Magiun

Magiun de prune is a traditional Romanian plum preserve made without added sugar. This profile follows Romanian food writer Joanna's family-style version, which relies entirely on ripe plums and patient reduction.

Slow cooking concentrates the fruit's natural sweetness and tartness, developing a deep caramelised plum flavour without spices, sugar or other additions.

The finished magiun is dark purple-brown, glossy and much thicker than ordinary jam. It forms a dense, spoonable paste with small traces of softened fruit rather than a bright, loose gel.