Queen Garnet plums have a short, glorious season — and when they’re in, I love using them fresh while the flavour is at its peak. This time, instead of a salad or a cooked dish, we’re going the easy win: a smoothie that keeps the fruit front and centre, boosts fibre with chia, and rounds out that Queen Garnet tartness with ripe banana + a spoon of honey.
We were lucky enough to grab a box from Sam’s Farm Fresh Fruit & Veg in Cottonvale on our most recent Granite Belt run visiting our friends at Ballandean Estate — got to love local.
Queen Garnets are a Queensland-developed blood plum cultivar, known for their dark purple flesh/skin and naturally high anthocyanin content (those plant pigments found in other dark fruits like berries).
They’re in season in Australia from late January to early April — so when you see them, grab them.
Linda’s point still stands: most of us simply aren’t getting enough fibre day to day. Adults are recommended around 25g/day (women) and 30g/day (men) — and CSIRO has highlighted that Australians, on average, fall short and many don’t meet fibre targets.
So here’s the “Chef logic” move:
whole fruit + chia + don’t strain it = a delicious way to nudge fibre up without turning breakfast into a chore.
We used the Ninja Blender Duo, but you certainly don’t need one to make this smoothie.
Standard blender: Add the coconut milk or water first, followed by the softer fruit, plums, chia, cinnamon, honey and lime. Blend until smooth.
Bullet-style blender: Cut the fruit into smaller pieces and make the smoothie in one or two batches, depending on the cup size. Do not fill beyond the maximum line.
Stick blender: Place everything in a tall, narrow jug and blend until smooth. Chop the plums, peach and banana into smaller pieces first to make it easier on the motor. You may also need to add a little extra liquid.
Food processor: Process the fruit and remaining ingredients until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. The result may be slightly thicker, so add more coconut milk or water until it reaches your preferred consistency.
Chef Ian’s tip: Whichever appliance you use, add the liquid first and make sure the plum stones and peach stone are removed. If your blender is less powerful, soak the chia seeds in a little of the liquid for five minutes and cut the fruit into smaller pieces before blending.
Serve the smoothie immediately while it is cold, thick and freshly blended.
Pour into chilled glasses and garnish with:
For a more substantial breakfast, pour the smoothie into a bowl and top with sliced banana, fresh fruit, toasted nuts, seeds or a little granola.
You can also serve it in smaller glasses as a refreshing breakfast starter, afternoon pick-me-up or naturally colourful drink for brunch.
Chef Ian’s tip: Queen Garnets are quite tart, so taste the smoothie before serving. Add a little more ripe banana or honey if needed, but don’t make it overly sweet—the plum should remain the hero.