Magiun de prune, plum preserve in a cauldron

Name: Magiun de prune, plum preserve in a cauldron
Ingredients: 5 kg well-ripened plums

Jam - Magiun de prune, plum preserve in a cauldron by Tamara K. - Recipia

Magiun de prune, a Romanian plum preserve, is cooked in autumn without sugar, until it thickens well and turns dark. In Ineu, plimez is made in a large cauldron, with the neighbors taking turns stirring and the babalugile coming to dance, then it is put into jars for winter. I choose soft, well-ripened plums, because that matters most when I sort them. Preparation: 45 minutes. Cooking: 11 hours and 30 minutes. Resting: 2 hours. Total time: 14 hours and 15 minutes. Servings: 20. About 115 kcal and 2 g protein per serving.

Ingredients

5 kg well-ripened plums

Preparation

1. Choose well-ripened plums, wash them and leave them to drain. Remove the pits; preparation takes about 45 minutes. 2. Put the plums in a large cauldron and set it over low heat. Let them soften and start to simmer, then keep cooking gently. 3. Cook the plums for 10-12 hours in total, stirring continuously and scraping the bottom of the cauldron, until the mixture thickens well. Check that it has set as you would any jam. 4. Pour the hot preserve into sterilized jars, leaving them uncovered. 5. Set the jars by the oven opening, in the warmth, for 30 minutes, until a crust forms on top. 6. Leave the jars to cool for about 2 hours, then cover them with parchment paper and put them in the pantry.

Notes

In the pantry, I keep the jars closed and away from moisture; once opened, I keep a jar in the fridge and use it within 3 days. It goes well on plain buttered bread, and you can use it as a cake filling. I don't rush the stirring, especially toward the end, when the thick paste is hard to move and can stick to the bottom. The plums should be fully ripe, with soft flesh, but no bruised or spoiled parts. If they are very juicy, cooking will take closer to the full 12 hours; meatier plums thicken sooner. A wide cauldron helps the water evaporate, while in a narrow pot it may take longer to thicken.