Last Updated on September 8, 2024
Learn how to make this simply easy Plum Barbecue Sauce.
It’s that time of year and plums are ready to harvest!
So many different ways to use ripe plums other than just enjoying them as a little treat.
My favorite was always the sweet jam my mother would always make every year.
But I wanted to find something a little different, so I decided to create a barbecue sauce.
It is a very tart and slightly smokey sweet sauce that has just a fruity hint from the plums.
My family loves it on burgers, as a fry dip, on fried eggs, and as a marinade.
I have also added it to my chili, check out my recipe on How to make a Customizable Vegan Chili.
You can also drizzle it on these Vegetable Tofu Kebobs.
Or you can use this sauce in either of these sandwich recipes, Barbecue Mushroom Sandwich, or the Vegan Barbecue Tempeh Sandwich.
Ingredients needed for the sauce
- Plums – I used a plum picked fresh from the tree. These are a little tart purple plum, not sure what variety, they are smaller than your typical plum. Plums from the store would work very well, and will actually add more sweetness to the sauce.
- Tomato Sauce – This tomato puree adds a more savory flavor to the barbecue sauce.
- Real Maple Syrup – Maple syrup is my sweetener of choice. I love the slight smoky vanilla/caramel flavor it adds to the sauce.
- Balsamic Vinegar – Balsamic vinegar adds a slight smoky sweetness, as well as bringing out more of the plum flavor of this sauce.
- Vinegar – I also added apple cider vinegar to the sauce. This vinegar also adds sweet notes and a sour taste to the sauce.
- Minced Garlic – Garlic adds a bold flavor to the sauce. Minced garlic is my choice, a powdered garlic will work just as well.
- Seasonings – Smoked paprika, salt, and onion powder.
- Water – Only add water if you need to thin the sauce. I did need to add just a little water to help the blender to puree the sauce.
How to make a Plum Barbecue Sauce
Slice the plums in half and remove the seed.
Cut the halves into 4 and add to the blender, no need to remove the peeling.
Add all the other ingredients to the high speed blender and blend until smooth.
If the mixture is too thick, add water, about 1 to 2 Tbsp. at a time until desired thickness.
Note: Keep in mind that you will be cooking the sauce to reduce.
Pour the mixture into a medium sized sauce pan.
Cook at a medium heat for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until thick like a BBQ sauce.
Remove from heat to let cool.
Once cool, store in a canning jar, and place into the refrigerator until ready to use.
Plum Barbecue Sauce
Equipment
- 1 High Speed Blender
- 1 Medium Sized Sauce Pan
- 1 Canning Jar with lid Quart size
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Diced Plums Any variety of plum will work.
- 2/3 Cup Tomato Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1/4 Cup Real Maple Syrup
- 1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Minced Garlic Or powdered garlic will work.
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- Water Start by adding 1 to 2 Tbsp of water and increase as needed.
Instructions
- Slice the plums in half and remove the seed.
- Cut the halves into 4 and add to the blender, no need to remove the peeling.
- Add all the other ingredients to the high speed blender and blend until smooth.
- If the mixture is too thick, add water, about 1 to 2 Tbsp. at a time until desired thickness.
- Note: Keep in mind that you will be cooking the sauce to reduce.
- Pour the mixture into a medium sized sauce pan.
- Cook at a medium heat for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until thick like a BBQ sauce.
- Remove from heat to let cool.
- Once cool, store in a canning jar, and place into the refrigerator until ready to use.
