America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Roasted Plums with Dried Cherries and Almonds

By Sarah Mullins

Published on July 9, 2014

Time

55 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Roasted Plums with Dried Cherries and Almonds

Ingredients

2 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter 4 ripe but firm plums (4 to 6 ounces each), halved and pitted1 ¼ cups dry white wine ½ cup dried cherries ⅓ cup (2 ⅓ ounces/66 grams) sugar ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon ⅛ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon lemon juice ⅓ cup sliced almonds, toasted

Before You Begin

This recipe works equally well with red or black plums. The fruit can be served as is or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of plain Greek yogurt.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Melt 1½ tablespoons butter in ovensafe 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Place plum halves, cut side down, in skillet. Cook, without moving them, until plums are just beginning to brown, about 3 minutes.
  2. Transfer skillet to oven and roast plums for 5 minutes. Using tongs, flip plums and continue to roast until fork easily pierces fruit, about 5 minutes longer (skillet handle will be hot).
  3. Using tongs, transfer plums to platter. Return skillet to medium-high heat and add wine, cherries, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Bring to vigorous simmer, whisking to scrape up any browned bits. Cook until sauce is reduced and has consistency of maple syrup, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in lemon juice.
  4. Pour sauce over plums, sprinkle with almonds, and serve.
Roasted Plums with Dried Cherries and Almonds

Roasted Plums with Dried Cherries and Almonds

Save

Time

55 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

2 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter
4 ripe but firm plums (4 to 6 ounces each), halved and pitted
1 ¼ cups dry white wine
½ cup dried cherries
⅓ cup (2 ⅓ ounces/66 grams) sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
⅓ cup sliced almonds, toasted

Ingredients

2 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter
4 ripe but firm plums (4 to 6 ounces each), halved and pitted
1 ¼ cups dry white wine
½ cup dried cherries
⅓ cup (2 ⅓ ounces/66 grams) sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
⅓ cup sliced almonds, toasted

Ingredients

2 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter
4 ripe but firm plums (4 to 6 ounces each), halved and pitted
1 ¼ cups dry white wine
½ cup dried cherries
⅓ cup (2 ⅓ ounces/66 grams) sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
⅓ cup sliced almonds, toasted

Why This Recipe Works

Roasted fruit can easily become colorless and mushy or burned and crunchy without a correct method. By starting our fruit over direct heat we were able to evaporate some of the juices released by the fruit that would otherwise get in the way of proper caramelization. Finishing the fruit in the oven allows the ambient heat to cook through the fruit while the fruit continues to darken in color.

Before You Begin

This recipe works equally well with red or black plums. The fruit can be served as is or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of plain Greek yogurt.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Melt 1½ tablespoons butter in ovensafe 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Place plum halves, cut side down, in skillet. Cook, without moving them, until plums are just beginning to brown, about 3 minutes.
  2. Transfer skillet to oven and roast plums for 5 minutes. Using tongs, flip plums and continue to roast until fork easily pierces fruit, about 5 minutes longer (skillet handle will be hot).
  3. Using tongs, transfer plums to platter. Return skillet to medium-high heat and add wine, cherries, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Bring to vigorous simmer, whisking to scrape up any browned bits. Cook until sauce is reduced and has consistency of maple syrup, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in lemon juice.
  4. Pour sauce over plums, sprinkle with almonds, and serve.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.