Spicy Roasted Plums Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Prepare a two-quart baking dish with a good cooking of cooking spray.
• Prepare plums by slicing in half and removing pits. Place in the baking pan cut side up.
• Combine juice, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and the spices in a small bowl. Drizzle spiced juice over the plums.
• Bake the fruit for 20 minutes or until the plums are tender. Note that actual cooking time will vary according to the ripeness of the fruit.
• While the fruit is baking, toast the almonds lightly in a dry non-stick skillet. Just a minute or so until the nuts just begin to release their aroma and take on a bit of color.
• In a small bowl combine the sour cream with the last tablespoon of brown sugar.
• Place plum halves in a serving bowl. Dot with sour cream and sprinkle of almonds.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 4. Toast the star anise and coriander seeds in a dry pan until aromatic. Tip the toasted spices into a spice grinder with 2 tsp sea salt and grind into a fine powder (or crush using a pestle and mortar). Put the spice salt in a bowl, add the sugar, mix well and set aside.
• Lightly score the skin of the duck in a criss-cross pattern and heat the oil in a large casserole. Using a pair of tongs to turn it, brown the duck well on all sides, pour off the excess fat, then sit the duck breast-side up and season all over with the sugar and spice mix. Pack the plums around the outside, then scatter over the bay and pour over the vinegar and stock.
• Roast in the oven for 2 hrs or until the duck is golden and the plums have broken down. Turn the oven right up for 10 more mins to crisp up the skin. Take the duck out of the pan to rest for 10 mins and spoon the excess fat off the plums. Carve the duck and serve with a good spoonful of plums.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Mix the sugar with 2 tbsp water in a baking dish, add the star anise, then pop in the plums, cut-side down. They should fit quite snugly. Dot with the butter. Roast for about 5 mins until the plums are starting to soften on the bottom, then turn them over. Roast for another 5 mins or until tender - this will depend on how ripe your fruit is.
• Roughly crush the Hobnobs, then spoon a little on top of each plum half. Return to the oven for a few mins more until the biscuit topping takes on a dark gold colour. Serve the plums and their scented, syrupy juices with custard or ice cream.