How to Make Homemade Barbecue Sauce
Barbecue sauce is ubiquitous to American cuisine, and regional varieties and personal concoctions abound. For example, Carolina sauce tends to be thin and runny, while Kansas City style is thick and sticky. There are also variations of cooking sauces versus dipping sauces; one is used as a marinade and the other used as a condiment. Barbecue sauce is one of the most debated items in a chef's repertoire. While every good grill cook has a favorite recipe, and many hold inside secrets to their own creations, the basic foundation of a good sauce is very simple. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- 1 stick melted butter
- 2 cups ketchup or 1 can diced tomato
- 2 diced onions
- 1/4 cup red wine or cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup soft brown sugar
- salt and pepper
Instructions
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Fry the onion in butter over medium-high heat until it begins to turn translucent. Add the tomato or ketchup and stir well.
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Stir in the remaining ingredients, blending well. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often. The sauce can now be used as a marinade and cooking sauce. Be sure to reserve some sauce for dipping.
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Experiment with variations like hot sauce, chili flakes or crushed red pepper, celery seed, fresh diced jalapeno, molasses or pancake syrup instead of brown sugar, bourbon or other whiskey, lime and cilantro, espresso or other coffee, Liquid Smoke, pineapple or orange juice, soy sauce, ginger, and fresh or roasted garlic.
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Tips & Warnings
Extra sauce can be refrigerated for up to 90 days. Many chefs prepare two or more sauces to give their guests a choice of flavors. Some variations are sweet and citrus-flavored while others are spicy and heavy with pepper. Slow cooking works especially well with chicken, pork and ribs.
Be careful not to burn the sauce while preparing it. Simmer slowly, stirring often. Sauces with lots of sugar may tend to burn when grilled. Use low to medium heat with these sauces and baste often while cooking.
