Dried Plum Chutney

Dried Plum Chutney ~ A sauce or relish combining dried plums with sour, sweet, and a bit of heat for a delicious addition to your cheese and crackers or an elevated shrimp cocktail.Yes, dried plums are prunes.

Collectively now, get out your middle school voices, and make your whiney EWWWWWW sound.

Ready? Go!

Better now?

In all seriousness, have you ever tried a prune? They’re actually really tasty. My daughter has some minor digestive health issues and Sunsweet prunes and prune juice have been a staple in our house since she was about a year old.  We usually just snack on them or have the juice straight or in a smoothy.  When I was chosen to create a healthy snack using Sunsweet Prunes, Dried Plums, and Plum Smart Light Juice, I was excited.  I wanted to get really creative and see how far I push this little fruit with an undeserving bad reputation.

Snacks in my house run the gambit from a piece of string cheese to mini-meals packed with veggies and protein. It just depends on my mood. Since the New Year, I have been trying to eat healthier and stick to my dietary protocol. Healthy does not need to be bland or boring.So no bland, no boring! That, I knew I could do. Sweet and savory is a well-known favorite of mine and with a bag of jumbo shrimp hanging out in my freezer, this idea of cocktail sauce or chutney kind of came together. Sunsweet diced dried plums, some basic pantry staples and a poblano that I picked up at the market on a whim. Dried Plum Chutney truly sounds odd and it’s the pretties of condiments, but what it lacks in curb appeal, it truly makes up for it in taste.

Wow, this came out even better than it tasted in my mind.  My daughter wanted nothing to do with the shrimp.  She preferred her Dried Plum Chutney with cream cheese on a cracker (which was utterly delicious too), but the adult folk around here enjoyed it with shrimp. Delightful.

For my vegetarian and vegan friends, obviously to enjoy this Dried Plum Chutney, you’ll omit the shrimp, but the chutney itself is 100% vegetarian. Vegans swap out the honey for agave. And as a bonus, Dried Plum Chutney is also naturally gluten free.  Oh! Did I mention that not only are dried plums tasty but they are actually good for you too? Here are a few factoids:

• Studies suggest the following positive effects from certain nutrients in prunes:
  • Bone Health: Prunes may promote healthy bones. Dr. Bahram H. Arjmandi of Florida State University says, “Dried plums (prunes) are the most bone-friendly fruit that I have seen in decades. They are nature’s solution to maintaining good bone health.” Dr. Arjmandi hypothesizes that the many compounds and nutrients contained in prunes, such as vitamin K, potassium, copper and boron, likely work synergistically to have this positive effect. Additional research is currently being conducted to learn more about prunes and bone health.
  • Potassium: Potassium may help prevent hypertension and stroke and play a role in helping support cell energy by regulating fluid balance, nerve impulses and muscle contraction to increase energy.
  • Fiber: A diet containing foods with fiber can replace fats and sweets, and contributes to heart health.
  • Regularity: A fiber rich diet may contribute to maintaining a consistent digestive tract which helps lead to improved digestive health.

Dried Plum Chutney

Course: Sauces/Condiments

Cuisine: Fusion

Servings: 4

Author: Michelle De La Cerda

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Ingredients

• 16 jumbo shrimp; cooked (OPTIONAL)
• 2 medium red onions; thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 poblano chili pepper; seeded and chopped
• 2 cloves garlic; grated/minced
• 1-7 oz . pkg Sunsweet Amaz!n™ Diced Prunes
• 1 cup Sunsweet PlumSmart® Light juice
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp . coriander
• 1/8 tsp . ginger
• 1 tbsp . honey
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1/8 salt and pepper; to taste +/-

Instructions

1. In a large pan over medium heat, add the olive oil.
2. Once the oil is heated, add the onions; sauté for about 15 minutes or until the onions have completely softened. Some onions will brown and that is ok.
3. Add the poblano and garlic, stir well and cook for 4 more minutes.
4. Add the Sunsweet Amaz!n™ Diced Prunes, cook an additional two minutes.
5. Add the remaining ingredients, stir well and allow to come to a low simmer, cook for about 5 minutes or until the dried plums have softened and all ingredients have blended well together.
6. Serve with cooked, deveined, shelled shrimp.
7. (Or serve it the way my daughter enjoyed it; on butter crackers with cream cheese)

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Thank you for sharing!