be more attractive: How to Make Barbecue Sauce

A really good barbecue sauce can add life to a whole host of your favorite meat dishes. Making your own barbecue sauce is so easy, and the results are so flavorful, that you may never go back to bottled sauce again! As with all good things in life, there are various ways to make a delicious sauce, so dig in and find which of these suggestions you most enjoy.

Ingredients

Easy microwave barbecue sauce:

2 tablespoons of butter

1 cup ketchup

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon paprika

Dash of chili powder (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

Classic homemade barbecue sauce:

4 cans (14oz) of diced tomatoes

3 cups finely chopped onion

6 cloves of garlic, minced

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/3 cup molasses

1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup white vinegar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1/3 cup vegetable oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Spicy barbecue sauce:

2 large onions, chopped finely

2 chillies, fresh, chopped finely

3 cloves garlic, crushed

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons pepper

1 tablespoon brown sugar

250ml/8 fl oz/1 cup tomato ketchup

125ml/4 fl oz/1/2 cup olive oil

90ml/3 fl oz/1/3 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed

2 tablespoons tarragon vinegar

1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce

2 tablespoons chilli sauce

125ml/4 fl oz/1/2 cup water

White Alabama-style barbecue sauce:

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 tablespoon coarse ground pepper

1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons horseradish

Steps

Easy Microwave Barbecue Sauce

This is great if you like quick and easy sauce.

Put the butter, garlic and onion into a microwavable glass bowl. Place in the microwave and cook on high heat for 2-3 minutes until the butter is melted and the onion and garlic have softened.

Add the remaining ingredients. Add in the ketchup, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, salt and pepper. Stir well to combine.

Microwave on high heat for 7 minutes. Remember to stir the sauce once or twice throughout cooking to ensure even heating. The sauce is ready when it becomes hot and thick.
- Alternatively, you can cook the barbecue sauce by heating it over a double boiler - just bring a saucepan of water to the boil and sit the glass bowl containing the sauce on top.

Stir well. Remove the sauce from the microwave, being careful when handling the hot bowl. Stir the sauce thoroughly with a fork. If you wish to get rid of the onion chunks, you can blend the sauce with a little water in a blender or food processor.

Serve or store. You can serve the sauce immediately, use it in your favorite recipe, or store it in a glass jar in the refrigerator.

Classic Barbecue Sauce

This stove-top recipe eliminates many of the preservatives and synthetic flavorings found in other barbecue sauces.

Saute the chopped onions and garlic. Heat the vegetable oil in a non-reactive frying pan or saucepan and saute the onions and garlic until soft and slightly brown.

Add seasonings, molasses and sugar. Add the salt, chili powder, cumin, coriander, molasses and sugar to the pan and stir well to combine. Bring to the boil and cook for three minutes.

Add the diced tomatoes and apple cider vinegar. Add the four cans of diced tomatoes to the pan, along with the vinegar. Stir well, and bring the contents of the saucepan back to the boil.

Simmer for 2-3 hours. Reduce the heat to low, then leave to simmer, uncovered for two to three hours. The barbecue sauce should become thicker and darker as it simmers.

Add the final ingredients. Remove the pan from the heat and add in the white vinegar and the Worcestershire sauce. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Blend. Pour the chunky barbecue sauce into a blender or food processor, add at least two cups of water (or more, depending on the desired consistency) and blend until smooth. You can use your homemade barbecue sauce immediately, or store in a glass jar in the refrigerator.

Spicy Barbecue Sauce

Add some spice to your barbecue!

Place all of the ingredients, except for the chillies, into a large pot or saucepan.

Bring to the boil.

Add the chillies. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

Pour the cooked mixture into sterilized jars or bottles. Leave space of 1/2cm or 1/4 inch top the top of the container.

Seal. Use lids that do not react to vinegar.

Store in a cool, dry and dark place. Keep refrigerated once opened and use with a couple of weeks.

White Alabama-Style Barbecue Sauce

An unusual, but tasty, white barbecue sauce that's particularly popular in North Alabama.

Place all of the ingredients into a blender or food processor. Place the mayo, white wine vinegar, garlic, ground pepper, spicy brown mustard, salt, sugar and horseradish sauce into the blender.

Blend until smooth. Whiz in the blender for about one minute, or until the sauce achieves a smooth consistency. Alternatively, you can mix the sauce by hand using a whisk or wooden spoon, although using this method will produce a chunkier texture.

Serve. The white barbecue sauce is now ready to use - it doesn't require any cooking. Alabamians love this sauce served over French fries, slathered over fried chicken or used as a scrumptious salad dressing.

Serving Ideas

Make barbecue pork spareribs. Pork spareribs are simply delicious, especially when smothered in a homemade barbecue sauce. All you need to do is baste the ribs generously with sauce during the last hour of cooking, then serve with more sauce when they're done! Some homemade coleslaw also compliments this dish nicely.

Make barbecue chicken. Your homemade barbecue sauce makes a great marinade for chicken wings, breasts and drumsticks. Simply place the chicken pieces in a glass dish or bowl and cover generously with the sauce. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for several hours, or overnight. Cook in the oven, grill or on the barbecue.

Make barbecue sloppy joes. Your homemade barbecue sauce can really spice up traditional sloppy joes, taking comfort food to a whole new level. Just add your sauce to the ground beef as it cooks, then serve over a white hamburger bun and add more sauce, if desired.

Make a barbecue pizza. You can add a little excitement to your homemade pizza by substituting regular tomato sauce for barbecue sauce. Some good topping combos include shredded chicken breast, red onion, mozzarella cheese and freshly chopped cilantro.

Add additional flavors. You can jazz up your homemade barbecue sauce by adding just once or two additional ingredients. For a spicy barbecue sauce, add a dash of Tabasco and some diced jalapeno peppers. For a smoky barbecue sauce, mix in 1/2 teaspoon of liquid smoke per every cup of sauce. For a fruity barbecue sauce, add in 1 cup of chopped, ripe mangoes, 1 cup of mango juice and 2 tablespoons of lime juice. The possibilities are endless!