Fresh Plum Strudel

17/11/2023

Here’s how to prepare delicious Italian-style fresh plum strudels:

Ingredients

1 roll of rectangular puff pastry
500 g fresh plums
100 g sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Juice of half a lemon
30 g breadcrumbs
30 g melted butter
Powdered sugar (for dusting)
Sultana raisins (optional)
Pine nuts (optional)

Preparation

Start by preheating the oven to 180 °C.
Wash the plums, cut them in half removing the pit, and then cut them into wedges.
In a bowl, mix the plum wedges with sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. If you like, you can also add some sultana raisins soaked in warm water and squeezed or some pine nuts for a crunchy touch.
Roll out the puff pastry and spread the melted butter on it. Then sprinkle it with breadcrumbs to absorb the moisture from the filling.
Arrange the plum filling on the puff pastry, leaving a free margin on the edges.
Roll the pastry over the filling to form a strudel and fold the edges inward to seal the dessert.
Place the strudel on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, making sure to position the seam side down.
Make diagonal cuts on the surface of the strudel to allow steam to escape.
Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until golden and crispy.
Let it cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar.

Fun Facts

Strudel originates from Central and Eastern Europe, but it is also highly appreciated and widespread in the northern regions of Italy, such as Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, influenced by proximity to Austria and Habsburg tradition. In these areas, apples are typically used for the filling, but the version with fresh plums is an excellent variation to make the most of seasonal fruit!