What Apples Should I Use For The Chinese Plum Sauce?

Our answer

Nigella's Chinese Plum Sauce (from HOW TO BE A DOMESTIC GODDESS) is a spicy, sweet and sour condiment that is good with roast pork, cold cuts and cheeses. It can also add a fruity tang if stirred into to stews and braises. The recipe states just apples, which means that any apples can be used. However it is useful to use an apple that breaks down easily as it cooks. So if you are in the UK then Bramley cooking apples are ideal.

Outside of the UK it is more difficult to find Bramley or cooking apples. If you are in the US or Canada then McIntosh apples break down easily when cooked, so they are a good choice. If none of these are available then generally we would suggest Granny Smith apples, but you need to bear in mind that Granny Smith apples don't soften as easily, so the cooking time may be slightly longer. All of these apples ae high in pectin, which is useful as this helps the sauce to thicken. For chutneys, such as the Christmas Chutney, we would prefer to use either Bramley apples or Granny Smith apples, though you could use any tart apple that is local to you and adjust the cooking time as needed to make sure that the apple is completely soft.