Basic Barbecue Sauce

Name: Basic Barbecue Sauce
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 1 medium-size onion, minced; 1 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 1/4 green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and minced; 1 1/2 cup ketchup; 1 1/2 cup tomato sauce; 1 3 tablespoons cider vinegar, or more to taste; 1 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 1 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 2 tablespoons pineapple juice (optional); 1 1 teaspoon of your favorite hot sauce, or more to taste; 1 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke, or 2 tablespoons meat drippings; 1 2 tablespoons molasses; 1 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar, or more to taste; 1 2 tablespoons prepared mustard of your choice; 1 1 teaspoon dry mustard; 1 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 Salt

From the kitchen of Carly

This tangy-sweet barbecue sauce starts with a soffritto of onion, garlic, and bell pepper, then simmers into a rich glaze with ketchup, Worcestershire, and a hint of pineapple. Brush it on ribs, chicken, or pulled pork for genuine smoke-house flavor at home.

Prep: n/a
Cook: n/a
Total: n/a
Servings: 4
Difficulty: medium

Ingredients

4 servings

13 tablespoons vegetable oil
11 medium-size onion, minced
11 clove garlic, minced
11/4 green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and minced
11/2 cup ketchup
11/2 cup tomato sauce
13 tablespoons cider vinegar, or more to taste
13 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
12 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
12 tablespoons pineapple juice (optional)
11 teaspoon of your favorite hot sauce, or more to taste
11/2 teaspoon liquid smoke, or 2 tablespoons meat drippings
12 tablespoons molasses
13 tablespoons dark brown sugar, or more to taste
12 tablespoons prepared mustard of your choice
11 teaspoon dry mustard
11/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1Salt

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large nonreactive saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and bell pepper and cook until softened but not brown, about 4 minutes.
2. Stir in the ketchup, tomato sauce, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, pineapple juice (if using), hot sauce, liquid smoke, molasses, brown sugar, prepared and dry mustards, black pepper, and 1 cup of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer, uncovered, until thickened, about 15 minutes, stirring often to prevent scorching. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little more water.
3. Remove the barbecue sauce from the heat and taste for seasoning, adding salt to taste and more cider vinegar, hot sauce, and/or brown sugar as necessary; the sauce should be highly seasoned.
4. Transfer the barbecue sauce to a serving bowl and serve warm or at room temperature. The sauce will keep, tightly covered in the refrigerator, for several weeks.