Last week I was very lucky to cook with the legendary chef Rosemary Shrager in celebration of California Prunes! I am a prune lover, always have been, always will. However they sometimes get a bad image when really they are gorgeous, squidgy, sweet, melt in the mouth gooiness.
One of the recipes I made last week was California Prune and Wheaten Bread which is soooo easy to make I thought I would share it. It tastes amazing too!
I also made a really tasty Chicken Breast with California Prunes, Liver and Rosemary…oh my goodness, lip smacking tasty! I will definitely be making this again…plus I learned how to make my first chicken ballotine! I was very lucky that my cooking companion was a proficient ballotine maker.
This is not a quick recipe but well worth the effort, especially if you are entertaining. One of the many virtue of prunes is that they are extremely versatile…think about it, they can just about go with anything.
What I like about prunes is that they can be used as a natural replacement for some of the sugar in certain dishes such as cakes and desserts. They 
are also a great source of fibre (need a little help in the toilet? Eat a prune or two and see the difference).
Research by the University of Liverpool has concluded that eating prunes as part of a weight loss programme can improve weight loss. If you fancy something sweet to get rid of a sugar craving try a prune…just don’t eat the bag because after all every prune was once a plum and you wouldn’t eat a bag of plums would you?
Prunes are also a great source of potassium, vitamin B6, copper, vitamin K and manganese all essential for a healthy body.
We finished the meal off with a California Prune and White Chocolate Panna Cotta.
California Prune Facts
Apparently the production process of Californian prunes is one of the most quality-focused in the world using the most sophisticated harvesting and drying techniques in the world. Harvesting takes about three weeks starting around mid-August.
California prunes are allowed to ripen on the tree before being picked.
Harvested prunes are washed in spring water and put into dehydration on the same day.
Recent research shows a potential link between prunes and bone health.
Pureeing prunes can provide a healthy substitute to replace up to 30% of refined sugars in baking recipes.
Three prunes are one portion of our ‘five a day’.
California Prune and Wheaten Bread recipe
- 360g wholemeal, stoneground, medium or coarse flour
- 16 California Prunes chopped roughly, not too small
- 120g Plain flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 heaped tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tbsp bran
- 1 tbsp wheat or oat germ
- 60g sugar
- 60g butter
- 329ml-448ml buttermilk
- Preheat the oven to 220ºC
- Lightly grease two loaf tins (480g)
- Place the wholemeal flour in a bowl and sieve in the plain flour, salt and bicarbonate of soda
- Stir in the prunes, bran, germ and sugar and mix thoroughly
- Cut the butter into small cubes and rub into the mixture
- Make a well in the centre of the mixture and pour in the buttermilk, mix quickly and gently to form a loose dough.
- Divide the mixture between the tins and sprinkle with wholemeal flour or bran to give a malty surface
- Bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 220ºC and then lower heat to 200ºC for a further 30-35 minutes.
- The bread should be well risen, brown and firm to touch
Competition news
California Prunes have teamed up with the Rosemary Shrager Cookery School to encourage people to cook healthy and indulgent recipes using prunes. The winner will win a bread making masterclass for two with Rosemary Shrager, including travel and overnight accommodation plus the chance to have their recipe published in an e-recipe book. Ten runners up will win a £100 supermarket voucher.
For more information head over to here where recipes can be entered.
Disclosure: This recipe belongs to Rosemary Shrager’s and California Prunes but I have permission to reproduce it.
I have awhole bag of prunes, now I know what to do with them , this bread looks delicious.
Perfect! I hope you like it 🙂
Oh that loaf looks so good! I was hoping you’d share it ever since you tweeted about making it. I’m definitely trying it and popping it onto my bread pinterest board.
Can you shed some light on the large range of buttermilk needed? What does that depend on?
Hi Monika
It would be on the dryness of the mixture, when I have made other yeast free/soda bread I have tended to err on the wetter side. Let me know how you get on
Not too sure this would be for me, I really dislike the taste of prunes.
That’s a shame
I must admit I prunes are never on my shopping list but that bread a chicken looks really tasty
Ha, it’s not just you…let me know if you do and what you think
Ooh that bread sounds lovely- I love fruit bread warm with butter for breakfast!
Mmmm this would be lovely toasted 🙂
I love trying different kinds and bread. This one sounds delicious with the prunes in it!
Thank you, it was lovely. 🙂
The bread looks delicious although I have to admit I have never eaten a prune, probably because of the bad press they get!
What a shame…go and buy some! 😉
I must admit I dont think i have ever eaten a prune! However that bread looks amazing and definitely makes me want t try them.
Jess
owlcrazymummy.blogspot.co.uk
I am so surprised how many people haven’t, you must try 🙂
OOh this looks so lovely, not too big a fan of prunes on their own, but in something like this, I might like them x
I’m sure you would, they add a little sweetness but don’t have a distinctive taste
Yum that looks delicious and it’s amazing how much of the sugar the prunes replace – brilliant!
It is isn’t it
ooh what a fab event. I am not a great cook but would love to have more practise with an expert!
She was really attentive and I learned quite a bit
I don’t think I have ever eaten a prune! That bread does look and sound delicious though!
Oh no? You must try one 🙂
They look delicious thanks
Thank you
Oh my goodness now I feel so hungry! Such yummy looking food there!
Ooops sorry!
What a fabulous experience! I do love the look of the bread, will have to add it to my ever growing list of recipes to make one day! x
Haha, I know that feeling…so many great recipes out there 🙂
I can’t say prunes are something I like, but what an amazing experience to cook with Rosemary !
It was, you should try cooking with them you will probably be pleasantly surprised 🙂
Reading your post, I realised I’ve never cooked with prunes before. Not sure why so need to rectify that. I love the sound of these recipes, especially the chicken.
Oh no, you must try using them you will probably be surprised 🙂
Wish I could make chicken and panacotta to look like that. And bread! Bet it tasted scrumptious too.
IT WAS REALLY TASTY 🙂
I like prunes in savoury dishes like tagines and stews and think your chicken dish sounds delicious, but I’m not a fan of them alone or in sweet things, so not too sure if I like the sound of the bread or not…might just have to try it to find out!
Funnily I prefer them in sweet dishes but I did like them in the savoury dishes we made
How amazing to cook with Rosemary Shrager! The recipes look tasty and not too difficult, I shall have to give the bread recipe a try as my girls would love it!
I know!!! 🙂 I hope they like it
I have never been a fan of prunes on their own, but love the sound of that bread.
Oh you should try them with something, so lovely.
I have to admit when I think of Prunes I think of stewed Prunes my nan used to give us (YUK), but these recipes make them look appealing
Sadly they do have a dubious reputation but they are lovely really.
I love prunes but I haven’t had any in ages. I must buy a bag the next time I go shopping as I have a lovely muffin recipe for them.
Mmmm that sounds interesting.
not had prunes since school
I think it would be nice to try in a good light !
You should!
All look/sound great, but I think I’d particularly like the bread. I cook with dates a lot, but perhaps I should start using prunes!
They’re very similar to dates but personally I think prunes have a much smoother texture therefore are much nicer 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever actually eaten prunes before, these recipes look lovely though xxx
Oh wow, you must try them!
I love bread making. I’ve seen a few recipes featuring prunes recently but I just can’t bring myself to do it – prunes just don’t appeal to me! Sorry! The pictures almost make me want to change my mind though.
You should try them…they really are lovely.
I have to confess to have never tried prunes before, I guess I just think of prune juice for when you need to ‘go’. I might have to try them as your recipes look delicious.
They seem to have a bad reputation but I promise you they shouldn’t.
Looks like you had a great day at the Cookery School. The Bread looks delicious.
Thank you, yes it was a fun and informative day.