4 Plum Opportunities For Your Cooking

From the end of May through October, you can likely find plenty of fresh, delicious plums at your local grocery store. These tasty stone fruits provide plenty of cooking possibilities for anyone enrolled in online culinary courses. Here are a few ideas to get you inspired:

1. Make your own jelly
If you have ever wanted to create your own jellies and jams, you can get started with plum. Martha Stewart Living gave directions that call for three pounds of the fruit. Remove the pits and place the plums in a saucepan on the stovetop with a cup and half of water.

After the water comes to a boil, bring it down to a simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Use a potato masher on the fruits and wait for them to become soft before moving them into a sieve set over a heat-proof bowl. Let them sit for about four hours and then strain a second time.

Boil the plum juice in a large pot, mixing in lemon juice, salt and sugar. Stir the mixture regularly as it cooks for eight to 12 minutes. Watch for the jelly to thicken and reach 221 degrees Fahrenheit. Take the foam off the top before placing the rest in jelly containers and cooling. Refrigerate the final product and your homemade spread will remain fresh for the next month.

 

2. Assemble a kebab
Plum makes a fantastic pairing with grilled chicken, which means it’s a perfect choice for a kebab. Real Simple advised bringing your grill to medium-high heat while soaking the skewers in water. Cut up the plums into quarters and skinless, boneless chicken thighs into pieces of about an inch and half.

Toss the fruit and meat in a bowl with olive oil, garlic, kosher salt and black pepper. Place the chicken and plums on skewers and grill on all sides for eight to 10 minutes. Once the chicken is fully cooked, season the kebabs with oregano and enjoy.

Plums are a great fruit to sub in for apricots and peaches.

3. Try a tart
Crafting a dessert with fresh fruit is always an excellent idea, especially if you’re taking online pastry courses. Bon Appetit offered a simple way to turn plums into an irresistible tart. First, cut a puff pastry into squares and set them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Use a fork to create some small holes.

Cut plums into wedges and add them to the pastry along with sugar and a sprinkle of pepper. Place the baking sheet in an oven set to 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes. About halfway through the baking process, rotate the pan. Watch for the edges to puff up and turn a golden brown. Put on the finishing touches of honey and sea salt before serving.

4. Enjoy a grilled sandwich
As Serious Eats demonstrated, a plum chutney can take a grilled pork sandwich to the next level.  This recipe also brings together boneless pork loin, flattened and seasoned with salt and pepper, and a slaw made with cabbage, vinegar and white miso.

To prepare the chutney, toss pitted plum halves with scallions, jalapeno, salt and vegetable oil. Grill the plums, peppers and scallions over a high heat for up to seven minutes, looking for them to grow charred and soft. Chop the jalapenos and scallions, and place them in a bowl with the plums before mixing in honey, mustard, mint leaves, salt, pepper and sugar. Grill the pork, allowing about three minutes on each side, and then assemble your sandwiches.

Try these ideas for incorporating fresh plums to liven up your recipes this summer, and then come up with some recipes of your own. You may find that you can do exceptional things with this fruit and your culinary academy training.

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