Homemade Bar-B-Que Sauces    

In all fairness, you can’t blame most people for buying bottled barbeque sauce. After all, the vast majority of people don’t know any better. It seems homemade barbeque sauce has been relegated to the world of TV chefs and independent restaurants. Some people act like a BBQ sauce recipe is some kind of priceless heirloom that must be guarded with their lives. The truth is, making barbeque sauce at home is easy and worth a little extra effort. Once you master the basic recipe, you can give fancier versions like guava bar-b-que saucea try. Like virtually everything that can be eaten, barbeque sauce tastes best when it is homemade. Surprisingly, the rich tangy sauce most people associate with grilling is easy to pull together. You probably already have everything you need to whip up a basic bbq sauce.

 

 

Basic BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 medium onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup ketchup
1 Tbsp. molasses
¼ cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp. Worchester sauce
1 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Tbsp. mustard

Directions

1. Heat oil over medium heat and cook onion until soft, 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds.
2. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Store any unused sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up two weeks.

This will make a very basic sauce that is similar to the ones you buy in the store, only better! However, the secret to making BBQ sauce at home is adding those special ingredients that you love. It's easy to see how this basic recipe could be dressed up with hot sauce, chilies, fruit preserves and other spices or flavors.

Fruit-based barbeque sauce is a popular variation. This recipe for guava bar-b-que sauce can easily be adapted to other types of fruit. Apricots, pineapple and mango are all popular choices.

Guava BBQ Sauce  

Ingredients

1 recipe Basic BBQ Sauce
1 ripe guava, finely diced
OR
8 oz. guava paste

Directions

Add guava or guava paste to basic sauce in step two and finish recipe as directed.

Guava paste is available in Asian and Latin markets. You can also purchase it online. Frozen fruit can also be used in BBQ sauces, but it should be pureed first. Jam, chutney, or other preserved fruit can be substituted for fresh.

Homemade fruit based barbeque sauce is easy to prepare and tastes great. Best of all, it will impress your guests. You can even bottle your sauce and give it to neighbors as gifts. Next time you warm up the grill, raid the pantry and whip up some homemade bar-b-que sauce that will leave your family asking for more.