Plum Chutney

[charity-baker47]

Can anyone help me please I have just made a batch of plum chutney and i've done all i was supposed to do but it is too runny. Should I boil it again to see if the liquid will evaporate?

[Barmaid]

Try bringing it to the boil again in the widest pan you've got.

[mazie]

How long did you simmer it for charity? Is it cold now? Did you add any water to the ingredients?

[Barmaid]

And then simmer til it thickens. In my (very limited I might add) experience of making jams and chutneys the cooking time is almost about double what the recipe says!

[charity-baker47]

Thank you very much Barmaid and mazie. I simmered it for about 20mins. I then boiled it for extra time but still too runny. There was water in the recipe. Maybe the plums were too juicy. I give it another boil. Cross fingers.

[mazie]

As Barmaid says Jams and Chutneys always need a longer boil than the recipe says... Same with water or vinegar, I never use as much as they say. It should be OK with another boiling....I wanted to make Plum chutney and jam but can't get any Victoria plums around here :o(

[mazie]

I made some Rhubarb and ginger jam this year Barmaid...It's really lovely.

[Barmaid]

Mazie, that sounds nice! I keep meaning to have a proper jam/chutney blah blah session but always seem to find something more pressing to do.

[EDDIE51]

20 mins is far too short , an hour is more like it.

[mazie]

The beauty of retirement BM. Had a big Jamming session this year. The soft fruits in this area are some of the best I've ever had.

[Barmaid]

I think when I retire I shall just get fat since I shall make and consume wine, cake and jams/chutneys, Mazie!!!

I shall probably do two or three "stir up Sundays" and make chutneys etc for little stocking fillers.

[mazie]

I do all that BM but don't sit on my bum all day like I did when I was working, so still a size 10....Started knitting again, so been busy knitting scarves for Christmas. I have drawers full of the things :o) Thought about making some chocolates to give as small stocking fillers. Have you ever made them?

[charity-baker47]

Thanks folks for all the feedback. I am going to boil it up again later. I am on to a different recipe now It looks an interesting one. This is my second lot of plums. I made jam and jelly with first lot. It was a success!! My family don't like to see me idle I think

[EcclesCake]

Mazie, I make chutney, mince meat and give out jars of our honey at Christmas. I also have made Limoncello and cantucci biscuits for gifts at Christmas.

I made truffles one year and couldn't believe the state of the kitchen afterwards, despite having a dishwasher I couldn't believe how messy working with chocolate can be :-(

Charity Baker, 20 mins is deffinitely too short for a chutney!

[Barmaid]

I made chocolates once, Mazie. Never again. I'm with Eccles on that. Working with chocolate is the devil's own job. At least I feel better that it isnt just me. I only have to look at chocolate (or flour) and it ends up on every surface in the kitchen. I HATE these tv chefs who look oh so clean and tidy and sit there ranting at them "b***h"/"barsteward" as I recall how my kitchen will look as if the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have had a right royal rave up in there.

[mazie]

I'm convinced Ladies thank you. Chocs are deffo off the Christmas making list. xx

[mazie]

Are the plums from your garden Charity? Don't suppose you life near Fife ;o) x

[atalanta]

I wouldn't bother reboiling. Just let the chutney settle, skim off the spare juices and keep them in a separate jar. The chutney will improve as it ages, but it may also dry out and could stiffen a bit, so the spare juice can be added back later as required.
I have done that a number of times, and some of my chutneys have won prizes.
PS make sure you do not use metal lids on the jars, as the vinegar will eat away at the metal. Chutneys do not need a seal the way jams have to be sealed.

[woofgang]

I suspect, if its an old recipe, that the fruit used used to be less juicy and sweet than the modern kinds.

[charity-baker47]

Sorry not my garden. A friend in the Black Isle has a good few trees. I live north of Inverness. I've had about 10 -12 kilos

[charity-baker47]

Thanks all