Making Barbecue Sauce From Scratch

Summertime is the perfect time to make homemade barbecue sauce.

Recently, I made ketchup and mustard from scratch, and both were delicious. However, we don't use much ketchup in my house, so I decided to turn the ketchup into barbecue sauce. Even though we don't eat meat other than seafood, I can always find a way to use barbecue sauce!!

Watch Me

https://youtu.be/KYwpGKY7TCY

Homemade Vs Store-Bought

Just like with so many items you buy, store-bought barbecue sauce can be full of unpronounceable ingredients. Since I started off with my homemade ketchup, I know exactly what is in this sauce. If you want to follow along but don't want to make ketchup first, use the most natural ketchup you find.

I started with a recipe I found online, then modified it a bit.

The Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup ketchup

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce

1/3 cup light brown sugar

2 tsp yellow mustard (I used my homemade mustard, but French's works great too)

1 TBSP paprika (I used a combo of regular and smoked)

1 tsp onion powder

a few grinds of black pepper (1/8 tsp)

2 garlic cloves, minced

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk together well.

2. If the consistency seems a little too thin, transfer to a saucepan and cook on medium heat, stirring often, until thickened.

3. If the consistency seems a little too thick, whisk in a small amount of water.

4. Transfer to a glass jar or other covered container. Let the BBQ sauce rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before use to allow the flavors to meld together.

5. Store in the refrigerator for about 2-3 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.

Barbecue Sauce Variations

There are probably 100 versions of BBQ, but if you want to use this recipe and just change it up a bit, you have several options.

1. Use dark brown sugar for more molasses flavor.

2. Add another tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce.

3. Try a different mustard. Dijon mustard or whole-grain mustard would both be great.

4. Instead of onion powder, use your microplane to grate in some fresh onion.

5. Use more or less garlic.

6. Add in a tablespoon of chili powder and/or chipotle adobo.

7. Add some heat with a big pinch of cayenne pepper or a few teaspoons of sriracha sauce.

   

Uses for BBQ Sauce

Obviously, you can add BBQ sauce to just about any piece of meat. But what else can you use it for?

• Make BBQ veggie kababs.

• Coat portobello mushrooms with BBQ sauce, then grill them.

• BBQ sauce pairs well with seafood like salmon, shrimp, or cod.

• Add a spoonful to sauteed cabbage.

• Pan-fry tofu slices, then slather them in BBQ sauce. This works great with seitan too!

• BBQ Baked Beans - something like THIS.

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