BBQ sauce 101

•The great thing about making bbq sauce from scratch is that you can adjust it to meet the flavors you like and you know exactly what ingredients are going into it.  I’m more a fan of a tangy vinegar flavor, not a super sweet or overly spicy flavor.  This recipe is a mix of all.  Use this as your go to bbq sauce or as a base to create your own. 

BBQ sauce 101 

Things to remember when making bbq sauce: mix and match to create your own

Need a base flavor-tomato is most common, but can also use mustard, hoisin sauce, beer, fruit preserves or even mayonnaise.

 Need to have some sort of acid-most common is vinegar, but there are tons of vinegar flavors to experiment with.  Can also use lemon, lime or orange juice.

Need some sweet-most common is brown sugar and molasses, but can use honey, fruit juice or agave nectar

Need to have some mix in’s-most common (and really should be in all) are onion and garlic, but can use bell peppers, dried or fresh fruits, chilies, fresh or dried herbs or ginger.

Need some spice-most common is black pepper and cayenne, but can use red pepper flakes, chili powder, minced jalapeno, hot sauce, horseradish or siracha.

Need that hmmm? factor- this gives it that depth of flavor.  Soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, maple syrup, whiskey, cinnamon, oyster sauce or strong black coffee.

Need time- all the flavors need to get acquainted.  Sauce tastes much better the next day, but a couple hours are fine.

tangy honey bbq sauce

1 1/2 cups good quality ketchup

1/2 cup finely minced onion

1 garlic clove-finely minced

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

4 tbls honey

3 tbls brown sugar

1 tbls worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tbls vegetable oil

 

makes 1 1/2 cups-double it and save some for later

prep, cooking and mingling time 1 1/2 hours-making the day before is even better

 

Heat a medium sauce pan over med-high heat.  Add the oil, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper.  Saute until the onions are translucent.

Add the ketchup, honey, brown sugar, worcesterchire sauce, and apple cider vinegar-mix well.

Bring to a bubble and let simmer on low heat for 15 min.

Let cool in the pan for at least a hour.  Use in your favorite recipe right away or transfer to container (glass canning jars work good) and keep in the fridge for up to a week♥Enjoy