How to Make Barbecue Sauce

All your favorite TV characters, from Tony Soprano to Ron Swanson, love barbecued food. It is one of the most sumptuous culinary delights, enjoyed by meat lovers and vegetarians/vegans alike. However, there is one key ingredient that is essential to this savory treat— the barbecue sauce.

A zesty and appetizing barbecue sauce is something every barbecue enthusiast loves. Who knows, even Tony Soprano might have loved to make an authentic homemade barbecue sauce for his weekend barbecue fiestas (unless Artie gifts it to him first).

Making an authentic barbecue sauce at home requires a few common ingredients. The primary benefit is that you can prepare a perfect recipe that suits your taste.

Here are two recipes for tasty, homemade barbecue sauce.

• Recipe 1: Classic Barbecue Sauce
• Recipe 2: Easy Ketchup Method

Recipe 1: Classic Barbecue Sauce

Things you’ll need:

• Molasses – ⅓ cup
• Vegetable oil – ⅓ cup
• Onions, chopped – 3 cups
• Tomatoes, chopped – 1¾ cups
• Garlic, chopped – 2 tablespoons
• Ground black pepper – according to taste
• Red pepper powder – 1 teaspoon
• Cumin powder – ¼ teaspoon
• Coriander powder – ¼ teaspoon
• Salt – according to taste
• Brown sugar – 5 tablespoons
• Worcestershire sauce – 2 tablespoons
• Apple cider vinegar – ¾ cup
• White vinegar – ¼ cup
• Water (optional) – as per your choice

Step 1. Heat oil in a skillet

Put ⅓ cup of vegetable oil in a skillet and heat it on medium.

Step 2. Add chopped onions

Add 3 cups of chopped onions.

Step 3. Add chopped garlic

Add 2 tablespoons of chopped garlic cloves.

Step 4. Fry until golden brown

Now, fry the onion and garlic until they turn golden brown. Keep mixing gently with a spatula or wooden spoon to ensure that they fry evenly.

Step 5. Add molasses

Add ⅓ cup of molasses to the skillet and keep working your spatula to mix it in with the fried onions and garlic.

Step 6. Add brown sugar

Add 5 tablespoons of brown sugar to the mixture. It adds to the texture and flavor of the barbecue sauce.

Step 7. Add salt

Add some salt, according to your taste.

If you despise a sauce that is too sweet, get the flavors right by adding salt.

Step 8. Add red pepper powder

Add 1 teaspoon of red pepper powder for a smoky flavor.

Step 9. Add cumin powder

Add ¼ teaspoon of cumin powder for a subtle sweet aroma.

Step 10. Add coriander powder

Add ¼ teaspoon of coriander powder.

Now, mix the contents with a spatula until the spices are cooked.

Step 11. Add chopped tomatoes

Add 1¾ cups of chopped tomatoes to the mixture.

Stir the contents thoroughly until the tomatoes start getting cooked. You will be able to easily squash the tomatoes with your spatula once they are cooked.

Step 12. Add apple cider vinegar

Add ¾ cup of apple cider vinegar to the skillet and mix thoroughly once again.

Step 13. Simmer for 1 hour

Leave the mixture on medium to low heat and let it simmer for 1 hour.

Step 14. Add vinegar

After 1 hour, mix in ¼ cup of white vinegar.

Step 15. Add Worcestershire sauce

Add 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce.

For a vegetarian alternative to Worcestershire sauce, see the Additional Tips at the end of the article.

Step 16. Add black pepper

Add black pepper powder, according to your taste.

If the sauce is turning out too sweet for your liking, you can add some more salt (optional) at this stage.

Step 17. Put it in a blender

Transfer the contents of the skillet to a blender.

Step 18. Blend the mixture

Blend the mixture until you have a smooth, thick sauce.

If needed, add a little water to thin the sauce according to your preference.

Step 19. Serve

Put the sauce in a serving bowl and enjoy it with a delicious barbecue meal.

Recipe 2: Easy Ketchup Method

Things you’ll need:

• Ketchup – 1 cup
• Water – 2 tablespoons
• Brown sugar – 2 tablespoons
• Dijon mustard – 1 tablespoon
• Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon
• Apple cider vinegar – 3 tablespoons
• Worcestershire sauce – 2 tablespoons

Step 1. Put ketchup in a skillet

Warm up a skillet on medium heat and add 1 cup of ketchup to it.

Step 2. Add water

Add a little water, approximately 2 tablespoons, to thin the consistency of the ketchup.

Mix it in well.

Step 3. Add brown sugar

Add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to the ketchup.

Step 4. Stir periodically so it doesn’t stick to the pan

Slowly stir the brown sugar into the ketchup. Keep stirring periodically to ensure that your sauce does not stick to the pan.

Step 5. Add Dijon mustard

Add 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard.

Stir the mustard to mix it thoroughly.

Alternatively, you can use mustard powder.

Step 6. Add lemon juice

Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice for the extra zing in your barbecue sauce.

Step 7. Add apple cider vinegar

Mix in 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.

Keep stirring the spatula.

Step 8. Add Worcestershire sauce

Add 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce to the mixture.

Mix it properly for a rich texture.

For a vegetarian alternative to Worcestershire sauce, see the Additional Tips at the end of the article.

Step 9. Boil the mixture

Now, let the mixture boil for 15 minutes on medium heat.

If you prefer a thinner consistency in your sauce, reduce the boiling time according to your preference.

Step 10. Serve

Your homemade barbecue sauce is ready. Put the sauce in a serving bowl and enjoy it with your family and friends at your barbecue party.

Additional Tips

• You can use onion or garlic powder instead of fresh onions or garlic.
• Tomato puree is a suitable substitute for fresh tomatoes.
• If you follow a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, do not add Worcestershire sauce. You can use one of these 6 alternative vegetarian Worcestershire sauce recipes to make a substitute to add to your barbecue sauce.
• Worcestershire sauce is pronounced as "wus-te-shir" sauce. DO NOT mistake the pronunciation of "shire" at the end, with the mythical abode of Hobbits. Pronounce it like "shirt" without the "t".