Plums are underappreciated members of the fruit world — probably because they have a bad reputation in their dried form. Prunes have a laxative effect, and people rarely turn to prune juice over apple or other fruit juices.
But fresh plums don’t bear any resemblance to dried prunes. They’re sweet, tart, and when perfectly ripe, biting into them is incredibly satisfying.
They’re also super healthy and filled with a ton of essential vitamins and minerals like calcium, vitamins C, A, and K, and magnesium.
Besides eating them fresh, how else can you enjoy the tasty, goodness of plums? Here are 25 yummy plum recipes to satisfy sweet and savory cravings.
Plum Recipes: Desserts
Plums are sweet and juicy, making them an ideal fresh fruit dessert ingredient. Here are some of our favorite plum recipes to enjoy after dinner.
Plum Cobbler
Because of their sweet, slightly tart flavor, plums are an excellent fruit for making desserts. As someone who isn’t super fond of peach cobbler, a plum version is something I can get behind. I find peaches to be cloyingly sweet but plums, with their slightly sour note, are perfectly balanced.
Plum Crisp
I have another confession to make. I don’t love apple-based desserts either. Apple pie? So boring. Apple turnovers? Please, give me raspberry turnovers instead.
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I feel the same way about apple crisp. I’ll eat it if I’m starving, but I usually skip it if there are other desserts on offer. I much prefer berry crisps, and I’m very much interested in trying out this plum version.
Honey Roasted Plums
Here’s a super simple, low effort dessert dish that lets the plums shine. Roasting them brings out even more sweetness but doesn’t dull the tart flavor.
Plum And Mascarpone Pie
I’m here for anything that involves mascarpone. The luxurious cheese is one I rarely get to indulge in but think about often. My mother-in-law makes a delicious carrot cake with mascarpone icing (I’m drooling just thinking about it).
Perfect Plum Muffins
Muffins are an ideal breakfast food, in my opinion. They’re easy to prep, and once they’re ready, you can enjoy them throughout the week. These plum muffins are filled with fruity goodness and have a rich, moist texture.
Vegan Upside-Down Plum Cake
I’m not vegan, but I’m a fan of vegan desserts because they always seem to have the perfect level of sweetness. This plum cake would taste great with an afternoon cup of tea or coffee.
Plum Recipes: Entrees
Similar to how peaches and apples can make wonderful additions to savory entrees, plums add a touch of sweetness to chicken, pork, and more. Check out some of our favorite plum recipes to enjoy as an entree.
Chinese Plum Chicken Stir Fry
This spicy dish utilizes plums for a sweet and sour punch. You could use any kind of meat in place of chicken, or swap the animal protein for tofu or tempeh.
Roasted Chickens With Plums
This is a dish that looks and tastes gourmet but isn’t as time consuming and tedious as one might think. The finished product is pretty and tasty enough for your next dinner party.
Roasted Pork Loin With Sweet Balsamic Plum Sauce
Pork is a protein that goes well with fruits of all kinds, plums included. Serve this with a light green salad for a satisfying, palette-pleasing meal.
Bourbon And Dried Plum Stuffed Pork Loin
I’m not a huge fan of alcoholic beverages, but I do love using booze for cooking. It adds a flavor factor that’s hard to get with other ingredients. The bourbon takes this recipe up a notch.
Grilled Top Round Steak With Plum Ginger Barbecue Sauce
Here’s a super simple dinner recipe that’s sure to please the whole family. The tangy, plum barbecue sauce infuses flavor without overpowering other components.
Sheet Pan Saffron Chicken And Plums
Try this sheet pan recipe for a quick weeknight dinner that won’t disappoint. I love sheet pan dinners because they minimize mess and make meal prep so darn easy.
Grilled Pork Chops With Plums, Halloumi, And Lemon
This vibrant recipe includes one of my favorite ingredients: halloumi cheese. The sturdy cheese holds up when heated and is great grilled or pan-fried. You could even create a vegetarian version of this meal without the pork since halloumi is so meaty.
Pork Loin With Plum Stuffing
Here’s a stuffed pork loin option with white wine as an ingredient. The stuffing includes a variety of tasty goodies including plums, marjoram, and oranges.
Roasted Cod With Soy Ginger Plum Salsa And Jasmine Rice
Yes, plums pair well with seafood, too. This sweet and spicy cod recipe includes a plum salsa that delivers a fresh, bright contrast to the fish.
Barbecued Beef Ribs
I’m planning on making ribs for the first time ever next week, and I’m definitely considering this recipe thanks to its inclusion of plums. Reading through the ingredients, I can almost taste the sweet, tangy sauce.
Pan Grilled Chicken With Fresh Plum Salsa
Here’s a recipe you can make tonight. It’s a perfect summertime barbecue recipe. Use fresh basil from the garden and enjoy with a lightly dressed side salad.
Plum Recipes: Salads And Appetizers
Sliced apples work well in salads, so it’s no surprise that plums do, too. Here are our favorite appetizer and salad plum recipes.
Cherry And Plum Bruschetta
I love a classy appetizer. Most finger foods are super easy to put together and feature high-impact ingredients. This hors d’oeuvre is no exception. I really dislike making breakfast and lunch because why bother messing up the kitchen when I’m going to make a big meal at dinner! But I’m all in for simple, easy-to-assemble appetizers for lunch.
Pork And Plum Kebabs
Here’s another easy weeknight meal option for a summertime barbecue evening. Marinate the pork in the Asian-inspired sauce, skewer the meat, fruit, and onions, then top with cilantro after cooking.
Spinach, Basil, And Plum Salad
This salad is a lighter option than some of the heavier meat dishes featured. It’s a great lunch idea. Add some protein, and it makes a great dinner, too.
Plum Salad With Black Pepper And Parmesan
This visually appealing salad incorporates just a handful of ingredients, but the end result is a flavor explosion. Sometimes all you need is a subtle flavor punch.
Arugula Salad With Plums And Parmesan
Arugula is the superior leafy green thanks to its pungent, spicy flavor. Pair peppery arugula with plums and parmesan, and you have an elegant dish on your hands.
Fruit ’N’ Cake Kebabs
I’m not sure about the addition of cake on the kabobs because I prefer savory skewered food to the sweet stuff, but I love grilling fruit. Plums are sturdy enough that they won’t fall apart when cooked, and they look pretty when grilled.
Plum Recipes: Sauces And Jams
If you have a lot of plums that you harvested and aren’t sure how to preserve them all, consider canning them in a sauce or jam. Here are our favorite sauce and jam plum recipes.
Asian Plum Sauce
This sweet and sour condiment is a delicious dipping sauce for egg rolls. As someone who cooks a ton of Asian food but dislikes store-bought condiments (they always taste so chemical-y), this is a recipe I need to try.
Easy Plum Jam
In general, I’m not a fruit-loving gal. I prefer vegetables and would pick a savory dish over a sweet one any day — to my husband’s disbelief. I do, however, love condiments including jams, because they’re versatile and can be used in savory recipes. I am very picky about my jams, though.
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First, I’m not fond of jellies because they taste too processed to me, and I prefer mixed berry and raspberry jams to other kinds. I also gravitate toward fancy jams made with nontraditional ingredients like lingonberry or cloudberry jams. Plum jam is another favorite of mine. If you have a lot of plums on your hands, make some jam. Either can it or freeze it for later.
Can You Freeze Plums?
If you have too many plums on your hands, you may be wondering if you can freeze them. Yes, you absolutely can! Frozen plums are best used within six months, and like frozen grapes, they taste good straight out of the freezer. Just make sure to freeze plums when they’re ripe. Wash them, remove the pits, and pop in the freezer.
Are Plums A Good Substitute For Dates?
Both are quite sweet — the riper the plum, the sweeter it is — but there’s a significant difference between dates and plums. Plums have a tart note while dates are purely sweet. Fresh plums don’t make a great substitute for dates but dried ones do since they’re sweeter than their fresh counterparts.
I love plums! This is such a great collection of how to use them in every type of dish! Thanks for sharing!