Plum BBQ Sauce is the star of this meal. Sweet and just a little spicy it's tangy, tasty, easy to make and perfect with pork, chicken, fish or seafood!
If you love a great sauce on your bbq, be sure to try the Alabama white sauce recipe next, it's perfect for dunking!
This post has been updated from September 5, 2016 on July 4, 2019 to improve reader experience.
Plumb BBQ Sauce
Are you planning a cookout this week?. I know we've been doing a ton of grilling!
If you are too, I have the perfect easy and deliciously tasty sauce for you to mop all over your grilling goodies, Plumb BBQ Sauce!
I find when I'm working with food, I will cook what's in season (that's good!) but then because I'm focusing on that one ingredient, I present several recipes using that ingredient.
Bad? Not sure - you guys tell me! If you get tired of something, don't be afraid to let me know ok? I think earlier this season I must have posted 4 recipes using corn, then strawberries, etc.
Now I've moved onto sweet bell peppers. You know the ones you buy at the store in a bag and there's 12-15 in a bag? It's kinda hard to use them all up, but I hate throwing food away.
Here's what I always say....it can go to waist...but not to waste! 😀 I've put the bell peppers in salads, made sweet pickled peppers and I'm working on an amazing appetizer too. Yum!!
Plum BBQ Sauce Recipe
Along with those peppers came a pile of plums. They were plump and so sweet. I got a large bag of them at the farmers market and decided to make sauce with them.
You'll love this recipe - it's not your ordinary sauce! AND it's 100 times better than what you get in a bottle.
Using ordinary ingredients that you have on hand, this comes together in a snap! No need to heat up the house either, you can cook it right on the grill.
Grocery list for BBQ Sauce
- plums
- catsup
- brown sugar
- apple cider vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
- salt
- pepper
- red pepper flakes
- garlic powder
Grilled Veggie Kabobs
I wanted to make kabobs with just peppers....but there wasn't quite enough so I added some zucchini and red onion, but of
The true star of this blog is the Plum BBQ Sauce. Sweet and just a little spicy it's perfect for an easy kabob!
Plum Barbecue Sauce
Not at all, peeling the plums is not necessary. Just remove the pits and give the plums a rough chop.
Absolutely! Actually, you can use almost any fruit! I would recommend peaches, nectarines or apricots. Strawberries or even blackberries would also be delicious!
If you do substitute another fruit like peaches, nectarines or apricots I wouldn't worry about peeling those either.
Many barbecue sauces are tomato based and get their tangy from vinegar and spices
Because many are loaded with sugar and preservatives they sure can be. Making your own sauce helps you control the ingredients.
Steps to make Plum Sauce
- Clean the plum, slice in half remove the pit.
- Give them a rough chop.
- Add the plums and remaining ingredients to a blender and process until smooth.
- Pour into a small skillet or pan and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes stirring frequently to avoid burning.
It is so delicious and super simple! All of the ingredients went into the blender and it was processed until smooth and then poured it into a small
While the kabobs grilled, I basted them with the sauce. The sauce bubbled away cooked and reduced. I kept stirring it while it was bubbly and hot. (Of course if you don't want to use the grill you can certainly reduce the sauce on the stove top, it would only take about 10 minutes.)
What grills up great with this sauce?
Tri Tip - slather it on at the end - so tasty!- Lamb Chops would be perfect!
- Shrimp Kabobs - sweet shrimp and this sweet, tangy sauce? YUM!
- Chicken Kabobs - delicious!
Side Dishes to pair with this meal!
If you're grilling up a protein, I'd recommend some Corn on the Cob and a great pasta salad, like my Bow Tie Pasta Salt, Macaroni Pasta Salad or Southern Style Ham Pasta Salad - wouldn't that be delicious?
For dessert consider serving Grandma Darnell's Blueberry Cobbler or my Mom's recipe for Rhubarb Pie - YUM!!!
See it just bubbling away?
Homemade Plum BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped plums 2-3 plums depending upon the size
- ⅓ cup catsup
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce vegan
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Veggies of choice for the kabob
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Instructions
- There is no need to peel the plums. Add all of the ingredients to your blender or food processor. Process until smooth.
- If reducing on the grill, pour into a small cast iron skillet and reduce the sauce. You'll need to stir it frequently so it doesn't burn. If reducing on the stove, place in a small sauce pan over medium heat and reduce stirring frequently. This takes about 10 minutes, either on the grill or stovetop.
- Choose your veggies and prepare the skewers. After cleaning the vegetables, thread them onto the skewer, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Grill about 3 minutes each side, mop with sauce, flip & repeat until the vegetables are cooked.
Melody
First of all, this BBQ sauce came out plum delicious!
I had a few of these prune plums that I bought on a whim but didn't enjoy eating by themselves. Not very sweet at all, too tart, no balance. I stumbled across your recipe, and with just enough plum left, it fit the bill. I followed the recipe as written, but, knowing that I don't have a grill and wouldn't get the associated flavors in conjunction with the sauce, I added several shakes of liquid smoke! It was the right move.
Sweet, tangy, savory and a hint of spice and smoke is what I call a good BBQ sauce! First I'll probably marinade and brush this sauce onto some chicken thighs before broiling, but then I'll surely devise a way to get this sauce to a veggie medley of some sort. Thanks, Deb!
Bowl Me Over
That's wonderful Melody! Sounds like you're enjoying the sauce, you nailed it - sweet, savory with just a little tang - enjoy!!!
ryvir
This was my first attempt at a homemade bbq sauce. Very tasty. I tripled it based on how many plums I had and it still tastes delicious. Just enough heat to add to it without overpowering.
Bowl Me Over
Wonderful! I'm so glad you love this sauce, it freezes well so hopefully you'll have some in the coming months too!!!
BBQ
This is very good article for plum BBQ sauce. Thank you very much for sharing this awesome recipe. Today I will try this recipe. This is really helpful for us.
Bowl Me Over
Wonderful, I hope you really enjoy this tasty sauce!
Mary Sarah
I too want those veggie skewers and no they are not listed in the article. Could you please supply the link.
Bowl Me Over
Hey Mary I just updated the post with the link! It's right above the recipe. With Amazon Prime Day, today's the day to grab them!!
Amy
This might have been answered already but I didn’t have the time to read through all the comments. Where did you get those kabob skewers?
Bowl Me Over
Hey Amy, yes it's in the recipe - use your veggies of choice! I especially love those little bell peppers, onions and zucchini. If you have some mushrooms, even better!
Margo Miller
I made this sauce today and love the combination of sweet, sour, and spicy. I don't have a grill, so I thought I'd use the sauce for dipping with roasted vegetables. Does that sound like a good idea?
Bowl Me Over
Hey Margo, that would be perfect! You’ll love this sauce with veggies!
Andrea J
Looks and sounds great. Just wondering if you can make larger batches and store it .
Bowl Me Over
Hey Andrea - You sure could, just make it up - seal well and freeze. Thanks for checking!
Jessica
Hi there 🙂 do the plums need to be peeled beforehand? Looks great!
Bowl Me Over
Hey Jessica, I'm so excited you're making this sauce - it's just spectacular! No need to peel the plums, just remove the pits. That's a great question, I'll update the recipe to alleviate future confusion. Thank you!!
Angela
Ive never had a plum BBQ sauce but boy does it sound wonderful!!! Love grilled veggies so this is certainly one I need to try!
Bowl Me Over
I love plums and jus the other day my friend Michelle and I were talking that plums are the overlooked fruit! 😀 I hope you give this a try - simple and yummy!
Camilla
This plum sauce sounds mega tasty, perfect for this time of year:-)
Bowl Me Over
Indeed Camilla - full of big delicious flavor! I enjoy!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
Plum sauce!!! That sounds AMAZING!! I bet the veggies are so delicious with that beautiful sauce.
linda spiker
Yummmm! I am still grilling and this recipe is on the list!
christine
I've never made my own BBQ sauce. Wow, this one looks packed with flavor and I think I might give it a go!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet
That plum bbq sauce looks and sounds soooo good!
Bowl Me Over
Thank you so much Kimberly! I love I was able to capture the bubbly goodness in the sauce! 😀
Dee Dee (My Midlife Kitchen)
I love kabobs of any sort. You feel like you're getting a huge meal, but I find it easier to control portions this way. I love the sauce you use on these veggies, too. Yum!
Bowl Me Over
I agree Dee Dee and it's such a great way to sneak in more veggies - grilled peppers are my fav veggie so delish!
Sandra Shaffer
That plumb sauce looks delicious and so flavorful! I have plenty of grilling time here in CA, so I'm going to give this recipe a try!
Bowl Me Over
That's the beauty of living in Cali Sandra, gotta love our sunshine! Thank you so much and enjoy!
Citra Kale @Citra's Home Diary
O wow... I love the sauce you make here... And those veggie kabobs seriously amazing!
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Citra, such a great use for our tasty plums!
Julie @ Texan New Yorker
Look at that char!! Amazing! I love that you use fresh plums in your sauce, which also looks incredible!
Bowl Me Over
That char is definitely where it's at! Thanks so much Julie!!
Adriana Lopez-Martin
What a great idea to use plumbs for BBQ sauce tangy and sweet, loved it =)
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Adriana, the plums work so nicely in this recipe. Enjoy!
Patty Haxton Anderson
I made a jalapeno plum bbq sauce last summer and plums just add such great flavor to a bbq sauce. I love that you've grilled veggies to go with your version and that you can reduce it right on the grill in the cast iron skillet - it looks scrumptious!
Bowl Me Over
Mmmmm! Loving your sweet/heat combo, that sounds delicious! That sauce on the grill is just bubbly goodness!!!