7 healthy ways to eat plums

Source: Best Health Magazine, September 2012; Image credit: iStockphoto.com

Taste of the Middle East: Kick chicken stew up a notch by adding prunes. Your dinner guests will be impressed by how much texture and flavour they add to hearty dishes.

Dessert done healthy: Poach plums in red wine and sprinkle with grated lemon zest for a dessert that will sit easy in your tummy. So sophisticated, yet easy to prepare, you might just choose it over chocolate cake.

Chicken salad with a twist: Shred cooked chicken breast and stir in low-fat yogurt. Add diced plums and sliced snow peas, plus fresh basil. It makes a great sandwich filler for workday lunches.

Plum print cookies: If you’d normally use jarred strawberry jam to fill thumbprint cookies, next time you go shopping look for plum preserves to try instead.

Homemade plum sauce: To make your own delicious topping for meats, or to complement a cheese tray, peel and blend juicy plums with a bit of cinnamon and other spices (try turmeric, nutmeg or ginger).

An easy crostini: For a simple appetizer, brush baguette rounds with some olive oil and bake for five minutes. Top with a mixture of goat cheese and a handful of finely chopped prunes.

Powerhouse smoothie: Pit, peel and slice plums (or use prunes soaked in boiled water if you have already prepared some). Blend with fresh or frozen blueberries, vanilla yogurt and a little skim milk.

This article was originally titled "Plum perfection" in the September 2012 issue of Best Health. Subscribe today to get the full Best Health experience’and never miss an issue!