Ah, the humble mirabelle. This tiny golden orb of sunshine, a cousin of the plum, is one of the Netherlands’ most delightful little secrets. And the best part? You don’t buy them in a supermarket; you earn them by heading out to a “pluktuin” (a pick-your-own farm) and filling your basket yourself.

The Art of the Pick

Picking mirabelles is the perfect low-stakes, high-reward activity. Unlike chasing after elusive blackberries or wrestling with giant pumpkins, mirabelle trees are usually quite polite. The fruit is small, so it feels like you’re gathering little drops of honey. Gather a few friends, grab a sturdy basket (or a hat, if you’re feeling rustic), and get to work. The season runs from late July to early September, and the morning is the best time, when the fruit is cool and firm.

The trick? You’re looking for a deep golden-yellow that looks almost translucent. They should be slightly soft, like a baby’s cheek, but not mushy, and without any green. If they fall off into your hand with the merest whisper of a tug, that’s the one. The green ones are for next week. Don’t be a hero and pick those. Just taste one straight from the tree—it’s sweet, honey-like and fragrant. Handle them gently, because they bruise when squeezed.

What to do with your Golden Horde

You’ve picked three kilos. Now what? First, you need to know: mirabelles don’t keep long. A day or two at room temperature, three to five days in the fridge, so wash them only just before use. And the stone sticks like glue to the flesh. This is not a fruit for the impatient. You must get around that pit.

  • Immediate Snack: Wash them, eat them, repeat. Dangerous.
  • Freezer stash: Pit them and freeze them on a tray before bagging, for a taste of summer in January. Use them in smoothies or just as a frozen treat.
  • Jam (the classic): This is the most satisfying way to use a big haul. Pit them, toss them in a pot with a bit of sugar and a splash of lemon juice, and boil until sticky. The color is a gorgeous, clear amber.

For the Foodies: Two Cooking Recipes

1. Mirabelle & Rosemary Pork Belly

  • Why: The fat of the pork, the perfume of rosemary, and the sweet jamminess of the mirabelles is a holy trinity.

Score a 1kg piece of pork belly. Season aggressively with salt and pepper. Place it skin-side up in a roasting pan with 500g of pitted mirabelles, a few sprigs of rosemary, and a minced clove of garlic. Roast at 180°C (350°F) for 30 minutes, then crank it to 200°C (400°F) for another 30 minutes to crisp the crackling. The fruit will melt into a sweet, sticky sauce. Serve by smashing the fruit with the back of a fork against the meat.

2. Mirabelle & Almond Cake

  • Why: The almond flavor makes the fruit taste even more peach-adjacent and luxurious.

Make a basic sponge cake batter (butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder). Fold in 200g of pitted mirabelles (cut in half). Pour into a lined cake tin. Sprinkle the top with a handful of slivered almonds and a dusting of demerara sugar. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 40-50 minutes. The fruit sinks into the batter, creating jammy pockets of joy.