Making your own BBQ sauce is a great way to ensure you know exactly what's going into it, and it's more affordable than store-bought options. Plus, it's just tastier! A simple, basic BBQ sauce can be made with ketchup, mustard, and brown sugar. You can also add ingredients like honey, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cumin to give it a deeper flavor.
If you're looking for a sauce with a kick, you can add some cayenne pepper or chili powder. Or, for a smokier flavor, try adding some smoked paprika. The options for customization are endless!
What You'll Learn
Brown sugar for sweetness
Brown sugar is a key ingredient in making barbecue sauce, as it adds the rich sweetness you expect from a classic, homemade barbecue sauce. You can use either dark or light brown sugar, depending on your preference. The amount of brown sugar you add will determine how sweet your sauce will be, so if you're not a fan of sweet barbecue sauce, you can reduce the amount of brown sugar in the recipe or leave it out altogether.
If you want to make a reduced-sugar barbecue sauce, you can substitute the brown sugar with a sugar-free sweetener instead. Alternatively, you can try using tomato puree in place of ketchup and brown sugar.
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Apple cider vinegar for tang
Apple cider vinegar is a key ingredient in many barbecue sauces, adding a tangy, sharp flavour to the mix. It's a popular choice for barbecue sauces in the Carolinas, where it's often paired with pulled pork.
Apple cider vinegar is the recommended vinegar to use for the best flavour, but if you don't have any to hand, you can substitute it with white vinegar.
Here's a recipe for a Carolina Barbecue Sauce:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Method:
- Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and cook over a medium heat.
- Bring to a boil, whisking until the sugar and salt are dissolved.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Pour the sauce into a jar or bottle and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before serving.
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Worcestershire sauce for umami
Worcestershire sauce is a great way to add umami to your barbecue sauce. It is a British invention, first created in 1835 by two chemists, Lea & Perrins, at the request of Lord Sandys, who had tasted something similar during his travels through the colonies. The sauce is made by fermenting a mix of vinegar, anchovies, molasses, garlic, cloves, and tamarind in a barrel, then bottling it.
Worcestershire sauce is a versatile condiment that can be used to add a savoury, umami flavour to many dishes. It is a staple in British "cheese on toast", and can also be used in marinades, stewed greens, vinaigrettes, and even cocktails like the Bloody Mary.
When making barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce can be added to ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and spices to create a bold, tangy, and slightly spicy sauce. This sauce can be used as a marinade, dipping sauce, or topping for meat, especially grilled foods like chicken, burgers, and ribs.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups ketchup
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp dry mustard
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Instructions:
Place all the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer. Let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes, or until it has thickened. Store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week, or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Feel free to adjust the amounts of each ingredient to suit your taste preferences. You can also add other spices like chili powder or onion powder, or a squirt of lemon juice for some extra tanginess.
So, the next time you're making barbecue sauce, don't forget to add a dash of Worcestershire sauce for that extra umami kick!
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Spices and seasonings for flavour
Spices and seasonings are key to creating a delicious barbecue sauce. The spices and seasonings in the recipes I found include:
- Paprika
- Cayenne pepper
- Smoked paprika
- Celery salt
- Dry mustard
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Ground mustard
- Red pepper flakes
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Cumin
- Chili powder
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Parsley
- Garlic salt
- Chili powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Honey
- Liquid smoke
- Cinnamon
- Molasses
- Ginger
- Chipotle
- Onion powder
- Oregano
- Liquid smoke
- Honey
- Cinnamon
- Molasses
- Ginger
- Chipotle
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Celery seed
- Cumin
- Chili powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Honey
- Liquid smoke
- Cinnamon
- Molasses
- Ginger
- Chipotle
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Celery seed
- Cumin
- Chili powder
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Hot sauce for heat
If you're looking for a keto-friendly BBQ sauce that packs a punch, then adding some heat with hot sauce is a great way to go. Here are some tips and tricks to make a delicious and spicy keto BBQ sauce.
Ingredients
To make a spicy keto BBQ sauce, you'll need the following ingredients:
- Sugar-free ketchup or tomato paste: This will serve as the base of your sauce. You can use store-bought sugar-free ketchup or make your own by mixing tomato paste with water.
- Apple cider vinegar: This adds a tangy flavour to the sauce.
- Worcestershire sauce: This sauce adds umami flavour to the mix. If you're allergic to seafood or avoiding soy, you can substitute it with coconut aminos.
- Liquid smoke: This ingredient gives the sauce a smoky BBQ flavour. It's a secret ingredient that intensifies the taste of your sauce.
- Spices: Smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper will bring the heat and add depth of flavour to your sauce. You can also include ground mustard powder and chipotle powder for an extra kick.
- Sweetener: While some people prefer to omit sweeteners, you can use a brown sugar substitute or erythritol to add some sweetness to balance out the heat.
Instructions
Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan, adding water last and stirring to mix well. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and continue stirring for 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let it cool completely so it can thicken. Taste your sauce and adjust the seasonings, sweetness, or heat to your preference. If you want it spicier, add more cayenne pepper or include some red pepper flakes. You can also stir in some hot sauce or buffalo sauce for an extra kick.
Storage
Your spicy keto BBQ sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If you want to store it for longer, you can freeze it for up to 2 months. Simply thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before using it again.
Now you're ready to slather your spicy keto BBQ sauce on everything from grilled chicken to pulled pork! Enjoy the heat and the flavour!
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Frequently asked questions
You will need ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. You can also add other spices like paprika, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes to adjust the flavor to your preference.
Combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until the ingredients are well combined, and then let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened. Store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week, or freeze it for up to three months.
This recipe typically makes enough sauce to fill a 32-ounce ketchup bottle. It will stay fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. If you need to store it for longer, you can freeze it for up to three months.