My grandmother has the most amazing raspberries and plums growing in her backyard. These same plums are behind the amazing homemade śliwowica (plum brandy/life elixir) that my cousins make, but that’s for another time!

^where some of the magic happens^

This recipe is simple but has a lot of good flavors, and can be used as an accompaniment to meats and other dishes. Just use the most sour plums you can find in your grocery store. I used damson plums so that’s what I put in the ingredient list below.

Ingredients:

• 1 large Spanish onion (chopped)
• 3 damson plums (cubed) (or 2 larger plums of another variety that have some sour flavors)
• 1 clove of garlic (minced)
• 3 tbsp. of raisins
• 1 tsp. of sugar
• 1/3 tsp. of salt
• 3 tbsp. of red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. of dried thyme (or spice mix that contains thyme/rosemary)

Directions:

In a small pan, heat a teaspoon of oil or butter on low-medium heat. Once heated, add the chopped onion and salt and sauté for about 8 minutes, or until they have softened. Cube the plums and add them to the pan along with the minced garlic. Bring the heat up to medium and let everything cook for another 7-10 minutes, or until the plums begin to break down a little.

Then, add the sugar, vinegar, raisins, and thyme/spices and cook until the vinegar reduces down, which will be about another 7 minutes. At this point, you should taste the relish and adjust any seasoning based on your taste. Turn off the heat and your relish is ready!