A Southern Grace: saucy.

June 5, 2009

saucy.

Yum

It's extremely easy to buy barbecue sauce at the store. Well, actually, I take that back--there are so many appetizing varieties available that it becomes a little challenging to choose just one.


But that would be the only hurdle.

Still, I enjoy being in the kitchen (obviously) and I enjoy eating homemade things, so I thought I'd try my hand at making my own barbecue sauce.

Guess what. It's also extremely easy to make barbecue sauce at home. What's more, you can fine-tune it and toss in whatever tickles your fancy (and leave out whatever doesn't--no preservatives or modified starches in my blend, thank you very much). My fancy just so happens to be tickled by both heat and sweet, so I included ample amounts of the ingredients necessary to achieve these qualities.


My sauce made for a mean chicken barbecue sammich.

Never again will I have to stand in the sauce aisle at the grocery store, engaged in an intense internal debate, yet appearing to bystanders to be just staring at the stock like a moron...

Sweet Burn Barbecue Sauce
(adapted from Serious Eats)

2 cups ketchup
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup prepared yellow mustard
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan and slowly bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and gently simmer until dark and thick, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer the sauce to a clean bottle or jar and store in the refrigerator, where it will keep for several months.

66 comments:

Shari said...

This sounds like a killer combo!
And how cool to develop your own brand! Thanks for sharing!

eatme_delicious said...

Mmm I really need to make my own bbq sauce!

Julia said...

I'm shocked, SHOCKED that you don't like modified starches in your BBQ Sauce. ;-)

Your recipe looks great! As do your bbq sammich... mmmmm, yum!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

I've actually made my own before and loved, so why haven't I again. Actually now that I think of it I think all five of us loved it. It's probably waaaaaaaaay cheaper. I'm gonna give your recipe a try!

Love your humor!
~ingrid

Anonymous said...

i'm all about making things at home (especially when i can control the sugar/HFCS/salt amounts in it), but have never found a good combo of ingredients to make bbq sauce. i'll have to give this one a try...then put it on some pulled pork. ;-)

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

I make a similar recipe. When I do I serve it with BBQ chicken. Smells so good.

Paula said...

Oh yeah, I'm all about "heat and sweet"! :-) I have stood in that aisle looking at all the jars, only to select the same jar over and over. Then when it's time to use it, I end up adding so much stuff that I should have just made my own to start with. Now you've given me a great place to start from scratch! :-)

Julie said...

Great minds think alike; I just posted an orange marmalade barbecue sauce on my blog. I love spicy and sweet, so I'll definitely be giving yours a try!

Vera said...

Grace, I've copied the recipe, it sounds divine! Thank you for sharing!

Zoe said...

I like sweet with a hint of spice too. Thanks for sharing a lovely recipe! And that chicken sandwich...mmm.

lisa is cooking said...

Wait, I can't comment on your sauce recipe yet because I'm still distracted by the photo of the sandwich.

--

Ok, your sauce sounds great! I like the addition of celery seed.

Melanie said...

I've been on the hunt for a good homemade bbq recipe. I tried one a few weeks ago and was a bit disappointed so thanks for posting my next try! Delish.

Donna-FFW said...

Oh Grace.. This sounds incredible and your sandwich looks absolutely amazing.

Jescel said...

Yummy! Your sammy looks so delish. It's true, home-made bbq sauce is much better w/o those harmful ingredients. I try to make them myself too when I have time.

Stacey said...

Wow, I have never thought to make homemade barbecue sauce! I will have to try this out... it doesn't seem too hard!

Deborah said...

This sounds delicious - just how I'd want mine!

Lyndas recipe box said...

Great sounding BBQ sauce- love your spicy additions of hot sauce and cayenne; that's my kinda sauce!

OhioMom said...

Hot and Sweet ... yeah for making your own Grace :)

Chef Fresco said...

What a great idea! And seems easy enough - I'm gonna have to borrow this one :)

Gloria Baker said...

Dear Grace this look soooo yummy and tasty! xxxGloria

Sharon said...

I'm such a lover of bbq sauce. How have I never made my own, Grace? I'm glad you're here to remind me!

Christo Gonzales said...

that looks great - and by jove it is easy to do -

Marjie said...

It's always better to make it just as you want it! Looks great!

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

These are the exact ingredients I use to make sloppy joes. Delicious stuff!

Nice post!
ButterYum

pigpigscorner said...

mmm....love bbq sauce. But I'm a bit scared of the long list of ingredients.

Penny said...

Grace, This sounds perfect. My husband always tinkers with the bottled sauces to make them hotter. I need to turn him loose with this recipe.

Barbara said...

Love your fun blog titles! My mother had a loverly bbq sauce- going to have to dig it out and compare.

Creative Classroom Core said...

Great recipe! I will have to try this out this summer!

Sandy said...

this sounds delish, and i have made my own ... but i'm tellin' ya - life with 3 teens is so busy - i just have to buy bottles of BBQ sauce! LOL! masterpiece is the only kind i'll buy now ...

hi grace! just popping in to say hi! xo

Robin said...

You know this is a good recipe when someone tosses in good old celery seed, an ingredient overlooked too often but adds a ton of flavor to any dish. Great Recipe Grace!!

kat said...

That sure sounds tasty! We love to make out own sauces too, its so easy

Maria said...

Homemade sauces are the way to go, the bottled ones are expensive and nasty! Great job!

unconfidentialcook said...

This looks like a great one. My husband is in charge of making our homemade bbq sauce and all I know is that he uses maple syrup in his version.

PG said...

I always feel a tinge of guilt when I go out and buy bbq sauce. I'm sure this would be better than any store-bought stuff.b

Jackie @PhamFatale.com said...

All I need if a grilled steak to accompany this killer sauce.

Tabitha Blue said...

Oh just that name makes me want to lick that spoon clean!!!


:)
~Tabitha

Ps, hope you join in on Sunday Citar tomorrow!!

Hornsfan said...

mmm mmm good! i love a good bbq sauce and making your own is a truly easy and satisfying thing :)

pam said...

I made my first barbecue sauce last week, and I was shocked at how easy it was. And how much better than any store bought sauce it was!

Laura said...

Mmmm sweet heat. I could get on board with that.

Tabitha Blue said...

Hey!! Just noticed.... LOVE the heart cherries in your header!! Cute!

:)

Snooky doodle said...

i love barbeque sauce yumm

Lindsey said...

This looks super easy, and I have never considered making my own bbq sauce. I too stand there in the condiments aisle, confused about which one to get.

MaryBeth said...

I love BBQ sauce and just really need to get off my lazy butt and try making it for myself...

Bunny said...

Your bbq sauce looks nice and thick, I craved bbq sauce when I was pregnant. I'd find an excuse to put it on everything!

Pam said...

I am loving this recipe, can't wait to make it. Mmmmm good.

Lori said...

Homemade BBQ sauce is always a winner. Sometimes I throw in a little pasley for added flavor and color. Ok not a little, a lot, like a half of a cup.

What exactly are modified starches?

Culinary Wannabe said...

I think I've attempted to make BBQ sauce like 5 times, and each time it just doesn't turn out the way I wish it would. Either too tomatoey or vinegary. It's so simple though, I'm going to keep trying till I find a keeper - this one's going on my list!

Nic said...

I must give this a go, looks terrific!

test it comm said...

Making your own barbecue sauce sounds like fun!

Albany Jane said...

Grace, you go, girlie!

I am SO trying this out. I have a gigantic tub of ketchup that's been in my fridge for at least a year. BBQ sauce, on the other hand - I could drink. Yum!

The Blonde Duck said...

We are food sisters of the heart.

Unknown said...

this is the perfect idea for summer!and it looks really good!

Katie said...

Great Idea. I love anything homemade! And this BBQ sauce sounds great!

Juliana said...

Never made my own BBQ sauce...the one that you feature looks so good...my mouth was watering through the pictures...yummie!

Mermaid Sews said...

I just made bbq sauce at home for the first time because we ran out and I didn't want to go to the store, and my hubby was mad at me for holding out all these years as he puts bbq sauce on everything. This looks like a great recipe.

Jeff said...

Once I made my own BBQ sauce I knew there was zero going back to the other stuff. Heck I have been working on making my own ketchup now.

Plus once you have a great BBQ base the options are endless from fruits to a little more spicier with chilis.

Jessica@FoodMayhem said...

I love the name of your BBQ sauce...and I forgot to tell you that I love your heart stem cherries too!

La Bella Cooks said...

Homemade is always better in regards to bbq sauce. The flavors always turn out amazing plus you can feel better about leaving out the preservatives! Great post Grace.

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

That chicken sandwich looks so good-you saucy thing you! :P Love the new cherry pic too, so darling! I wanted to do that with some cherries on top of a cupcake but couldn't find any that would do that lol

Sandie said...

Cute header! I'm a fickle BBQ sauce person---some days I like it hot 'n' spicy...other days just little heat and sweet. Because of that, I don't end up making many sauce versions at home (I can never make up my mind). It's so much easier just to eat at one of those BBQ joints that give you 5 or 6 sauce options to choose from---that way I can sample them all! :)

foodhoe said...

Great idea! I've never made it, but it sounds do-able. I am almost out and it's grilling season, so thanks for the inspiration.

Amanda @ Mrs.W's Kitchen said...

Yes, yes, YES! Brilliant, Grace! I love it.

I've made quick bbq sauces in the past... nothing exciting. But this is a great reminder--now that I need to be sugar-free it's a real opportunity to create my own sauce. You've inspired me!

Cyndi Johnson said...

I am all for homemade ingredients. However, check out the ingredients on your ketchup bottle, I'll bet you that the third ingredient is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). It's in store-bought BBQ sauce, hell, it's even in bread!

kellypea said...

Love me some homemade BBQ sauce so I'll have to try this. I love all kinds of sauce so have tried just about every recipe known to man. Okay, so maybe not, but still. Can just taste that chicken sandwich.

kelly said...

mmm i want to make this right now!

Chef Fresco said...

It always seams that ingredients you normally just buy when made by hand are ssooooo much better.