The Secret For Making Your Own BBQ Sauce

You can develop your own signature BBQ sauce

Saturday, June 02, 2018

BBQ sauce is one thing every grill chef is particular about. The perfect BBQ sauce adds flavor and moisture to meat, but every area has its own varieties. It's simple to make, so you can easily develop your own custom BBQ sauce.

Types of BBQ Sauce

There are several types of BBQ sauce. Most traditional BBQ sauces either use tomato sauce, mustard, or vinegar as a base, and they come in all thicknesses. For instance, North Carolina barbecue sauce is thin and runny, while Kansas City barbecue sauces are thick and sticky.

There are also variations of sauces known as mopping sauces, which is regularly slopped all over the meat while it is cooking. Finishing sauce is used as a condiment when eating barbecue and is not used during the cooking process.

Using BBQ Sauce

BBQ sauce can be used before, during, and after cooking the meat. The only warning is to avoid using barbecue sauce that contains tomatoes or a lot of sugar during the cooking process. These ingredients burn too easily and can affect the taste of your meat.

BBQ Sauce Recipes

I have included three basic BBQ sauce recipes - one for each type of main ingredient. Make the basic barbecue sauce by following the recipe, then start experimenting to develop your own signature sauce.

Basic Tomato BBQ Sauce

1 regular can of tomato sauce

1 can of tomato paste

2 tablespoons vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons brown sugar

3 cloves garlic, crushed

4 tablespoons onion, minced

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1 teaspoon cayenne

fresh ground pepper to taste

Cook the garlic and onion until it's soft, and then add all the rest of the ingredients. Simmer on low for 20-30 minutes. Keep stirring it often so it doesn't burn, then refrigerate for a few days before you use it. This allows the flavors to blend and mellow.

Basic Vinegar BBQ Sauce

1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup hot water

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon paprika

1 teaspoon cayenne

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Stir the brown sugar into the hot water. Continue stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients and heat on low for a few minutes. This perfect to coat pulled pork, but don't add so much that it gets soupy.

Basic Mustard BBQ Sauce

1 cup prepared yellow mustard

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon cayenne

Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer on low for at least thirty minutes. This is great for southern pork style barbecue.

Once you've tried each of these BBQ sauce recipes, you can choose which is closest to what you want and begin modifying. Add or subtract ingredients, or change the amounts of different spices.

Finding the perfect barbecue sauce just takes time! Then you just have to decide whether to share your personal BBQ sauce recipe, or keep them begging!