Prunes and their beneficial properties. Recipes for dishes with prunes. A simple recipe for making prune jam for the winter. What can you do with prunes?

The same recipes are suitable for prunes as for other dried fruits. On the website, recipes with photos will help you choose a dish with prunes to suit your taste. These can be desserts or baked goods, but recipes with prunes and meat are especially interesting. A classic combination is duck dishes with prunes. A few prunes can be added when preparing any meat stew.

Stuffed goose with apples, buckwheat and prunes does not require any additional side dish. It will be replaced by baked buckwheat soaked in apple and prune juice. The goose meat is so tender and juicy that it is eaten immediately. Cooking a bird is not at all

chapter: Goose recipes

Boiled beet salad with cheese, prunes and nuts is perhaps the most popular beet salad. The peculiarity of beets is that heat treatment does not destroy a large number of useful substances. But it will be better if you bake the beets in

chapter: Beet salads

It is very convenient to have homemade stew in your household supplies. Especially if this beef stew with pieces of prunes. It is suitable for preparing main dishes or snacks. For example, if you put a little beef carcass on dried pieces of bread

chapter: Beef dishes

Homemade sweets made from dried fruits and nuts are a healthy delicacy that can replace the usual store-bought sweets, delighting all lovers of natural products and adherents of healthy eating. Preparing such sweets is easy and simple, just enough

chapter: Candies

For a delicious prune pie, both fresh and dried berries are suitable. The baking recipe is simple, requires a minimum of effort, and the result will not disappoint. The pie turns out juicy, soaked in plum juice and with a crispy sugar crust.

chapter: Pies

Goose with prunes and apples turns out tender and juicy if baked in a sleeve. Sweet and sour apples and prunes will give the meat an extraordinary taste. The result is soft and tender meat, cooked in its own juice, soaked in apple juice.

chapter: Goose recipes

Meat prepared according to this recipe can be eaten with a spoon. Because it turns out so soft and juicy that it comes off the bones without the slightest effort on your part. Pork ribs with prunes in the oven simply transfer to a plate and serve

chapter: Pork recipes

Cooking pork ribs on the grill is very simple, like any barbecue. No special marinade recipe for meat is required, just take a juicy onion with salt and a little aromatic paprika. Some marinate meat for barbecue all night, but believe me,

chapter: Kebabs

Dried fruit compote has been familiar to everyone since childhood. It is prepared in kindergartens, school and student canteens. This drink perfectly quenches thirst in the heat and supports the immune system in winter. If you approach the recipe for making compote from

chapter: Compotes

The recipe for duck in tagine with prunes, figs and carrots will appeal to connoisseurs of oriental cuisine, where, as we already know, spices play a special role. A little ginger, ground turmeric, cumin and cinnamon, and the meat is not only stewed but fantastically soft in clay

chapter: Moroccan cuisine

A wonderful recipe for guinea fowl in tagine for lovers of spicy cuisine and juicy meat. Tagine dishes can be cooked both in the oven and on the stove. This recipe is perfect for the oven. Prepare the chermoula (shermula) marinade in advance so that the guinea fowl turns out not only juicy

chapter: Moroccan cuisine

You'll have to tinker with the duck galantine, but it's worth it. And by the way, cutting out a skeleton from a carcass is not as scary as it seems. It is imperative to use pork for the filling, and it must have streaks of lard. Then the finished galantine will be more tender than if

chapter: Duck recipes

Stewed chicken with prunes prepared according to this recipe is a very convenient thing to make around the house. If you don’t have any time to cook, just warm up the stew and add it to boiled buckwheat, rice or pasta. It turns out not only tasty, but also

chapter: Chicken dishes

Do you want delicious sweets, but don’t want to go to the store? Here's a recipe for low-budget no-bake mini brownies using affordable ingredients. Don't tell your guests in advance what your treat is made of. Let the prune filling be a surprise for them.

chapter: Candies

A simple and very tasty salad of seaweed and beets with the addition of dried prunes and walnuts. Unexpectedly, it turned out that sweetish beets go well not only with prunes and nuts, but also with canned seaweed.

chapter: Beet salads

A simple recipe for cooking meat for an appetizer. For “fruit chicken”, meaty breasts are flattened, beaten, seasoned with spices, and already in this form prunes, dried apricots and apples are added to them. The meat is baked for about 1 hour, during which the chicken breasts are not

chapter: Chicken breasts

For this layered salad, choose naturally smoked chicken (or chicken leg). Be sure to lightly season the vegetable layers of the salad and coat them with mayonnaise to make it juicy. Before serving, layered salad and smoked chicken, fresh

chapter: Chicken salads

The "Christmas" cake is based on gingerbread bread (Pain d'epices, Spiced Gingerbread) from Pierre Hermé. This is a sweet cake made from rye flour with honey and gingerbread spices. This cake is convenient to make in stages, and when assembled, it becomes more and more delicious every day

chapter: Rye pastries

Prunes have been known to everyone for a very long time. What can you cook from it?

What it is?

Essentially, prunes are dried plum fruits. But not every plum variety is suitable for drying; most often, Italian Hungarian is used for this purpose. Other varieties are also suitable, but remember that the pulp should be quite dense, fleshy and sweet, otherwise after drying, only the skin may remain, which, moreover, will be sour.

In general, plums are dried under natural conditions, and in this case the prunes turn out to be especially tasty and sweet. But sometimes ovens or special dryers are used, this is also quite acceptable. But unscrupulous producers flavor plums with enzymes and additives.

Compound

Prunes contain a lot of useful substances. Here are just a few of them: pectins, organic acids, fiber, proteins, starch, carbohydrates, fluorides, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, as well as vitamins E, K, A, C, B3, B6, B5, B9, B2 and B1. The calorie content of 100 grams of the product is about 230-250 calories (it depends on the type of plum and the sugar content in it).

Benefit

Let's list the beneficial properties of prunes:

This is an excellent source of energy. By eating just a handful of prunes, you will forget about hunger and get a boost of energy.
Such dried fruits are very useful for anemia, because they contain iron.
Potassium contained in the composition strengthens the heart muscle and normalizes the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Magnesium is necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system, so by regularly consuming prunes, you will get rid of depression, apathy, anxiety and other similar problems.
Fiber helps normalize digestion (it’s not for nothing that such dried fruits are recommended for people suffering from constipation).
Vitamin C, which is also included in the composition, firstly, strengthens the immune system and protects against frequent colds, and secondly, strengthens and tones the vascular walls, preventing the development of atherosclerosis.
Protein is a building material for all cells and tissues of our body. And it is especially necessary for the muscles.
Prunes normalize the water-soy balance and remove excess fluid.
B vitamins strengthen our nerves and normalize metabolism.
The composition contains antioxidants that protect body tissues from the negative effects of free radicals and prevent the development of cancer.
These dried fruits are useful for vitamin deficiencies.
Zinc has an anti-inflammatory effect, so prunes are useful for some inflammatory diseases.

Contraindications

Diabetics should not get carried away with prunes; they contain quite a lot of sugar. Also, do not take risks if you have kidney stones. For some intestinal diseases, you should also be careful.

How to make a choice?

How to choose prunes? Please pay attention to the following points:

High-quality and properly dried fruits are usually black in color with a slight shine. But a brown tint will be a signal of improper processing, namely scalding with boiling water to increase shelf life. A strong shine will indicate that the surface of the dried fruit has been treated with glycerin.
It is best to purchase prunes with pits. Firstly, there will be much less bacteria in it (after all, it is not a fact that the seeds were removed with clean, gloved hands), and secondly, the beneficial properties will be more numerous.
Soak the fruits in water for half an hour. High-quality ones will be covered in places with a white coating, but low-quality ones will not change the shade.
Prunes should smell like plums, but not moldy or musty.
The fruits should not be too hard, rather elastic and fleshy.
Prunes should not be very sticky, much less slippery.
There should be no cracks or stains on the surface.

What to cook?

What to cook with prunes? This dried fruit can be called universal, because almost anything can be prepared from it: desserts, side dishes, meat dishes, baked goods and even sauces.

We offer you several recipes.

Recipe one

Stewed prunes in sour cream with nuts are incredibly tasty. To prepare this dish you will need:

500 grams of prunes;
500 ml sour cream (medium fat);
100 grams of walnuts;
50 grams of sugar;
1 glass of water.

Cooking method:

First, rinse the prunes and pour boiling water over them for about 15-30 minutes (the exact time will depend on the degree of hardness of the dried fruit). Now drain the boiling water, cool the prunes and, making cuts (only on one side, there is no need to divide the fruits into halves), remove the seeds.
Place nuts in place of the pit. It will be better if they are whole, or rather divided into halves, but not crumbled into small pieces.
Now take a cauldron or pan with a thick bottom. Grease the bottom with butter.
Mix sour cream with water and sugar, stir until smooth.
Pour a little sour cream sauce onto the bottom of the pan (this will prevent the dried fruit from burning) and begin laying the prunes in even layers.
Pour off any remaining sour cream. But it would be better to pour the sauce over each layer of dried fruit.
Cover the pan with a lid and place in the oven, preheated to 170-180 degrees, for about 30 or 40 minutes.
Ready!

Recipe two

Chicken baked with prunes in the oven is appetizing and tasty. Here's what you'll need to prepare:

1 kilogram of chicken legs (you can take a whole carcass);
300 grams of prunes;
1 lemon;
salt, pepper and a wide variety of spices (you can use your favorite ones or those specially designed for cooking chicken);
3-4 tablespoons of vegetable oil.

Cooking method:

First you need to marinate the chicken. If you decide to use a whole carcass, then cut it into pieces. Wash the meat well and dry (you can use paper towels).
Now squeeze the juice from the lemon into a bowl, add 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil (leave a little to grease the baking sheet), pepper, salt and seasonings. Mix everything.
Pour the resulting marinade over the chicken and leave for several hours.
Pour boiling water over the prunes, and when they soften, remove, cool and remove the seeds.
Place the marinated chicken on the bottom of a baking sheet (grease it with oil), place prunes between the pieces.
Place the baking sheet in the oven and cook for about 40-50 minutes at a temperature of 170-180 degrees.

Recipe three

Beef with prunes turns out juicy. You will need the following ingredients

700-800 grams of beef;
2 onions;
200 grams of prunes;
1 carrot;
4 tablespoons of vegetable oil;
5 tablespoons of tomato paste;
5 bunches of dill;
salt and pepper to taste.

Cooking method:

First prepare the vegetables. Peel the onions and carrots. Finely chop the onion and grate the carrots. Fry everything together in vegetable oil, add tomato paste and simmer for a couple of minutes.
Rinse the beef and cut into small pieces, also fry.
Pour boiling water over the prunes for half an hour. If there are seeds, remove them.
Place all ingredients in a cauldron, cover it with a lid and put on fire for 40 minutes.
Add pepper, salt and herbs, simmer for another 10-20 minutes.
Ready! Serve with potatoes or rice.

Recipe four

Make a delicious salad with prunes, beets and walnuts. You will need:

2 fairly large beets;
100-150 grams of walnuts;
200 grams of prunes;
salt to taste;
sour cream or mayonnaise for dressing.

Cooking method:

The beets need to be boiled and peeled, then grated on a coarse or medium grater.
Pour boiling water over the prunes, cool and cut into small pieces.
Chop the walnuts a little (but not too much, their taste should be felt in the salad).
Mix all the ingredients, add salt, season the salad and mix it well.

Be sure to include prunes in your menu, they make very tasty dishes!

The fruits of the plum tree that have been dried are called prunes. Usually the Hungarian variety is used for this; it is used to make many sweets, including prune jam. Making prune jam for the winter is a great idea to provide all family members with a tasty product for the whole year. It doesn’t take very much time to make it, but every time you open the jar and enjoy the unsurpassed aroma, everyone is convinced that their efforts were not in vain.

There are many recipes for this dessert. Some of them are very simple, others are quite complex. But there is no doubt that each of them will help you prepare a truly delicious dessert that will not leave anyone indifferent.

Here are some tips to help you make delicious jam:

Plums are often attacked by insects. Because of this, it is necessary to ensure the integrity of the fruit if they are cooked with seeds.
Whole fruits should be pierced with a toothpick before cooking. This procedure will ensure good saturation with sugar syrup and will not allow the fruits to crack.
Plum jam should not be cooked for too long, because they are very tender and can turn into porridge.
It is not recommended to use unripe fruits; they will only spoil the future dessert. But overripe fruits will cause a fermentation process during storage.

Preparation of the main ingredient

To cook the delicacy, only the Hungarian variety is used. Only ripe fruits without signs of spoilage are selected. Next, they are thoroughly washed in warm water and then the seeds are removed from them through a small incision. If crushed fruits are used, they are cut completely.

When preparing jam from dried prunes, they should also be washed well, then pour boiling water over them and leave for half an hour to allow them to swell. If there are bones in them, they are removed in a steamed form.

Prune jam: 10 recipes

Many housewives, having decided to start making jam for the first time, then complain that the prunes have lost their shape and turned into an unsightly mass or are even burnt. But if you know some secrets and strictly follow the recipe, the dessert will turn out attractive in appearance and with amazing taste.

A simple five-minute recipe for the winter

Ingredients:

1 kg fresh prunes.
500 g granulated sugar.

Fruits are washed in warm water, pitted and placed in a pan. Sugar is poured on top, the container is set aside to release the juice for 24 hours.

The next day, the dishes with the future delicacy are placed on low heat and brought to a boil. After 5-10 minutes, remove the pan from the stove and cool.

The jam is poured into sterilized jars, they are rolled up with lids and stored in a suitable place.

With bones

To make jam you will need:

Prunes - 2 kg.
Sugar - 750 g.

The fruits are washed and dried. Then each of them is pierced with a toothpick. The prunes are transferred to an enamel container, covered with granulated sugar and left to infuse for 3 hours.

The pan is sent to the stove, where it is cooked until boiling over low heat. Then the power of the burner is increased, and the fruits are cooked for another 5 minutes with constant stirring to avoid burning. The foam is removed.

The jam is poured into jars and stored in a cool place. You should know that dessert from seeds absorbs harmful elements after a long time. Therefore, such a product cannot be stored for longer than 2 months.

Seedless

To make this plum delicacy, you need to prepare:

Prunes (weighed after pitting) - 1 kg.
Sugar - 1250 g.
Water - 400 ml.

Water and sugar are mixed in an enamel bowl, after which a thick syrup is boiled. It is then strained and brought to a boil again. Prunes are added to it and immediately removed from the stove.

After 3 hours, the pan is moved back to the oven. Boil the fruits in syrup for 10 minutes. And again after 3 hours the procedure is repeated.

Then wait another 3 hours, the jam is prepared for 5 minutes. The result is a fairly thick product that will be stored for a long time.

With nuts and cognac

To prepare a dessert with spicy notes, you should prepare the following ingredients:

Prunes, pitted - 1 kg.
Sugar - 750 g.
Walnuts - 100 g.
Cognac - 20 ml.

Half the fruits are covered with sugar (400 g) and left for 1 hour. The nuts are finely chopped with a knife, filled with water and also infused for 1 hour, and then the water is drained.

Place the pan with the fruit on low heat; after boiling, they cook for 20 minutes and stir regularly. Next, add the remaining sugar and nuts, and cook the jam for another 30 minutes.

Before the end of cooking, cognac is added and the dishes are removed from the stove. This dessert can be stored outside the refrigerator in sterilized jars.

With pumpkin

You need to cook the delicacy from the following ingredients:

Pumpkin pulp - 1 kg.
Unpeeled prunes - 1 kg.
Sugar - 500 g.
Nutmeg, cinnamon and vanillin - each spice 1 g.

The pumpkin is cut into cubes, the seeds are removed from the prunes, and its pulp is crushed into slices. Next, they are mixed, covered with sand and infused for 3 hours.

Prunes and pumpkin are cooked for 10 minutes, then after 8 hours the procedure is repeated and vanillin, cinnamon and nutmeg are added. Everything is mixed well and left for 1 hour.

Then the future jam is brought to a boil again, cooked for 5 minutes and put into jars.

With walnuts

Ingredients:

Peeled prunes - 2 kg.
Sugar - 1.5 kg.
Walnut kernel - 250 g.

The fruits are cut into halves, covered with sugar and left to infuse for 2 hours.

The nuts are crushed and lightly fried.

After the juice from the plums appears, the jam is cooked over low heat for half an hour, then nuts are added to it, and the process continues for another 20 minutes. The finished dessert is rolled into jars.

In Apple pie order

Absolutely everyone will love this delicious jam. To prepare it you need:

Prunes, pitted - 1.5 kg.
Sugar - 400 g.
Cocoa - 50 g.
Butter - 100 g.

Prunes are crushed in a blender, covered with sugar and left to infuse for 30 minutes. Then cook for half an hour over low heat.

Jars of this extraordinary delicacy must be stored in dark and cool places.

Sugarless

The following products are required for cooking:

Prunes - 2 kg.
Water - 150 ml.

The fruits are lightly pressed so that they crack a little and release juice. Then they are infused for 2 hours. Afterwards, the pan with plums is put on low heat. Cold water is added to it to avoid burning. After boiling, the mass is cooked for 15 minutes and cooled.

Every 6 hours the procedure is repeated two more times. Lovers of thick jam can increase the number of approaches up to 4 times.

Cinnamon

To prepare you need:

Prunes - 2 kg.
Sugar - 800 g.
Cinnamon - a quarter tsp.

The fruits are covered with sugar and infused for several hours until a sufficient amount of juice appears.

Then the pan with the future jam is moved to the stove and cooked over low heat for 15 minutes after the start of boiling.

Before rolling the jam, you need to boil it again for half an hour over low heat after it boils.

With apples

Ingredients:

Prunes - 500 g.
Apples - 600 g.
Sugar - 500 g.

The plums are cut into slices and the pits are discarded. The core of the apples is removed and they are also crushed.

All the prunes are poured into the prepared container, it is covered with half of the granulated sugar, and the apples are laid out on top.

Then the rest of the sugar is added and the pan is left overnight to allow the fruit to release its juice.

The resulting mass is placed on low heat and brought to a boil. It boils for about 7 minutes, but it is important not to let it boil too much. The future jam is constantly stirred and the foam is skimmed off.

The finished product is removed from the stove and cools at room temperature. Then the cooking procedure is repeated 1 or 2 more times. The hot dessert is poured into jars, which are pre-sterilized.

Prune jam pleases gourmets and sweet tooths with its amazing taste all year round. It's easy to prepare, and there are quite a lot of recipes.

It is best to store jars of jam in the refrigerator if there is little sugar in it. And if there are a lot, then you can keep them in a dark closet. To add piquancy to the product, cinnamon, orange zest, and nutmeg are added to it.

Prunes have been known to everyone for a very long time. What can you cook from it?

What it is?

Compound

Benefit

Let's list the beneficial properties of prunes:

This is an excellent source of energy. By eating just a handful of prunes, you will forget about hunger and get a boost of energy.
Such dried fruits are very useful for anemia, because they contain iron.
Potassium contained in the composition strengthens the heart muscle and normalizes the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Magnesium is necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system, so by regularly consuming prunes, you will get rid of depression, apathy, anxiety and other similar problems.
Fiber helps normalize digestion (it’s not for nothing that such dried fruits are recommended for people suffering from constipation).
Vitamin C, which is also included in the composition, firstly, strengthens the immune system and protects against frequent colds, and secondly, strengthens and tones the vascular walls, preventing the development of atherosclerosis.
Protein is a building material for all cells and tissues of our body. And it is especially necessary for the muscles.
Prunes normalize the water-soy balance and remove excess fluid.
B vitamins strengthen our nerves and normalize metabolism.
The composition contains antioxidants that protect body tissues from the negative effects of free radicals and prevent the development of cancer.
These dried fruits are useful for vitamin deficiencies.
Zinc has an anti-inflammatory effect, so prunes are useful for some inflammatory diseases.

Contraindications

Diabetics should not get carried away with prunes; they contain quite a lot of sugar. Also, do not take risks if you have kidney stones. For some intestinal diseases, you should also be careful.

How to make a choice?

How to choose prunes? Please pay attention to the following points:

High-quality and properly dried fruits are usually black in color with a slight shine. But a brown tint will be a signal of improper processing, namely scalding with boiling water to increase shelf life. A strong shine will indicate that the surface of the dried fruit has been treated with glycerin.
It is best to purchase prunes with pits. Firstly, there will be much less bacteria in it (after all, it is not a fact that the seeds were removed with clean, gloved hands), and secondly, the beneficial properties will be more numerous.
Soak the fruits in water for half an hour. High-quality ones will be covered in places with a white coating, but low-quality ones will not change the shade.
Prunes should smell like plums, but not moldy or musty.
The fruits should not be too hard, rather elastic and fleshy.
Prunes should not be very sticky, much less slippery.
There should be no cracks or stains on the surface.

What to cook?

What to cook with prunes? This dried fruit can be called universal, because almost anything can be prepared from it: desserts, side dishes, meat dishes, baked goods and even sauces.

We offer you several recipes.

Recipe one

Stewed prunes in sour cream with nuts are incredibly tasty. To prepare this dish you will need:

500 grams of prunes;
500 ml sour cream (medium fat);
100 grams of walnuts;
50 grams of sugar;
1 glass of water.

Cooking method:

First, rinse the prunes and pour boiling water over them for about 15-30 minutes (the exact time will depend on the degree of hardness of the dried fruit). Now drain the boiling water, cool the prunes and, making cuts (only on one side, there is no need to divide the fruits into halves), remove the seeds.
Place nuts in place of the pit. It will be better if they are whole, or rather divided into halves, but not crumbled into small pieces.
Now take a cauldron or pan with a thick bottom. Grease the bottom with butter.
Mix sour cream with water and sugar, stir until smooth.
Pour a little sour cream sauce onto the bottom of the pan (this will prevent the dried fruit from burning) and begin laying the prunes in even layers.
Pour off any remaining sour cream. But it would be better to pour the sauce over each layer of dried fruit.
Cover the pan with a lid and place in the oven, preheated to 170-180 degrees, for about 30 or 40 minutes.
Ready!

Recipe two

Chicken baked with prunes in the oven is appetizing and tasty. Here's what you'll need to prepare:

1 kilogram of chicken legs (you can take a whole carcass);
300 grams of prunes;
1 lemon;
salt, pepper and a wide variety of spices (you can use your favorite ones or those specially designed for cooking chicken);
3-4 tablespoons of vegetable oil.

Cooking method:

First you need to marinate the chicken. If you decide to use a whole carcass, then cut it into pieces. Wash the meat well and dry (you can use paper towels).
Now squeeze the juice from the lemon into a bowl, add 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil (leave a little to grease the baking sheet), pepper, salt and seasonings. Mix everything.
Pour the resulting marinade over the chicken and leave for several hours.
Pour boiling water over the prunes, and when they soften, remove, cool and remove the seeds.
Place the marinated chicken on the bottom of a baking sheet (grease it with oil), place prunes between the pieces.
Place the baking sheet in the oven and cook for about 40-50 minutes at a temperature of 170-180 degrees.

Recipe three

Beef with prunes turns out juicy. You will need the following ingredients

700-800 grams of beef;
2 onions;
200 grams of prunes;
1 carrot;
4 tablespoons of vegetable oil;
5 tablespoons of tomato paste;
5 bunches of dill;
salt and pepper to taste.

Cooking method:

First prepare the vegetables. Peel the onions and carrots. Finely chop the onion and grate the carrots. Fry everything together in vegetable oil, add tomato paste and simmer for a couple of minutes.
Rinse the beef and cut into small pieces, also fry.
Pour boiling water over the prunes for half an hour. If there are seeds, remove them.
Place all ingredients in a cauldron, cover it with a lid and put on fire for 40 minutes.
Add pepper, salt and herbs, simmer for another 10-20 minutes.
Ready! Serve with potatoes or rice.

Recipe four

Make a delicious salad with prunes, beets and walnuts. You will need:

2 fairly large beets;
100-150 grams of walnuts;
200 grams of prunes;
salt to taste;
sour cream or mayonnaise for dressing.

Cooking method:

The beets need to be boiled and peeled, then grated on a coarse or medium grater.
Pour boiling water over the prunes, cool and cut into small pieces.
Chop the walnuts a little (but not too much, their taste should be felt in the salad).
Mix all the ingredients, add salt, season the salad and mix it well.

Be sure to include prunes in your menu, they make very tasty dishes!

Sep 27, 2015 Olga

Description of prunes, their composition and calorie content. Benefits, expected harms and contraindications for use. What dishes can you cook with it?

The content of the article:

Prunes are a dried fruit that can be prepared from the fruits of any plum, a plant belonging to the Rose family (Rosaceae), which has a wonderful sweetish-sour taste. The raw materials for the production of this product are grown in the central and southern parts of Russia, the Caucasus, Ukraine and Moldova. Currently, the largest producers of prunes are Argentina, France, Spain, the USA, and Chile. But the highest quality and most expensive dried fruit is produced in the state of California. There are approximately 250 types of plums in the world, which in dried form are the product we are considering.

Composition and calorie content of prunes

High calorie content, an abundance of valuable elements and vitamins, organic acids, fructose, sucrose and glucose - all this makes dried fruit an unusually useful product for our body.

The calorie content of prunes is 256 kcal per 100 g of product, of which:

Proteins - 2.3 g;
Fats - 0.7 g;
Carbohydrates - 57.5 g;
Dietary fiber - 9 g;
Organic acids - 3.5 g;
Water - 25 g;
Ash - 2 g.

Vitamins per 100 g:

Vitamin A, RE - 10 mcg;
Beta Carotene - 0.06 mg;
Vitamin B1, thiamine - 0.02 mg;
Vitamin B2, riboflavin - 0.1 mg;
Vitamin C, ascorbic acid - 3 mg;
Vitamin E, alpha tocopherol - 1.8 mg;
Vitamin RR, NE - 1.7 mg;
Niacin - 1.5 mg.

Macroelements per 100 g:

Potassium, K - 864 mg;
Calcium - 80 mg;
Magnesium, Mg - 102 mg;
Sodium, Na - 10 mg;
Phosphorus, P - 83 mg.

Of the microelements, prunes contain only iron, Fe, in an amount of 3 mg per 100 grams of product.

Digestible carbohydrates per 100 g:

Starch and dextrins - 0.6 g;
Mono- and disaccharides (sugars) - 56.9 g.

100 g of product contains 0.1 g of saturated fatty acids.

Beneficial properties of prunes

The importance and significance of any product depends on the benefits it brings to people. The dried fruit we are considering is, first of all, widely used in cooking, but having considerable healing properties, it has also found its use in medicine.

Let's look at the benefits of prunes:

Combating anemia and vitamin deficiency. High calorie content, as well as a number of vitamins and other elements, replenish the vitamin balance. In addition, iron has a beneficial effect on the body in case of these ailments.
Boosting immunity. This is due to the antioxidants contained in prunes. It also contains such an important compound as ascorbic acid.
Preventive effects against infectious and colds. The product, having antibacterial properties, has a positive effect on the body in these diseases. In addition, these dried fruits are natural immunomodulators, which increase its resistance to various infections. The prepared extract from dried plums prevents the proliferation of salmonella, staphylococci and E. coli.
Fighting gastrointestinal diseases. Thanks to potassium in the product, the acid-base balance is normalized. B vitamins and fiber contribute to normal metabolism. Consuming 5-6 berries a day - and the problem with constipation will be solved without much effort and without taking chemicals. In addition, these dried fruits are beneficial for any stomach discomfort.
Decreased pressure. With constant consumption of prunes, the likelihood of hypertension will disappear.
Positive effect on the nervous system organs. B vitamins and potassium help cope with anxiety of various types and prevent stress.
Prevention of heart and vascular diseases. Consumption of prunes helps cleanse blood vessels, strengthen their walls, and also prevents the development of atherosclerosis. This happens thanks to potassium, which is part of this product.
Increased appetite. The chemical composition of dried fruit promotes the abundant secretion of gastric juice, thereby causing a strong desire to eat. For this reason, the product is included in diets aimed at weight gain.
Prevention of cancer. Prunes contain a large amount of antioxidants that neutralize the negative effects of free radicals on the body's cells. Consumption of dried plums has a preventive effect on malignant tumors. They have a particularly positive effect on the microflora of the distal rectum and the number of aberrant crypts.
Fighting kidney and liver diseases. This occurs due to the diuretic and choleretic effects of prunes on the body. Consumption of these dried fruits is beneficial for cholelithiasis.
Vision restoration. A large amount of vitamin A (retinol) and carotene in this product helps restore the functions of the visual organ.
Protection against oral diseases. Consuming prunes helps relieve gum inflammation and prevents the formation of tartar and caries.
Stimulating effect on brain function. High calorie content, a large amount of vitamins and minerals in prunes - all this helps to increase the body's performance and relieve fatigue.
Fighting excess weight. Consumption of dried fruit helps remove harmful cholesterol from the body. The fruits contain a sufficient amount of fiber, which creates a feeling of fullness.
Strengthening Bones. A dozen prunes a day will help prevent brittle bones, especially in older people and women during menopause, when there is a risk of osteoporosis.

Harm and contraindications to the use of prunes

However, despite the presence of a number of positive properties, prunes are not suitable for all people to consume. Who should refrain from including this product in their diet:

Patients suffering from obesity. Due to the high calorie content and the presence of sugar in this dried fruit, it should not be consumed in large quantities by this category of people.
For patients with diabetes. Again, both the high calorie content and sugar in prunes make them a product that should be eaten in small doses if you have such health problems.
Breastfeeding women. The dried fruit acts as a laxative, so it can cause stomach upsets and colic in babies.

How to cook prunes

To prepare this product, you need to select ripe, or better yet, overripe sweet plum fruits, most often the Renklod or Hungarian varieties. First, wash them thoroughly and remove the seeds if desired. It should be noted that prunes with pits have more useful substances.

Next, we make a soda solution (in the proportion of 100 g of soda per 10 liters of water) and blanch the plums in it at a temperature of 90 degrees for 20-30 seconds. After this, we rinse the fruits with hot water and begin to dry them. To make prunes both tasty and healthy, you need to carefully monitor the temperature of the drying process.

It will take place in three stages. First, place the baking sheet with plums in the oven (50 degrees) for 3-4 hours. Then we take it out, mix the fruits (you need to be extremely careful, because the product is very hot), cool it, heat our stove to 70 degrees this time and put a baking sheet in it for 5 hours. Remove again, mix, cool and place in the oven for 4 hours at 90 degrees.

Our product is ready! They are much healthier than store-bought prunes, which are often coated with various substances to make them look more beautiful.

Recipes with prunes

Prunes not only bring considerable benefits to our body, but also give dishes an unusually refined taste. Salads, sauces, drinks, and baked goods with it will add a touch of celebration to your table. And cooked meat with the addition of these dried fruits has a spicy and appetizing aroma and a sour-sweet taste, be it chicken, beef or pork.

Recipes with prunes for various dishes:

Salad “Beets with prunes”. First, wash and boil 3-4 beets. Once the beets have cooled, peel them and grate them on a coarse grater. After this, grind 100 g of walnuts and fry them to obtain a pleasant aroma and better taste. Then wash 150 g of prunes and chop coarsely. Mix all ingredients in a bowl, season with 4-5 tablespoons of mayonnaise and salt to taste. You can add 1 clove of garlic for a spicy taste (optional).
Salad with prunes and chicken. We choose a form for our dish. We will grease each layer in it with mayonnaise (we will take it to taste). So, the first layer is smoked chicken breast cut into strips (350 g). Then chop 6 yolks and place on the meat. We will prepare the next layer from pitted prunes (300 g) pre-soaked in boiling water. After this, fry 300 g of champignons with 1 onion, and this will be our fourth layer. Now cut 1 fresh cucumber into strips and place in a dish. Decorate the top with chopped 6 egg whites. Bon appetit!
Salad “Kiss of a Lover”. First, prepare all the components. Boil 4 beets and grate coarsely. We also boil 2 carrots and three on a medium grater. Wash 1 cup of prunes and 0.5 cups of raisins. Now let's start preparing the salad. Let's prepare a beautiful form, maybe transparent. Prepare the first layer from raisins with carrots and season with mayonnaise. Then grate 200 g of hard cheese and mix it with 3 cloves of garlic, passed through a garlic press, and season these ingredients with mayonnaise. Place the garlic-cheese layer on top of the carrot layer. Next, mix the beets with prunes, add mayonnaise and spread in a third layer. You can sprinkle nuts on top.
Stewed chicken with prunes. Wash 1 chicken carcass or large chicken and cut into portions. Sprinkle with pepper and salt to taste. Peel and grate 1 carrot. Peel and cut 1 onion into rings. Fry vegetables in a deep frying pan for 3 minutes (30 g of vegetable oil). In a separate frying pan, fry the pieces of meat for a couple of minutes and combine them with onions and carrots. Add 20 prunes (without seeds) to the bowl. We make the sauce this way: mix 1 cup of sour cream with 3 cups of water and pour this mixture over the chicken and vegetables. Season with pinches of caraway seeds and nutmeg, allspice (7 peas) and bay leaves (2 leaves). Simmer the dish over low heat for 40 minutes.
. Fill pitted prunes (150 g) with water for 20 minutes, strain out the liquid and cut the dried fruits into pieces. Pour 50 ml of vegetable oil into a cauldron, add chopped onions (500 g) and fry them for 10 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of flour and 1 liter of water, bring to a boil. In another bowl we will fry 1400 g of boneless beef, previously cut into medium-sized pieces. Place the meat in the onion sauce and simmer for 30 minutes. Add prunes and continue to simmer for 20 minutes. Season with spices: 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, nutmeg, pepper and salt to taste. This meat goes well with a side dish of rice.
Prune pie. First you need to beat 150 g of butter (room temperature) with 120 g of sugar to the consistency of cream. Then add 1 egg, then 3 yolks and beat the dough again. Add 150 g of flour, a pinch of salt and 1 teaspoon of baking powder (add it as desired, this is an optional component). Mix all products thoroughly. Place the dough in a greased pan. Place prepared prunes (washed and soaked in alcohol) on top. You can put the pie in the refrigerator for 2 hours, this will make it crumbly. Bake at 180 degrees for 40 minutes.
Curd pie with prunes. First of all, wash and dry the prunes with a towel. Then we cut it and unfold it. After this, use your hands to rub 1.5 cups of flour with 2 tablespoons of sugar, 100 g of butter and 1 teaspoon of vanilla sugar until crumbs form. Place half of them in a pan greased with vegetable oil and press slightly to the bottom of the dish. Place prunes on top. After this, use a blender to mix 270 g of cottage cheese, 2 yolks, 5 tablespoons of sugar, 200 g of sour cream. Beat 2 egg whites in a separate bowl. We combine both masses into one and pour it onto a layer of prunes, pour the remaining crumbs on top. Bake in the oven at 180 degrees for 40 minutes. Eat for your health!
Cake with prunes. First, let's prepare the dough. Grind 4 yolks from 1 glass of sugar and add this to soft butter (100 g). Then add 1 tablespoon of sour cream, 1.5 cups of wheat flour, salt to taste and 1 teaspoon of baking powder (you can use 0.5 teaspoon of soda instead). Knead the dough thoroughly, divide it into 3 parts, pump out the cakes and bake them in the oven. Let's start preparing the cream. We wash the prunes and pass them through a meat grinder. Beat 100 g of soft butter with? cups of powdered sugar. Add 100 g of sour cream, which must first be beaten with 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. Add this mass to the prunes and add chopped walnuts (100 g). The cream is ready! We coat the cakes with it, and coat the sides with whipped egg white and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. Decorate the top with grated chocolate and nuts. Place the cake in the refrigerator to soak overnight.
Compote with prunes. Dissolve 1 glass of granulated sugar in 1 liter of boiled water. Pour 300 g of washed prunes into the syrup and cook for 20 minutes. You can add the juice of 1 lemon to this drink, which will make it even healthier and tastier.
“Smoked” mulled wine with prunes. Pour 50 ml of cherry juice into a saucepan and pour 5 g of large-leaf tea into it. Heat on fire, but do not boil. We insist for 5 minutes. Add 5 g of ground cinnamon, 150 ml of dry red wine, 20 g of honey, half an orange (chopped) and 4 prunes. Heat again over the fire, but do not boil. We insist this time for 15 minutes. The drink is ready! It will help you relax after a working day or warm up in cold weather.
Porridge with prunes. First of all, wash 0.5 cups of prunes and steam them in boiling water. Then cook the porridge in this way: pour 1 cup of millet with 2 cups of water in a saucepan, add sugar to taste and cook, stirring constantly. Grind 2 tablespoons of nuts, add them to the porridge, add butter to taste. Mix everything. Add prunes and mix again. The porridge is ready! Eat and be healthy!

Both the culinary possibilities and the healing effects of prunes on the body have been known since ancient times. People began growing plums, from which this product is made, in the 6th century BC. But the Hungarian variety is best suited for drying. It got its name because this plum was the main fruit tree in Hungary. There was even a special approach to collecting fruits: they were not removed from the branches, but waited until they were overripe and almost limp and fell to the ground.

Plums were brought to Russia from Europe in the 17th century during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich. At first, the prunes themselves and dishes with them were served only to kings, nobles and famous military commanders. Our ancestors believed that this product had a positive effect on the human body and was much more useful and effective than any medicine.

And there are several legends about the appearance of plums in Europe. The first says that Alexander the Great brought many valuable trophies from his campaigns of conquest: gold, precious stones, spices, and also several plum trees. If you believe another story, then these plants were brought to Europe, or rather to Rome, by the commander Gnaeus the Great. Since then, plums have spread throughout the world. But there is no information about when and by whom they were dried.

These dried fruits are used in many cuisines around the world. The North African dish tajine is prepared with prunes. And when preparing traditional Jewish food, tzimmes, this product is also used. Scandinavians serve prune jelly with rice porridge at Christmas. Norwegians love to eat fruit soup, which contains dried plums. Danish baked goods made with these dried fruits are popular in New York City and other coastal regions of the eastern United States. And in the Dominican Republic, prunes are an ingredient in ice cream.

Watch a video about prunes:

So, prunes are not only a tasty component of many dishes and a substitute for harmful medications, but also an independent delicacy with a wonderful sourness. Currently, it is not a problem to buy it in stores, supermarkets and markets. One can argue about the benefits of products purchased there, because prunes are often treated with both glycerin (dark gray shiny color) and some kind of fat (the product shines). And this is not always useful. Therefore, to obtain a tasty product that has a beneficial effect on the body, you need to make it yourself.