Homemade BBQ Sauce
This recipe guides you in crafting a rich and flavorful homemade BBQ sauce. It combines classic ingredients like ketchup, molasses, and brown sugar with the smoky heat of chipotle peppers, creating a versatile condiment perfect for grilling or dipping. The process involves sautéing aromatics then simmering all ingredients to meld the flavors.
Equipment
- 1 Saucepan Medium-sized, heavy-bottomed
- 1 Whisk or Heatproof Spatula For stirring and combining ingredients
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Chef's knife For mincing garlic and dicing onion
- 1 Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
Main
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 onion diced
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 4 tablespoons distilled vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Dash salt
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and onions and cook for 5 minutes, stirring, being careful not to burn them. Reduce the heat to low. Add the ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, chipotle peppers, vinegar (or less to taste), Worcestershire sauce and salt and stir. Allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Taste after simmering and add whatever ingredient it needs (more spice, more sugar, etc.).
Notes
Achieving the right balance is key for BBQ sauce. Taste as you go, especially after simmering, to adjust sweetness (more brown sugar/molasses), acidity (more vinegar), or heat (more chipotle). Ensure a gentle simmer; too high heat can scorch the sugars. For a smoother sauce, you can blend it with an immersion blender once cooled slightly. Letting it rest overnight allows flavors to meld beautifully, enhancing its complexity. Always cook down the aromatics (garlic, onion) slowly to soften them and build a flavorful base without burning.