Plum Pesto Recipe

INSPIRED BY CROATIA

The world’s largest producers of plum are the countries of former Yugoslavia, including Croatia. In fact, several traditional Croatian recipes incorporate this stone fruit. Some examples include meat stews, plum and cheese dumplings, jam for pastries, and even spirits.

Plums have a long and interesting history. It’s been said they were domesticated in China more than 2,000 years ago. In his writing, Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, praised the fruit.

SAVE FOR LATER

Makes 1 3/4 cups

Ingredients

1/2 cup shelled walnuts

3 medium-sized plums, quartered and seeded

1/2 teaspoon cardamom

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions

Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the desired consistency forms.
If using a mortar and pestle, crush the walnuts until a fine crumb forms. Add the plums and mash until smooth. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Mash until the desired consistency forms.
Store pesto in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use throughout the week in the next two recipes. Pesto can last in an airtight container in the freezer for up to six months.

Uses

Stone Fruit Salsa

Nearly every city in Croatia has its own outdoor market, or pazar, where locals and tourists shop. In the summertime, these local food hubs feature fruits like berries, apricots, peaches, plums, cherries, and melons.

Walnut Swirl Bread

In Croatia, povitica is a dessert made for Christmas and Easter. It’s a sweet bread made with pastry dough rolled out very thin, coated with a groundnut paste, and then folded into a loaf pan. Its name comes from the Slovenian word that means to wrap in. The tradition of making povitica is centuries old.