This post is sponsored by HMC Farms.
A summer barbecue is not complete without a memorable sauce. Whether you are grilling on a warm weekend, planning a backyard cookout, or simply bringing a little sunshine to dinner, a good BBQ sauce can make the meal feel special. Store-bought sauces are convenient, but homemade BBQ sauce gives you control over the flavor, texture, sweetness, and heat. This Plumsicle™ BBQ Sauce is a fresh, fruity twist on a classic barbecue favorite, made with sweet HMC Farms Plumsicles, garlic, brown sugar, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and red pepper flakes.
This plum BBQ sauce has the familiar tangy-sweet base people love, but the Plumsicles add a bright fruit flavor that makes it stand out. It is smooth enough to brush over grilled meats, spoon onto burgers, use as a dipping sauce, or spread over barbecue pizza. The recipe comes together quickly in a blender or food processor, then simmers on the stove until thickened and ready to serve.
How to Make Plumsicle BBQ Sauce
There are countless barbecue sauce flavors on grocery store shelves, from smoky and spicy to sweet and tangy. Still, making BBQ sauce at home is the best way to create a flavor that fits exactly what you are craving. This Plumsicle BBQ Sauce is easy enough for a weeknight meal but special enough for a summer cookout. It starts with fresh fruit, blends in pantry staples, and finishes with a short simmer on the stovetop.
The flavor begins with HMC Farms Plumsicles. These sweet plums bring natural fruitiness and color to the sauce, while garlic, red pepper flakes, and Worcestershire sauce add savory depth. Ketchup and brown sugar create a simple barbecue-style base, and apple cider vinegar balances the sweetness with a little tang. The result is a homemade plum BBQ sauce that tastes bright, rich, and perfectly suited for grilled foods.
To make the sauce, pit and chop the Plumsicles into smaller pieces so they blend easily. Add the chopped plums to a food processor or blender with the remaining ingredients, then blend until the mixture is smooth. Homemade barbecue sauce may have a little more body than bottled sauce, which gives it a satisfying texture. After blending, pour the sauce into a cast iron skillet or saucepan and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring as it reduces. Once thickened, transfer it to a jar or airtight container and serve it with your favorite barbecue dishes.
Plumsicle BBQ Sauce
5 minutes
10 minutes
15 minutes
12 servings
Ingredients
- 3 HMC Farms Plumsicles pitted and chopped, with skin left on
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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Chop the Plumsicles, then remove and discard the pits.
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Add the chopped plums, garlic, ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth.
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Pour the blended sauce into a cast iron skillet or saucepan. Cook over medium heat until reduced and slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 11g |
Protein: 0.3g |
Fat: 0.1g |
Saturated Fat: 0.01g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g |
Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g |
Sodium: 102mg |
Potassium: 72mg |
Fiber: 0.3g |
Sugar: 10g |
Vitamin A: 158IU |
Vitamin C: 2mg |
Calcium: 10mg |
Iron: 0.2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Savoring the Sweetness of Plumsicle
If you are looking for a fresh way to enjoy summer produce, the Plumsicle from HMC Farms is a delicious choice. This sweet plum variety is well suited for recipes that benefit from a bright fruit flavor, including frozen treats, sauces, and barbecue recipes. In this homemade BBQ sauce, the Plumsicle adds natural sweetness and a vivid color that pairs beautifully with smoky, savory, and grilled foods.
Plumsicles are easy to recognize because of their striking appearance. Look for deep, rich skin dotted with a yellow starburst of speckles. Inside, the fruit has juicy reddish-purple flesh that can bring beautiful color to homemade recipes. For this sauce, the skins stay on, which keeps the preparation simple and helps preserve the fruit’s character in the finished barbecue sauce.
HMC Farms Plumsicles are available seasonally between mid-June and late July in one-pound clamshells and two-pound stand-up bags. When you find them at your local grocery store, consider saving a few for this easy plum BBQ sauce. It is a simple way to add a sweet, tangy, fruit-forward flavor to your next cookout, whether you are brushing it on grilled dishes or serving it on the side for dipping.
What did you think of this Plumsicle BBQ Sauce? Did it bring something new to your barbecue table or become a favorite with your family and friends? Leave a comment below, join our Facebook community, or tag your plum-perfect photos on Instagram at @theproducemoms and @HMCfarms.
