Contents[Hide][Show]
I always get excited when I learn to make a common spice at home. When it’s something I use a lot and it always seems to end up like honey mustard, it’s even more satisfying.
I was going to make ribs recently and I wasn’t without barbecue sauce. Instead of going to the store, I made a trip to the kitchen. It took a little tweaking, but I’m happy with the result. And now I can use it to make barbecue chicken nachos!
The anatomy of barbecue sauce
Most people are aware that barbecue sauces vary depending on the region and personal preferences. It has the thick, smoky-sweet look that comes from Kansas City and the thinner, more vinegar-like look from Carolina. More details here.
Most barbecue sauces contain tomato sauce (or ketchup), mustard and vinegar, as well as additional spices and sometimes something sweet. Mine is heavily based on tomatoes and apple sauce. I add a decent amount of vinegar and balance it with a number of spices. Some people use liquid smoke (bottled smoky aqueous substance) to achieve the smoky taste of barbecue sauce, but I prefer to use smoked red pepper.
The beauty of making your own is that you can customize it to your liking. My recipe does not fit perfectly into any category. It is quite thick, a little sweet, a little spicy and has a nice vinegar. I suggest you prepare, try and adjust until you get the sauce you love.
Preparation of sauce and spices for barbecue at home
Over the years, I switched to many homemade spices. I did it gradually, adding one here and one there. I think I would have been devastated if I had switched to a home-cooked cold turkey. But as I added one by one, it became second nature to have a number in the fridge.
I think there are two really useful kitchen equipment that you need to have for making spices. The first is a good supply of jars with pint-sized lids. They are great for shaking, mixing and storing. The second is an immersion blender (stick blender). This one has extra attachments, so it’s ideal for pureeing, beating and slicing.
Here are some spices I like to make:
Printing
PIN
Recipe for homemade barbecue sauce
Make a sweet, smoky, spicy barbecue sauce at home with simple ingredients that are probably in your cupboard or refrigerator.
Instructions
-
In a medium saucepan, beat all the ingredients together except the water.
-
Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
-
Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes, until flavors are mixed, beating every few minutes.
-
Allow the sauce to cool and store in the refrigerator.
-
If necessary, add water to the dilution and use as any barbecue sauce.
Notes
Customize the sweet, sour and spicy elements of this recipe to make the perfect barbecue sauce for you!
Nutrition
Serving: 2TBSP | Calories: 25kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Thick: 1g | Saturated fats: 1g | Polyunsaturated fats: 1g | Monounsaturated fats: 1g | Sodium: 217mg | Potassium: 141mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 222IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg
Do you make your own barbecue sauce?