We’re not really cordial drinkers in the Delicious Everyday house. In fact, the last time we had cordial was when I made Lemon Cordial last year. While I usually only drink water or tea I felt like a change. So when I was browsing for plum recipes the other day and saw this beautiful Blood Plum Cordial recipe on Gourmet Traveller I knew I had to make it.
Making this cordial the house filled with the most amazing plummy aromas, reminiscent of jam making, but thankfully so much easier. And it’s quite beautiful too, the syrup has deep blood red colour, similar to red wine, when finished.
Enjoy this beautiful plum cordial with water, with lemonade, or with sparkling mineral water and a squeeze of lime. Add a little if you want a subtle plum flavour and add more if you want more of that delicious plumminess. It’s also a great mixer for cocktails. Try it with a little vodka, or even with some gin. It’s also lovely to add a small quantity to a glass of champagne.
Delicious, easy and a great way to use the beautiful plums that are in season at the moment. What more could you ask for?
Blood Plum Cordial
Ingredients
- 500 g blood plums stones removed and coarsely chopped
- 500 ml of water
- approximately 275g white sugar
- 25 ml lemon juice
- 25 ml orange juice
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 vanilla bean split and seeds scraped
Instructions
- Add the plums to a saucepan, along with the water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Strain through a fine sieve, pressing to extract juice, discard solids, then strain liquid through muslin or paper towel and pour the liquid into a measuring jug and note how much liquid remains.
- Return to the saucepan to a medium heat and combine the plum liquid with an equal measure of sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves.
- Add vanilla seeds and the lemon and orange juice, bring to the boil, reduce heat to low-medium and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat, add vinegar and stir to combine, then transfer to a sterile glass bottle, seal and refrigerate.
