What Is A Pluot?


WHAT IS A PLUOT?




Fruit hybrids have been around for ages and today we'd like to focus on one particular fruit in season all summer long: the pluot. This sweet and delicious stone fruit is great eaten fresh but also makes a great base for pies, crisps, smoothies and even salads.

WHAT IS A PLUOT FRUIT?


This hybrid fruit is three parts plum and one part apricot, hence its name. They may look like plums on the outside but the inside they have the flesh of an apricot.

THE STORY BEHIND THE PLUOT


To understand the pluot one must first talk about its predecessor: the plumcot, a fruit hybrid that is half-plum and half-apricot. Plumcots date back to the late 19th century and were the brainchild of Luther Burbank, a famous horticulturist who lived in Santa Rosa, California.

Burbank, who was friends with Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, developed more than 800 new varieties of plants in his career, according to the organization named in his honor. When the talented plant breeder died in 1926 the plumcot's journey was far from over.


image via Johann Bryggare

During the following decades, other plant breeders continued experimenting with the plumcot to make it easier to cultivate. One of those people was Floyd Zaiger, owner of Zaiger Genetics.

Zaiger released a new plum and apricot hybrid in the 1980s, according to SF Gate. This time the fruit was 75 percent plum and 25 percent apricot. Its name? The pluot.

PLUOT VARIETIES


Many varieties of pluots exist and while they are not exactly three-quarters plum, one-quarter apricot, it is safe to say they are mostly plum.

Some of the most popular varieties of pluots are:
  • Dapple Dandy
  • Santa Rosa
  • Flavor King
  • Emerald Beaut
  • Flavor Heart
  • Cinnamon Red
  • Flavor Royal
  • Black Nectar

PLUOT VS. PLUMS


Pluots look a lot like plums but taste much sweeter thanks to the infusion of apricot genes.

PLUOT NUTRITION


Pluots contain a good amount of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and fiber. They not only give you an immune boost but also help you stay regular.

CALORIES OF A PLUOT


A medium-sized pluot has about 80 calories and 1 gram of protein.

HOW TO EAT A PLUOT: RECIPE IDEAS


When fresh, pluots are to be consumed just like any other stone fruit: take a bite and enjoy! However, this gorgeous fruit is incredibly versatile and can be transformed into jams, sorbets, pies, crumbles, and makes a great addition to salads. Let's take a look at some fun recipes with pluots.

PLUOT ICE CREAM SUNDAES



A pluot sauce elevates vanilla ice cream to heavenly status. Simply cook the plouts with a touch of sugar. Topping the ice cream sundae with almond brittle makes this the ultimate summer treat. Entertaining with Beth shows you how to make it.

PLUOT CLAFOUTIS




Do you love French cuisine? Use pluots instead of plums to make a tasty clafoutis to serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

PLUOT SMOOTHIE


Pluots can be combined with just about any fruit to produce a delectable smoothie. Try adding a chopped pluot to any of these easy smoothie recipes.

PLUOT PIE



Thinly sliced pluots tossed with sugar and cinnamon make for an addictive pie. This recipe from the Avantgartist will help you make a pluot pie from scratch.

SALAD WITH PLUOTS


If you enjoy sweet and savory flavor combos you'll want to add sliced or chopped pluots to your salads. They are especially delicious when combined with chicken, nuts, arugula, and salty cheeses such as feta.

HUNGRY FOR MORE?




If you are curious about other rare plums, we invite you to check out our guide to Umeboshi plumsfrom Japan.

http://bit.ly/2Np9CSS

Comments