the jars and set them on a folded kitchen towel to cool. When the jars have cooled enough that you can comfortably handle them, check the seals. Sealed jars can be stored at room temperature for up to a year. Any unsealed jars should be refrigerated and used promptly.
Hi Marisa! Do you know if it would be possible to leave out the raisins and walnuts and use this recipe for plum preserves? Or do we need the sugar from the raisins to keep it “safe”? Thanks so much!
You could definitely leave out the raisins and walnuts and make this as a preserve.