Fresh Plum Strudel

17/11/2023

Here’s how to prepare delicious Italian-style Fresh Plum Strudels:

Ingredients

1 rectangular roll of puff pastry
500 g of fresh plums
100 g of sugar
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
Juice of half a lemon
30 g of breadcrumbs
30 g of melted butter
Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Golden raisins (optional)
Pine nuts (optional)

Preparation

Begin by preheating the oven to 180 °C.
Wash the plums, cut them in half to remove the stone and then cut them into wedges.
In a bowl, mix the plum wedges with sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. If you like, you can also add some golden raisins that have been soaked in warm water and squeezed dry, or pine nuts for a crunchy touch.
Roll out the puff pastry and spread it with the melted butter. Then sprinkle it with breadcrumbs to absorb the moisture from the filling.
Arrange the plum filling on the puff pastry, leaving a free edge on the sides.
Roll up the pastry over the filling to form a strudel and fold the edges inward to seal the dessert.
Place the strudel on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure to place the seal downwards.
Make diagonal cuts on the surface of the strudel to allow the steam to escape.
Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until it is golden brown and crispy.
Allow to cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar.

Curiosity

Strudel originates from Central and Eastern Europe, but it is also very popular and widespread in the northern regions of Italy, such as Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, which are influenced by the proximity to Austria and the Habsburg tradition. In these areas, apples are typically used for the filling, but the version with fresh plums is an excellent variation to make the most of seasonal fruit!