Prunesinport Recipes

PRUNES IN ARMAGNAC

Steps:

• Place 3 cups of water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat, add the tea bags, and steep for 5 minutes. Discard the tea bags, add the prunes and honey, turn the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 3 minutes to plump the prunes.
• Pour the prunes and all the liquid into a medium bowl and stir in the Armagnac, vanilla, orange juice, vanilla bean, and cinnamon sticks. With a vegetable peeler, cut 4 large strips of zest from 1 lemon and add to the mixture. Cut the lemon in half, cut 4 (1/2-inch-thick) slices, and add to the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature for 6 to 12 hours. (If you're not serving the prunes that day, refrigerate them in their liquid.)
• To serve, place the prunes in shallow dessert bowls and serve cold, at room temperature, or slightly warmed, spooning the macerating liquid over them. Add a scoop of ice cream, a drizzle of Armagnac, a drizzle of honey, and a sprinkling of grated lemon zest. (You'll be surprised how much flavor this adds!) Serve immediately.

PRUNES IN PORT

Steps:

• soak prunes in the port overnight.
• next morning combine everything and simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionaly.
• take out vanilla bean. (You can wash it and use it again).
• bottle, or store in the fridge.

MEAT WITH PRUNES

Steps:

• Place red wine, prunes, black pepper, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring often. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until prunes are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; drain prunes, reserving wine, and allow to cool.
• Cut a deep pocket almost all the way through the tenderloin. Rub salt over the tenderloin. Fill the pocket with the cooked prunes; secure opening with toothpicks.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook fillet in the hot oil until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Pour in reserved wine. Cover until simmer until tenderloin is tender, about 1 hour. Discard toothpicks. Cut tenderloin diagonally into thin slices.