Home made BBQ sauces are well guarded secrets amongst competitive pit masters. Despite all of the various flavors of sauces out there, most sauces have the same basics ingredients. Knowing these ingredients should allow you to experiment with different ratios and then you too can develop your 'secret' recipe.
BBQ sauces are usually made out of tomato paste, vinegar, spices and sweeteners. Some other ingredients can be ketchup, molasses (or other sugars), Worcestershire sauce, mustard powder, garlic, butter, chili powder, ancho powder, black pepper, onions, alcohol, meat drippings and liquid smoke.
Barbeque
The following three recipes demonstrate the use of these ingredients:
#1: Fabulous Bourbon BBQ Sauce
In a large skillet over medium heat combine ½ an onion, 4 cloves of garlic (minced) and ¾ cup of Bourbon Whiskey. Let simmer for about 10 minutes until the onions are translucent. Add ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ tablespoon of salt, 2 cups of ketchup, ¼ cup of tomato paste, 1/3 cup cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons of liquid smoke, ¼ cup of Worcestershire sauce, ½ cup of packed brown sugar and 1/3 teaspoon of hot pepper sauce (more or less to your taste). Bring the mixture to a boil and let summer for about 20 minutes.
#2: 'Simpler is Better' BBQ Sauce
This sauce only has five ingredients but is full of flavor.
Start by pouring 1 full 46 oz bottle of ketchup in a large saucepan. Pour 1 ½ cup of apple cider vinegar into the saucepan and stir in 2 packed cups of brown sugar. Add ½ cup of butter and 2 tablespoons of red pepper flakes (more or less to your taste). Cook on medium heat until it starts to slightly simmer, but do not boil! This recipe makes a lot of sauce and a good way to preserve it is to pour it into the empty ketchup bottle and keep refrigerated.
#3: Dual Purpose BBQ Sauce
This recipe can be used as a sauce and also servers as an awesome marinade for beef, pork and chicken.
Begin with 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil over medium heat in a skillet. Saute ½ diced onion until tender and golden. Stir in 1 clove of minced garlic, 3 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, 3 tablespoons white vinegar, 2 tablespoons of molasses and 1 teaspoon of your favorite mustard. Cool for 5 minutes, stirring well and add 1 cup of ketchup. In a separate bowl, dissolve 1 teaspoon of cornstarch in ½ cup of cold water, mixing until smooth and no lumps. Add the cornstarch mixture to the skillet and stir the sauce until it thickens.
There you go, three fabulous sauces to demonstrate the possibilities that exist behind a few simple ingredients.
Barbeque Sauce Recipe Secrets
To learn more great BBQ tips and recipes, including secrets from champion BBQ pit masters, visit my website BBQMarinade.Net [http://www.BBQMarinade.Net/articles/]. Cheers =)