Plums come around at the end of summer and the beginning of fall around here. If you are lucky you might even find a local tree growing about. Though packed with nutrition, fresh and juicy plums are usually eaten in dried forms (prunes) for convenience. Though both plums and prunes are loaded with health benefits, nothing beats a fresh plum ripe for the picking. Plums provide a hefty dose of vitamin C, which aids with iron absorption. These super fruits are also high in polyphenols as well as antioxidants! Additionally, studies have shown that eating fruit (like plums) can help your eyesight as you age. With over 2000 varieties of plums available worldwide, there is nothing stopping you from grabbing some yourself.
Just giddy for ghee! Ghee is a type of clarified butter which originated from South Asia. With its deep nutty, caramelized flavor ghee is perfect for baking. Because of its higher smoke point, in comparison to butter, ghee is usually preferred for sautéing. Though ghee is traditionally used in South Asian dishes, it has recently become available throughout the world. To make ghee, butter is boiled down so that its residue can be removed. Because of this process, ghee can be stored on the shelf without refrigeration! Ghee is usually found in the specialty foods/ organic foods section of the grocery store (my local store actually places it near the honey).
Rustic Plum Galette
Ingredients:
1 cup rye flour*
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup chilled coconut oil or ghee (I liked the taste the ghee provided better)
2 tbs coconut sugar
1/2 tsp sea salt
Filling:
about 3 cups sliced fresh plums (any variety is fine)
2 tbs raw honey or agave
1 tbs sorghum flour
Instructions:
For the dough, combine the flours, cold water, oil/ghee, coconut sugar and salt in a blender or food processor and pulse until a dough begins to form. Add more cold water a little at a time if needed. Roll the dough into a ball and place it covered in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to harden up while you prepare the filling. If you end up leaving it overnight, make sure to set it out about 1 hour ahead of time in order to soften.
Preheat your oven to 375F degrees.
For the filling, thinly slice your plums and toss them with about 2 tbs honey and 1 tbs sorghum flour. Set aside.
To assemble, roll the dough into a circular shape, about 1/8 in thick. After draining any excessive amount of juice from the plums, arrange them on the dough in a circular pattern overlapping slightly. To finish it up, grab one edge of the dough and begin to fold it up towards the center (it doesn't have to be perfect as you can see from mine). Bake your galette for about 30 - 35 minutes. I found that a pizza stone works best, but a pan covered in parchment works as well. Serve with ginger ice cream (below), enjoy!
* If you have a gluten intolerance, try subbing in some GF oat flour for the rye.
Ginger Ice Cream
Ingredients:
1 can full fat coconut milk
1 inch fresh ginger peeled and finely grated
3 tbs raw honey or agave
about 1/2 cup boxed coconut milk or almond milk
Instructions:
Whisk together the canned coconut milk, raw honey or agave, and grated ginger in a small mixing bowl. Next, freeze this mixture in ice cube trays overnight.
The next day, add the frozen cubes and the remaining 1/2 cup boxed coconut milk to a high speed blender and blend until smooth. Add more liquid as needed (my plunger attachment came in handy for this one). Pour your ice cream in a freezer safe container and freeze until ready to serve. Enjoy!
*This ice cream becomes hard after 5 - 8 hours, so let it sit out for a few minutes before serving time in order to soften.