If your usual barbecue seems a bit stale, might we suggest making homemade barbecue sauce to take it a step further? The summer staple is a trusted companion, boosting the flavor and moisture of hearty proteins like grilled chicken, smoked tofu or tender ribs, just like a marinade would, but without the commitment. tedious time.
In fact, barbecue sauce can really elevate some of the best bites at your gathering, Chuck Charnichartco-founder of Barbs-BQ, one of the few gay-owned barbecue restaurants in Texas, says SELF. And when you make your own, you have the autonomy to enhance the flavor based on what you like, they explain.
You also have control over how much sweetener you mix into the sauce, Brigitte Zeitlin, MPH, RD, CDN, says SELF. Many store-bought barbecue sauce recipes tend to include a lot of added sugar, the taste of which some people may not prefer or other people may try to limit due to certain health issues. Just note that any delicious homemade barbecue sauce recipe should ideally include some kind of sweetener. (If you’re trying to cut back on your intake, you can choose a more hot or spicy recipe instead.)
Make sure the rest of your barbecue plate is also balanced. When you get to basting your sauce, eating protein-rich main dishes like grilled salmon or chicken and fiber-filled sides like garlicky asparagus or smoked broccoli can help stabilize blood sugar spikes, says Zeitlin. .
And you don’t have to be a pro to make your own sauce. Most frostings come together in as little as 10 minutes with just a few ingredients – and you probably already have them in your fridge or cupboard. Read on for all the details on how to create the perfect formula. Then cook with amazing homemade barbecue sauce recipes that put everything to the test.
What Kind of BBQ Sauce Should You Make?
If you’ve been to a smokehouse or barbecue restaurant, you’ve probably noticed a range of sauces on the menu, which are usually labeled by region of popularity. You’ll typically see eight types: Texas, Kansas City, Memphis, Nashville, North Carolina, Alabama, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.
The majority of them contain a sweet component, such as brown sugar, but there are stark contrasts. South Carolina generally likes to add mustard, for example, while Oklahoma likes Worcestershire sauce in its recipe. So which type should you use as inspiration if you’re new to homemade stuff?
The Texan style, known for its sweet, tart and spicy taste, is a great choice for beginners, Alexis Toviasco-founder of Barbs-BQ, says SELF. It’s best coated in protein like a peppery smoked brisket because the sweetness balances out the corned beef, Tovias says.
Texas-style sauce contains three main ingredients that you probably have on hand, Frank Costantino, dean of the Culinary Institute of New York at Monroe College, tells SELF. You will need tomatoes (fresh, diced, pureed or paste – anything really works), a sweetener like sugar and vinegar. Don’t be afraid to try variations, like apple cider vinegar instead of traditional white vinegar. You can even submarine in Worcestershire sauce, which is very sour and flavorful.
Should you use ketchup in your homemade barbecue sauce?
As we mentioned above, you need some form of tomato in your sauce. So, is ketchup the trick?
