Meet the hybrid fruit, it's a cross between a plum and an apricot. It's a pluot!
When I first saw the word pluot, I thought someone misspelled the planet Pluto. Thank goodness for context. I was reading an article about interspecies fruit. When two fruits or vegetables cross-pollinate successfully, we get produce like: a nectaplum (nectarine and plum), broccolini (broccoli and Chinese kale), and kalette (Brussels sprouts and kale). Today’s blog post is about the pluot, a hybrid cross between a plum and an apricot. I know what you are thinking “Susan, you advocate the Paleo lifestyle. Why are you talking about a GMO fruit?” Well, my friends, you will be happy to know, I’m not! The pluot, like many other hybrid fruits and vegetables, was produced through hand-pollination.
What is a Pluot?
As I said above, the pluot is a cross between a plum and an apricot. These interspecies fruits are fascinating because they usually have a taste all their own. They come in a variety of colors, ranging from dark red to gold, and have a thin skin wrapped around juicy meat. Pluots are very sweet and sometimes have a bit of spice to them.
What are the Health Benefits of Pluots?
Pluots share their health benefits with many other fruits, like their parents. You'll find these sweet fruits are low in calories and high in vitamins A & C, potassium, and dietary fiber. Speaking of their sweetness, do watch out if you keep a close eye on your sugar intake. One pluot can add 15 grams of sugar to your daily total. Vitamins A & C are well known antioxidants and researchers have documented their benefits, like improving eyesight and boosting immunity. Fiber, of course, helps with digestion and keeps us regular. I consider variety and creativity critical to a successful weight loss effort and produce like the pluot offers that.
I found a delicious pluot parfait popsicle recipe to try! If you follow a paleo diet, then replacing the yogurt, sugar, and granola in this recipe is all you have to do! I found it on EatsWellWithOthers, and I have reproduced it for you here:
For the popsicle:
2 large peaches, pitted
2 pluots, pitted
½ cup honey Greek yogurt (replace with your favorite Paleo friendly alternative)
2 Tbsp. sugar (replace with maple or honey)
½ tsp. cinnamon
For the streusel:
4 Weetabix biscuits (replace with your favorite nut mix)
3 Tbsp. brown sugar (replace with honey or maple)
2 Tbsp. melted butter
1 tsp. cinnamon
1. Cut the peaches and pluots into slices and place in the bowl of a blender or food processor. Add the Greek yogurt, sugar, and cinnamon and pulse until totally pureed. Set aside.
2. For the streusel, break up the Weetabix biscuits into a medium bowl. Stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter. Mix until totally combined.
3. Fill the popsicle molds halfway with the peach, pluot, and yogurt mixture. Add a layer of streusel, followed by a second layer of peach, pluot, and yogurt mix. Top off with streusel.
4. Add the popsicle sticks so that they are inserted about ¾ of the way into the mold. Put in the freezer and let chill until frozen.
Have you ever had a pluot or another type of hybrid fruit or vegetable? Tell me your favorite in the comments section!