Hi guys!
Today I’m finally sharing my Maesilaek, Korean plum extract!
I’ve been sharing some of authentic Korean recipes and used this Korean plum extract and so many of you asked me what can be substitute, what’s alternative for Korean plum extract?
To be really honest, there is not a perfect alternative since Korean plum extract is fermented and has very complicate flavors. It’s sour, sweet, fruity, fragrant and it almost work as MSG in cooking because it brings all the flavors together.
Before start the recipe, I want to give a shot out to Maesilhood who sent me fresh maesil, the plums to me!
Maesilhood has maesil farm in southern California and you can order fresh maesil from them during the season, which is June (Maeisl is very seasonal fruit) or already made maesilaek that made with their fresh maesil!
Check out below link!
Wash well maesil under running cold water and dry completely for a few hours in a cool place.
Drying the maesil completely is very important, because if there’s any water it might cause mold.
Wash a 5 litter (1.32 gallon) glass jar with tight lid with hot water and dry completely.
Remove stems from green plums using a toothpick or tip of steak knife. Also dry each one of them with paper towel to make sure it’s completely dried.
Place about 1 lb of green plums (approximately 15 green plums) in the bottom of the prepared glass jar. Pour 2 cups of sugar, it should cover the green plums.
Repeat the layers with same amount of green plums and sugar, it should to about 5 layers.
At the last layer, it should be end with sugar and when you do, make sure the sugar covers the green plums completely. You probably think it’s too much sugar but that’s the right amount. If you don’t cover the last layer with generous amount of sugar, it might cause mold.
Cover the lid and close tightly and make sure to mark the date you made on the jar. Place in a dark and cool spot, like under the kitchen counter.
You don’t have to check everyday, it will slowly melt the sugar and become liquid about a couple weeks later. Stir everything once in a couple weeks to help the sugar melt all the way and let it air out.
3 months later, strain the fruit out from the liquid and keep the liquid in a refrigerator. You have to strain at 3 months mark, because after 3 months, the seeds will start release its poison to the liquid. What I like to do is not strain at 3 months but let it fermeuntate for over 1 year before use. After 1 year, the poison from the seeds will be neutralized.
So it’s totally up to you, either 3 months or 1 year fermentation!
Maesilaek could be used in a dressing, marinate, braised fish or chicken. It also can be mixed with carbonated water and ice or hot water so you can enjoy as tea!
What to do with the leftover fruits after strain?
1. The fruits can be re-used to make maesil soju or maesil vinegar, which is just place the fruits in another air-tight jar and pour same amount of soju (or sake) or rice vinegar (it has to be right vinegar).
2. Separate the fruits and seeds and add more sugar to make jam!
3. Also you could just place the fruits in the refrigerator and enjoy as snack! It’s amazing for constipation!
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Maesilaek Korean Plum Extract
- Yield: 4 litter 1x
Description
Instructions
- Wash well green plums under running cold water and dry completely for a few hours in a cool place.
- Wash a 5 litter (1.32 gallon) glass jar with tight lid with hot water and dry completely.
- Remove stems from green plums using a toothpick or tip of steak knife. Also dry each one of them with paper towel to make sure it’s completely dried. (any water in this process might cause mold)
- Place about 1 lb of green plums (approximately 15 green plums) in the bottom of the prepared glass jar. Pour 2 cups of sugar, it should cover the green plums. Repeat the layers with same amount of green plums and sugar, it should to about 5 layers.
- At the last layer, it should be end with sugar and when you do, make sure the sugar covers the green plums completely. You probably think it’s too much sugar but that’s the right amount. If you don’t cover the last layer with generous amount of sugar, it might cause mold.
- Cover the lid and close tightly and make sure to mark the date you made on the jar. Place in a dark and cool spot, like under the kitchen counter. You don’t have to check everyday, it will slowly melt the sugar and become liquid about a couple weeks later. Stir everything once in a couple weeks to help the sugar melt all the way and let it air out.
- months later, strain the fruit out from the liquid and keep the liquid in a refrigerator. You have to strain at 3 months mark, because after 3 months, the seeds will start release its poison to the liquid. What I like to do is not strain at 3 months but let it fermeuntate for over 1 year before use. After 1 year, the poison from the seeds will be neutralized.
- So it’s totally up to you, either 3 months or 1 year fermentation!
- Maesilaek could be used in a dressing, marinate, braised fish or chicken. It also can be mixed with carbonated water and ice or hot water so you can enjoy as tea!
Notes
What to do with the leftover fruits after strain?
1. The fruits can be re-used to make maesil soju or maesil vinegar, which is just place the fruits in another air-tight jar and pour same amount of soju (or sake) or rice vinegar (it has to be right vinegar).
2. Separate the fruits and seeds and add more sugar to make jam!
3. Also you could just place the fruits in the refrigerator and enjoy as snack! It’s amazing for constipation!
23 comments
This sounds so lovely. A process of patience though. So once strained and in the fridge ….what would you say is a good shelf life?
It will last a couple of years in the fridge!
OOOH Nice!!!! I may try this next week! Thanks!
Can you recommend a brand if we miss the Plum season?
Hello. Could you elaborate more on how to make jam from the left over plum after three months?
i have li-hing powder, which i understand is from dried plums. it has the strong sweet, sour tangy flavors. can i use that as substitute for plum extract? maybe add some water to make a paste when plum extract is needed?
I’ve been trying to find a good recipe for this! Most of the ones that I’ve seen leave me with more questions. You’ve answered everything. Thank you.
I tried to leave a 5 star review but I couldn’t. Your post says ‘no reviews’ on Google. I think there is some problem that people can’t leave reviews on your recipe.
I saw on your video that your green plum fermentation for 3 years already. Is it in the refrigerator after 1 year or just continuous fermenting outside the refrigerator? I hope for your reply. Thank you. I am excited to start making my plum syrup.
Hi! I am from the Philippines. And right now I am dong the fermentation d the plum. You mentioned that it can be up to more than a year that plum soak inside the sugar syrup. But on your video I saw the word 3 years. Does it mean you can continung soaking up to 3 years? I hope for your answer. Thank you
Yes! This recipe gets better and better longer you let it sit.
Hello! I’m from Ph as well. Just wanna know where did you buy your plums? Thanks~
Hello Grace, I bought my green plum from fb marketplace. Just type green plum. Got it for 400.00 pesos for 500gms.
I love your recipes so much! I would love to spend a week making everything and getting my pantry stocked with yummy fermenting delicacies. 선생님 감사합니다!
I made it and i forgot if you said it needs to be refrigerated or not. But to be safe i put it in the refrigerator.
Thanks
It should be stored in a dark cool spot like under your kitchen counter.
Hi, I watched your recipe and maangchi’s recipe nearly a 100 times each before trying it myself. But I think I having a problem with mine, the bottles are now bubbling up. Temperature where I live touches 42′ C. For now I have placed them in the fridge. They were in a cooler and darker cupboard earlier. Is this supposed to happen? If not can they be salvaged somehow? Thanks for the awesome recipe.
Is it possible to make this with monk fruit or stevia?
Yes ofc!
Can you do this process with other fruits?
I can’t get a hold of green plums so I’d like to use another fruit if possible.
You can use something like cranberries, but this will not have any of the health benefit nor the nutritional value since it is a different fruit. But if you would like to try this Maesilaek, you can purchase here : https://maesilhood.com/?ref=SEONKYOUNG Use my coupon code to get 10% OFF! My Coupon Code: SEONKYOUNG
Is it a specific variety of plum, or an underripe plum of any variety?
Thank you for the question.
It is a specific type of plum.
Korean green plum, Japanese ume or Chinese meizi.