Product identity

Stone or seed notice: Whole dried-fruit batches may contain a stone unless the pack is specifically labelled pitted or seedless. Check each fruit before serving it to children or adding it to a blender or food processor.

What is Aalu Bukhara called in English?

Aalu Bukhara is called plum when fresh. After suitable plums are dried, the dried fruit is called a prune. Therefore, Sukha Aloo Bukhara, dried Aalu Bukhara, dried plum and prune are closely related market terms.

Regional spellings vary, including Aalu Bukhara, Aloo Bukhara, Alu Bukhara, Aaloo Bhukhara and Alubukhara. On English food labels, look for the words prunes or dried plums.

Fresh plum, dried Aalu Bukhara and pitted prunes

How to use dried Aalu Bukhara

• As a snack: Inspect for stones and eat in a portion suited to your overall diet.
• After soaking: Soak in clean water until softer, then use the fruit in breakfast bowls or recipes. Refrigerate soaked fruit and use promptly.
• In chutney: Simmer with spices to make a sweet-tart accompaniment.
• In savoury cooking: Add to selected rice dishes, sauces or stews where a mild sweet-sour flavour is desired.
• In desserts: Chop and add to cakes, puddings, compotes or homemade snack mixtures.

Food and nutrition notes

Drying removes much of the fruit's water, so prunes are denser and more concentrated than fresh plums. They contain dietary fibre and naturally occurring sugars. Research has examined prunes and prune juice in relation to bowel regularity, but a food product should not be treated as a substitute for medical care.

Start with a modest food portion if you do not regularly eat dried fruit. A sudden large intake may cause gas, abdominal discomfort or loose stools in some people.

How to check quality

• The fruit should have a characteristic dried-plum aroma, not a fermented or rancid smell.
• Colour and size can vary naturally between batches.
• A light natural surface bloom can occur on dried fruit; visible mould, insects or an off odour are not acceptable.
• Read the pack label to confirm whether the fruit is whole, pitted, sweetened or preserved.

Storage

Keep the pack tightly sealed in a cool, dry place away from heat, moisture and direct sunlight. Always use a dry spoon or clean hands. In warm or humid conditions, refrigeration after opening can help maintain quality. Discard the product if mould, insects, fermentation or an unusual odour develops.

Learn more

• सूखा आलू बुखारा: उपयोग, पोषण और सावधानियां
• Sukha Aloo Bukhara: English guide to prunes
• Prunes vs prune juice vs fresh plums

Frequently asked questions

Are prunes and Aalu Bukhara the same?

Fresh Aalu Bukhara is plum. Dried plum is called a prune, so Sukha Aalu Bukhara and prunes usually refer to the dried form.

Are these prunes seedless?

This listing is for whole dried Aalu Bukhara. Unless the selected pack explicitly says pitted or seedless, assume that a stone may be present and inspect each fruit before use.

Can dried Aalu Bukhara be soaked?

Yes. Soaking softens the fruit for recipes. Use clean water, refrigerate after soaking and consume promptly.

What are prunes called in Hindi?

Prunes are commonly described as Sukha Aloo Bukhara or Sukha Aalu Bukhara in Hindi.