Prune Filling Lekvar Recipes

LEKVAR (PRUNE FILLING OR PRUNE BUTTER)

Steps:

• 1. Combine everything into a saucepan (except brown sugar) and cook on low heat, stirring every few minutes. Heat to boiling.
• 2. Lower heat to simmer, cover pan and cook for 20 minutes, stirring every few mins.
• 3. Remove lip from pan and add brown sugar. Cook, reducing liquid and stirring every few minutes. Be sure not to scorch. Mash with a wooden spoon until prunes are soft and broken up and mixture is thick until the consistency is like oatmeal (about 20 more minutes so be patient). It will thicken more when cooled.

HOW TO MAKE LEKVAR (PRUNE BUTTER)

Steps:

• In a small pot, add the prunes and water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Once the water boils, turn the heat down and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes to soften the prunes. Using a strainer or a slotted spoon, remove the prunes and place them in a mixing bowl or a mini food processor, reserving the prune water.
• Place the prunes, orange zest and juice, sugar and 2 teaspoons of the reserved prune water in the bowl of a mini food processor. Pulse until mostly smooth - a few pieces of prune are ok. If using a hand blender or potato masher, put all ingredients in a bowl and proceed to blend. Taste for flavor and notice the texture. If it seems too thick to use easily, add the third teaspoon of the prune water.
• If using nuts, place the mixture in a bowl and mix in nuts. Add about half and see how you like the texture. Use the rest if you want a nuttier result.

PRUNE FILLING (LEKVAR)

Steps:

• Combine water or orange juice, lemon juice, prunes, raisins, sugar and cinnamon in a small saucepan over a low heat.
• Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, tossing and stirring the fruit to soften the prunes and plump the raisins.
• Make sure the bottom does not stick and the mixture doesn't boil.
• Remove pot from heat and allow contents to cool for 5 minutes.
• Add cinnamon and walnuts, if using, and process in food processor until it forms a thick puree.
• Add a bit more orange juice or water to thin the puree if necessary.
• Taste and add 1 tablespoons of sugar at a time until filling is desired sweetness.
• Filling should be thick and moist.
• Chill filling slightly before using.
• Will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
• If chilled filling is too stiff to spread, loosen with a bit of warm juice or water.

HUNGARIAN LEKVAR APRICOT OR PRUNE BUTTER

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Place the dried apricots or prunes in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and continue to cook until the fruit is soft, adding more water as necessary.
• Remove from the heat and place the mixture in a food processor or blender ; purée the fruit until it has a smooth texture. (You can also use an immersion blender directly in the pot.) Return it to the saucepan and add the sugar; taste for desired sweetness, and add more sugar if necessary. Cook until the lekvar is thick.
• To can the fruit butter, place the hot lekvar in hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace. Cover with hot sterilized lids and rings.
• Process in a water bath for 10 minutes. Remove to the counter and allow to cool before storing in a cool, dry, dark place.
• Enjoy.

GREAT-GRANDMA'S PRUNE ROLL

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add the butter, shortening, egg yolks, sugar and salt and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Cover and refrigerate overnight., In a large saucepan, cook plums in water 12-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Mash; add sugar and lemon juice. Cook for 8-10 minutes over low heat until thickened. Cool and refrigerate., Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Roll each portion into a 3-in. x 9-in. rectangle. Dot with butter; sprinkle with cinnamon. Spread about 1/3 cup plum filling down the center of each. , Fold a third of the dough lengthwise over filling. Fold remaining dough over top; pinch seams to seal and tuck ends under. Place seam side down in two greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 2 hours or until doubled. , Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Combine the glaze ingredients; drizzle over loaves.

LEKVAR-PRUNE FILLED PEROGIES

Steps:

• Put the prunes in a good sized saucepan-heavy bottom if you have one.
• Pour in water to cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook over a"hard simmer/light boil.
• "You may need to add more water to prevent scorching.
• When prunes are soft puree in a food processor until smooth.
• If the prunes are in any way runny cook until thick.
• Make dough-or cut recipe in half and fill with prune filling.
• (see recipe#20108 for filling and crimping directions) Boil perogies in water until they float, drain.
• Fry in butter if you wish and serve with a dollop of vanilla ice cream or topping of your choice.
• Freeze whatever filling your not using.

DANISH - PRUNE FILLING

Steps:

• Put prunes, water and sugar into a saucepan.
• Heat and simmer until prunes are soft, plumped and have absorbed most of the liquid.
• (Can be done in a Microwave).
• Puree in food processor, transfer to a bowl and stir in lemon juice,vanilla and cinnamon Scrape filling into a small container and cool to room temperature.
• Seal container and chill.
• Will keep refrigerated for two weeks.

HUNGARIAN CREAM CHEESE COOKIES WITH PRUNE LEKVAR

Steps:

• Cream together the cream cheese and butter.
• To this, add the flour - in small portions by hand.
• When it comes together, turn over on a lightly floured surface and add the rest of the flour to form a dough (IT WILL BE SOFT - but it should be smooth)
• Refrigerate for about 1 hour.
• Roll out to about 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface.
• Cut into squares about 2 x 2 and fill center with about 1/4 tsp of the lekvar.
• Bring together opposite corners and pinch and fold over.
• Bake on a lightly greased baking sheet for about 15 - 20 minutes until lite gold at 350F (Be careful not to let them burn).
• While still warm, role in powdered sugar and let cool.
• Once cooled, repeat the powdered sugar coating once more.
• You can use any flavor lekvar or even an almond paste.
• It just has to be really thick so it doesn't run while baking.

LEKVAR PRUNE PLUM FILLING OR (APRICOT)

Steps:

• Simmer all ingredients, except brown sugar, covered 25- 30 minutes until very soft and most of water is evaporated.
• Uncover last few minutes if necessary.
• Remove from heat and mash.
• Stir in brown sugar.
• You can keep Lekvar in the refrigerator for a long time.
• Put it in a canning jar.