Fruit based puddings are generally lower in fat and sugar than cake and cream based puddings, which can help everyone manage their weight. Body weight is important for gut health as research[1] has shown that people who are overweight tend to have a more permeable gut and an altered gut microbiome. Including fruit in each meal can help to improve the range of healthy bacteria in the gut and mange body weight at the same time.

Preparation time: Make labneh the day before (10 minutes hands on time). 15 minutes to prepare on the day. 

Serves 4

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF/gas 6.

1. Place the plums cut side up on a baking tray or bun tin and drizzle with honey. Place the tray of plums in the oven for 10 minutes and cook until they are soft and their juice bubbles from the skins.
2. Finely grind the saffron. Mix with a teaspoon of freshly boiled water and set aside to infuse for 10 minutes. Remove the seeds from the cardamom pods, discard the husks and finely grind the seeds.
3. Fold together the labneh, ground cardamom, icing sugar and cooled saffron water.
4. To serve; divide the plums among 4 serving bowls. Top with the saffron labneh and sprinkle with the ground pistachio nuts.

Ingredients

• 4 large dark red plums, cut in half, stone removed

• 2 tbsp runny honey

• 1 tbsp pistachio nuts, finely chopped

• 350g labneh made from 500g low fat Greek yogurt

• 2 pinches of saffron strands

• 2 cardamom pods

• 1 tbsp icing sugar, or less if preferred

Cooks’ tip

To make the labneh

1.    Line a large bowl with a square of clean muslin (or cheese cloth).

Per Portion (205g) 

Calories (kCal/KJ) 184 / 778 | Protein (g) 8.0 | Fat (g)  4.9 | Saturated Fat (g) 2.6 | Carbohydrate (g) 28.2 | Sugar (g) 28.0 | Fibre (g) 1.5 | Salt Equivalent (g) 0.26

FODMAPS

Plums, Honey, Pistachios and Greek yoghurt are high in FODMAPs.

2.    Place yogurt in the centre and wrap the muslin around the yogurt and tie up with string.

3.    Suspend the muslin and yogurt over a deep mixing bowl and place somewhere cool.

4.    Leave the labneh to drain for at least 4 hours. This will make approximately 350g labneh.

If you do not have time to make the labneh use thick Greek yogurt instead.