Country Life loves to highlight recipes featuring the produce of the countryside. So this week, Jamie Oliver conjures up a wonderful dessert with plums

SOMETIMES it's hard to think of something fancy to make when you're on a limited budget, and your culinary skills maybe aren't the best. But don't worry - Jamie Oliver's recipe for plum tarte tatin will be the new saviour of your dinner parties.

The secret to this recipe is shop-bought puff pastry. Before you turn your nose up, Jamie swears by it. Not only does it taste just as good as if you'd made it yourself, you've saved yourself a whole lot of bother.

Ingredients (serves 6)

600g ripe mixed-colour plums 1tsp ground cinnamon 120ml maple syrup 320g sheet of all-butter puff pastry (cold) 6 large scoops of vanilla ice cream

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/gas 7.

2. Place a 26cm non-stick ovenproof frying pan on a medium heat. Halve and destone the plums, add to the pan with 30ml of water and cook for one minute. From a height, sprinkle over half the cinnamon, then evenly pour over the maple syrup.

3. Place the pastry over the plums, using a wooden spoon to push it into the edges of the pan, and trimming off any excess to patch up little gaps, if needed.

4. Bake at the bottom of the oven for 16 minutes or until golden and puffed up. Making sure you use oven gloves to protect your hands, confidently and carefully turn the tarte out on to a plate bigger than the pan.

5. Dish up with nice round scoops of ice cream, sprinkle over the remaining cinnamon from a height and drizzle lightly with extra virgin olive oil before serving.

Calories: 392 Fat: 18.7g Sat fat: 11.8g Protein: 4.8g Carbs: 52.3g Sugar: 32.8g Salt: 0.3g Fibre: 1.2g 

  • 5 Ingredients - Quick & Easy Food by Jamie Oliver is published by Penguin Random House.