What can I do with unripe damsons?

[StripyCarpets]

I’ve just been gifted LOADS of unripe damsons, they are all mostly dark coloured with a bit of pink but very hard. The tree split under their weight and I am a beneficiary.
I don’t really know what to do with them, and I don’t want to spend hours stoning them and making jellies etc if they won’t be any good.

Any damson experts? Tia

Pelt your enemies with them.

Apparently you can turn them into pickle or jam when they’re unripe. I’ve never tried either of these but there are recipes on Google from BBC Good food website. Worth a try as the alternative is to compost them or as above, turn them in to rudimentary weapons to spite your foes.

Here you go, this is ChatGPTs opinion on what you can make that’s tasty and not too expensive:

Sweet Recipes

Damson Jam (or Jelly)

• Cost: Low (just sugar + damsons).
• Boil damsons with water, remove stones (they’ll pop out), add sugar (about equal weight to pulp), then simmer until thick.
• Cheap and stores well; perfect for toast or baking.

Damson Chutney

• Cost: Low (vinegar, onions, sugar, spices).
• Simmer damsons with chopped onion, vinegar, sugar, and spices (ginger, cloves, cinnamon). Great with cheese, meats, or curries.
• Tip: Unripe damsons work even better than ripe because of their tartness.

Damson Syrup or Cordial

• Simmer damsons with sugar and water, strain, and bottle. Use for drinks, pancakes, or over porridge.
• You can even ferment this slightly to make a light “damson soda.”

Damson Crumble or Pie (with extra sugar)

• Mix chopped unripe damsons with sugar and a bit of flour/cornstarch, then bake under a crumble topping. Their tartness balances beautifully with sweet crumble.

🥘
Savory Recipes

Damson Sauce for Meat

• Simmer damsons (stones removed) with onions, vinegar, sugar, and a splash of soy sauce or stock.
• Perfect for pork, duck, or sausages.

Damson Ketchup

• Like tomato ketchup but with damsons—blend stewed damsons with vinegar, sugar, and spices (cinnamon, clove, pepper). Bottle and keep for months.

🍶
Drinks/Preserves
Damson Gin/Vodka

• Fill a jar halfway with damsons (prick with a fork), add sugar, then top with gin or vodka. Shake occasionally, leave for a few months.
• Super easy and keeps forever.

Damson Wine (very cheap if you have a lot)

• Steep damsons with sugar and yeast in a bucket, ferment, then bottle. Tart fruits like damsons make lovely country wines.

I don’t want to spend hours stoning them
If making damson jam in the normal way then you don't need to stone them. When you have finished all the cooking you take the pan off the heat and leave the stones to rise to the surface of their own accord. You won't need to be too precious about this process as you have an excess of fruit.
I have no idea if this works with underripe fruit.

Make damson sauce. It's nice as a condiment or can be added to stews etc to give oomph (like you would with Worcester sauce, HP sauce etc). Watered down a bit, it is a great dupe for hoisin sauce.

Damson chutney is fantastic !

By the way, damsons are high in pectin (the more underripe, the more pectin) so you will get a good set on your jam. No need to add any apple, which only spoils it anyway by muddying the lovely clear jam.

Thank you all! Much appreciated.