Prune Hoisin Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- ½ cup chopped sweet onion
- 1 clove of garlic, chopped
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
- 3 ounces Mariani Family California Prunes (about 16 pieces)
- 2 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
- 2 Tablespoons Chinese black bean sauce (*see cook’s note)
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Pour the sesame oil into a medium saucepan and place over medium-low heat.
- Add the onion, garlic, and salt and cook, stirring often for about 8 minutes.
- Add the five spice, prunes, rice vinegar, soy sauce and black bean sauce, molasses, and water and stir well to combine.
- Cover with a lid and reduce the heat to low.
- Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Turn off the heat and let sit for 10 more minutes, to fully rehydrate the prunes.
- Transfer the ingredients to a blender and blend on high speed for 1 to 2 minutes until fully pureed into a smooth sauce.
- The sauce will naturally thicken from the pectins released by the dried fruit.
- *COOK'S NOTE: Chinese black bean sauce is a condiment made from fermented black soy beans, and garlic Lee Kum Kee is a common brand seen at Asian markets, or available online at Bookksu Market. If you cannot find a good substitute, try miso, preferably a darker type like red or barley (as opposed to white or yellow, which have a more mild flavor).
