Sour Plums

Extremely tart little dried plums, known as arasiya, are traditionally used to lend sourness to broths and stews. As these plums are now scarce, pomegranate molasses—available in Middle Eastern groceries—is a good substitute. We find that adding prunes and pomegranate molasses to recipes calling for dried plumsis ideal: The prunes provide the sweetness, the pomegranate the sourness.