Delicious! Delicious! Delicious!
I was lucky enough to have a holiday weekend free from hurricane winds and rain. My prayers go out to those of you who had to put up with that madness from Mother Nature.
I spent a lovely amount of time in a bathing suit and miraculously managed to make an absolutely stellar late summer dessert.
In making these gorgeous roasted plums I also developed a deep love for my cast iron skillets. I realized this weekend that I use my cast iron skillets for everything, short of boiling pasta. From pancakes to grits to scrambled eggs to sweet roasted plums. It’s in and out of the oven. It’s heavy enough to clobber any would be robbers. It holds heat like a champion, and it’s just all around reassuring to have in the kitchen. I have two. I’m thinking about naming them… that’s how far my love goes.
These plums are absolutely amazing. The thyme adds such a sultry, perfectly earthy flavor to the caramel like sauce.
I had to stop myself from eating the whole batch for dinner. I’m already looking forward to morning because I think these sweet plums would be outta this world with yogurt and granola.
They take 10 minutes (tops!) to throw together and they’re so versatile. Have them with Greek yogurt, fresh whipped cream, creme fraiche, vanilla bean ice cream, cookies, oatmeal…. if you can dream it up, you can pour these plums over it. Dreamy. The perfect way to celebrate the end of summer.
Honey Roasted Plums with Thyme and Greek Yogurt
adapted from Bon Appetit, August 205
1/2 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup fresh thyme sprigs
6 large assorted ripe but firm plums (about 2 pounds), halved, pitted
Greek Yogurt or Creme Fraiche or Whipped Cream
Preheat oven to 475°F. Stir first 4 ingredients in large ovenproof nonstick skillet over high heat until butter melts. Leave the thyme leaves of the sprigs so they’re easier to remove once cooked. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly (mixture will bubble vigorously). Add plum halves, cut side down. Cook plums without stirring for 2 minutes. Turn plums over and transfer skillet to oven. Roast until caramel is deep brown, checking frequently to prevent burning, about 4 minutes.Divide plum halves among 6 plates. Spoon sauce from skillet over plums, leaving most of thyme sprigs behind. Drizzle plums with crème fraîche, garnish with additional thyme sprigs, and serve.
September 2nd, 2008 at 3:24 am
Oh Gawd those look gooooood!! I kid you not when i say my tummy is rumbling BIG time! (although that maybe because im fasting)
Gr8 job joy!
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:26 am
That looks great!
How do you cook with a cast iron skillet? Do you just use it the same way you would a regular one? Nothing special, no tricks? I have a cast iron grill and used it only once….the chicken stuck to it and then tore apart. After that I haven’t used it or the skillet.
Thanks!
~ingrid
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:27 am
These look delicious and plums are so good right now!!
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:57 am
This dessert is making my mouth water! It looks fantastic!
We’d like to invite you to participate in our September apple and peach recipe contest. All competitors will be eligible to win one of three prizes :)! Please email me, haleyglasco@gmail.com, if you’re interested. Feel free to check out our blog for more details: http://blog.keyingredient.com/2008/08/29/september-kick-contest/
Thanks :),
Haley
KI Blogger
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:06 pm
I think your opening salvo of: delicious! delicious! delicious! says it all.
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I think you could pair anything with greek yogurt and I’d eat it, I just love the stuff. Honey roasted plums are a particularly nice accompaniment.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Lovely! I’m also a bit enamored with my cast iron skillet. I use it for everything all the time. One of the first things I taught my boyfriend to do in my kitchen was how to take care of it. How to wash it by hand with warm soapy water then let it dry on the stove over low heat and how to brush it with a bit of oil before storing. It’s adorable to watch him do it and I think just for that he deserves something as perfect as these delicious plums. Your blog is incredible, Joy. I love your writing so much!
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Iron Cast is the only way to go.
you should get your’s engraved.
no seriously, take it to your nearest jeweler, ask with a straight face, and try your hardest to not laugh at their reaction.
long story.
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:51 am
These plums look amazing. I love my cast iron skillets and used one this weekend to make upside down fig cake. Season it well and you’ll never go hungry again. Thanks Joy!
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:37 am
Warm or cold, these would be amazing with mascarpone, a minor addiction of mine. Can’t live without my cast iron–what would I use for refried beans?
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:40 am
My mum would probably enjoy this quite a bit. A very big plum fan. :] Looks great.
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
i can’t even contain my love for roasted stone fruits. these look amazing!
September 4th, 2008 at 1:49 am
I love plums.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:53 am
I was not about to drag out my cast iron for the one plum I have. But I did this (minus the thyme) in mere moments and fanned the carmelized plum over a waffle for my son. He is at the table groaning in plum paradise. What’s for breakfast tomorrow, Joy?
: )
September 4th, 2008 at 8:23 am
These look fantastic. My produce market has plums on sale this week and I think I will have to stop and get some.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:42 am
What a nice way to enjoy some plumbs. I am going to have to pick some plumbs up before they are gone.
September 6th, 2008 at 2:23 am
Gorgeous looking plums, Joy! Pairing them with thyme sounds really interesting.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Joy: These are absolutely beautiful! I can only imagine how delicious they are too.
September 7th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I did something similar with grilled figs this summer. I flavored the Greek yogurt with honey, a bit of pure orange extract (as I didn’t have a fresh orange for the zest), and topped off chopped toasted pistachios. Gorgeous!
September 17th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
[...] Link Not Rated! [...]
September 18th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
[...] we go. The prune plums look like they’ll make an excellent tart, or Joy the Baker’s Honey Roasted Plums, which I adapted for a quick waffle/pancake topping for my [...]
November 7th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
[...] Italian Cheese Kuchen from Italialicious, Plum Tart with Marzipan Crumble from Je Mange la Ville, Honey Roasted Plums with Fresh Thyme and Greek Yogurt from Joy the Baker, Oreo Mint Ice Cream from Lauren’s Kitchen, Spiced Apple Butter Bran [...]
January 9th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
I just tried your recipe today and wanted to say thank you, because it was really tasty!
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:50 am
[...] Honey Roasted Plums with Fresh Thyme and Greek Yogurt [...]
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:24 am
I think I failed, I’m blaming the plume (too tart), d’oh! Well I have much more faith in the sweets, this recipe was out of my skill level I think.