During our summer holidays, we got to stay on a plum farm in Agen, in the south of France. While we were there, we got to enjoy lots of the truly fine local produce. Our hosts gave me a supply of delicious prunes (dried plums) which I enjoyed so much, I had to get more to try the classic dish of the region Agen Prunes in Armagnac. It would have been rude to not try it given that Agen sits beside Armagnac and it really is a delight. Have mine been successful? Like I say in the headline, I’ll tell you at Christmas. I made them last week (October) and they are now hidden away in a dark press in preserving jars. They are out of sight so they have a good chance of making it to December 25th, by which time, they should be perfect.
Before I start into the recipe, while we were there, the temperatures got really hot for a few of the days, reaching well into the 40s celsius. There was nothing to do on those days but hang around the farm and fly my drone. I shot some video of the farm. It’s really beautiful and sits in delightful countryside. Here’s an edit of what I shot.
Now, on with the cooking. The ingredients list is really short and the process is pretty easy. If you find yourself in Agen, pick up some prunes and nip over to Armagnac for the business end of this delicious dessert.
Ingredients
- 500 gms of quality, stoned Agen prunes
- 400 ml or so of Armagnac
- 200 gms sugar
- 2 vanilla pods
- A couple of tea bags (I made my own)
- Preserving jars
The first thing to do is to make the tea. We use loose leaf tea at home and had no tea bags. So I made my own using some muslin and a bit of cotton kitchen twine. It worked a treat (and it gave me a nice action/pouring shot).
The bag has a lot of tea (two heaped teaspoons) to make enough tea to soak the prunes. They need to be left soaking for at least four hours and, ideally, overnight. First thing to do is pour the water on the tea bag(s) in a large bowl.
Let the tea cool before adding the prunes to soak. While they are doing that, put the sugar in a saucepan and add about 400 ml of water.
Slice and seed the vanilla pods and add them to the saucepan. Bring this to a boil and melt the sugar. Reduce until you have a nice syrup and your whole house smells like an ice cream factory. Let the mixture cool.
Drain the prunes and pat them dry in an old tea towel. Why old? Because the tea stains will never come out. Place the prunes in the preserving jars. Add the syrup to fill about half way.
Top up the jars with the Armagnac. Close the lids and shake them up a bit. Let the jars settle before topping up again if needed with more of the spirit.
This is the part of the post where I usually would tell you about how delicious this was when tasted. I can’t do that. They need to be put away for at least six weeks. I plan to keep them for Christmas. We will enjoy them with some ice cream. I may remember to tell you how delicious they are. But, if I forget about the amount of Armagnac in there, I might for get to let you know too.
Bring on the festive season!
katechiconi | 15th October 2019
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Oooh, the minute I saw prunes d’Agen I thought of a tart my mother used to make: sweet, buttery shortcrust pastry, a bed of almond frangipane, topped with prunes d’Agen and glazed with a bit of the liquid from the preserving jar, thickened with arrowroot to keep it clear. I can’t get prunes d’Agen, so you’ll have to make it and tell me what you think!
Conor Bofin | Author | 19th October 2019
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You are tempting me into a dangerous place Kate. I was in my utility room earlier and the prunes were calling to me, asking me to try them early. I manfully resisted. I don’t know how we can get to Christmas at this rate.
katechiconi | 20th October 2019
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Reminds me of my father ‘just checking’ the sloe gin when I was a child. He wasn’t much of a drinker, but sloe gin would tempt an angel. I think you should regard any fall from grace as a quality control incident….
Conor Bofin | Author | 26th November 2019
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My last time enjoying sloe gin was when a friend came around for dinner. As can happen, we went far too far on the wine before we opened the sloe gin that he had gifted me. The rest is, as they say, history.
Simply Splendid Food | 15th October 2019
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This is fantastic! I eat prunes every day. You gave pizzazz to my life..and o the prunes! 🍈🍓💘💙
Conor Bofin | Author | 19th October 2019
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We all need a bit of pizzazz in our lives. If these prunes are doing it, then happy days!
Marty | 15th October 2019
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YUMYUMYUM! How does one get on your Christmas list? 😉 Thank you for the video — what a gorgeous place to holiday. Truth be told, 40s and I’d be in that beautiful pool all day. Looking forward to your report!
Conor Bofin | Author | 19th October 2019
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It was so hot on a couple of the days, that I did get into the pool (looking like a lost, floating bottle of milk). On checking the water temperature and seeing it in the 30s, I realised that there was little benefit from floating there.
Eha | 16th October 2019
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Oh, I am looking at that great drone video again before I get to the recipe ! You do have a steady hand Mr Bofin . . . buying drones methinks is the most fashionable purchase in Australia at the moment – dare I make a silly fool of myself 🙂 ? Love your prunes in Armagnac . . . the liquor was one of my darling Dad’s favourites but I have not made a batch for ages ! Fun to try again never mind about Christmas ! You made your own tea bags . . . being a coffee and green tea drinker, I usually just have Twinings or similar bags in the pantry – Earl Grey or . . . ?
Conor Bofin | Author | 19th October 2019
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I have put myself on a professional drone course with the Flyrite Drone Academy here in Dublin. I passed the desk work with flying colours and need now to do the practical exam to allow me fly professionally. It’s not as easy as it looks. Then again, few skilled things are. The tea was a Marks & Spencer (mid market supermarket) brand of black tea. In truth, I’m sure I could have found a couple of tea bags somewhere but, where’s the fun in that?
StefanGourmet | 16th October 2019
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Love all the pouring shots!
The farm is indeed lovely and I can’t tell it’s 40 degrees. The music sounds like stock music.
Conor Bofin | Author | 19th October 2019
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The music track is a dire piece of free music that comes with my Apple software. However, it was better than me singing….
Eha | 20th October 2019
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Conor – that is fascinating! Silly of me but I did not realize such tuition existed! That is going to be a good add-in to your current photographic skills ! I do not know about Ireland but Down Under we are having increasing legal problems with media drones overflying supposedly private areas – what a huge technical change from the time we played in the schoolyard !
Conor Bofin | Author | 26th November 2019
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Hi Eha,
Apologies for the lengthy delay in responding. Here in Ireland, we have similar issues. Drones are becoming increasingly popular. I did put myself through an Irish Aviation Authority accredited school to be sure I wasn’t doing anything stupid and also to prepare myself for commercial work as part of my broader video/photography creative life. I still need to do the practical test but scored high ninetys in the desk work.
I hope all is good with you.
Best,
Conor
sallybr | 22nd October 2019
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I used to enjoy prunes in Armagnac when we lived in Paris – never made it myself, but I am seriously tempted….
gotta start soon, I suppose
Michelle | 1st November 2019
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Oooh, something to look forward to! (Though I always get the prunes/pruneaux confused.)
Conor Bofin | Author | 26th November 2019
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It is increasingly difficult to see the jars in the press and not open one to “see how they are coming along”. I need to stay strong.
FrugalHausfrau | 19th November 2019
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I can only imagine! What a treat this is going to be, Conor..
Conor Bofin | Author | 26th November 2019
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Hi Molly,
I plan on having them on Christmas Day. Part of a tasty dinner, I hope.
FrugalHausfrau | 26th November 2019
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I hope we’ll hear about it! 🙂
Karen (Back Road Journal) | 6th December 2019
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I was just talking about Prunes in Armagnac two days ago with a friend. They are delicious and good luck with the wait.
Conor Bofin | Author | 10th December 2019
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Thanks Karen. I have charged my eldest daughter with preparing an ice cream to accompany these. They are now firmly on the Christmas Day menu.
Nelson | 20th February 2020
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How did they turn out?
Conor Bofin | Author | 23rd February 2020
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Hi Nelson,
They were an absolute delight. I will be making more, for sure.
Best,
Conor
Karen (Back Road Journal) | 4th March 2020
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I had to click back to see how they turned out and I’m not surprised to find out they were delicious.