Serious Heat: So Many Spicy Barbecue Sauces, So Little Time
Note: On Wednesdays, Andrea Lynn, senior editor of Chile Pepper magazine, drops by with Serious Heat.
Photograph from thebittenword.com on Flickr
I find that barbecue sauce partiality is heavily influence by how you were raised. So it's no surprise this Alabama gal craves pulled pork with that tangy white sauce of Big Bob Gibson's, famous in the Northern part of the state. There are other barbecue sauces I love, of course, but nothing transports me to my childhood like that mayo-like white sauce speckled with pepper.
That is, until I recently tried Big Bob Gibson's Habanero Red Sauce for a round-up of favorite sauces in Chile Pepper's May issue. How can you improve upon a championship red flavor? Add a kick of habanero for a massive pop. Spicy and fabulous, it almost took over first place in my selections. I am admitting my biases.
Below, after the jump, are other hotly-contended spicy barbecue sauces that were favorites around the office during our taste-test. And, of course, tell us your favorite spicy barbecue sauce and why.
Red Rum 66 Golden BBQ Sauce
Equally impressed with all the Red Rum BBQ sauces, this one stands out for its uniqueness with hints of mustard, apricot and ginger. This almost chutney-like sauce, akin to an Indian-style barbecue, is great with chicken or mixed with cream cheese for a dip.
3 AM Bobby Que Chipotle BBQ Sauce
With a vinegar and black pepper aroma, as well as a smoky and tangy flavor with a depth of flavor from molasses, serve this sauce basted over ribs for the ultimate pairing.
Carlsbad Gourmet Stone Smoked Porter & Pasilla Sauce
Mesquite, medium spicy with a bit of tang and hints of fruit, pasillas give a nice change of pace; great match with ribs or a hearty steak.
Picky Vicki XXX Hot Stuff Extreme BBQ Sauce
Sweet hickory flavoring with an east-to-swallow heat, this goes well slathered over just about anything. (We certainly did that.)
Bone Suckin' Sauce-Hot
Medium heat with a clean finish, this versatile sauce is always a hit in the office for its classic barbecue taste with a sweetness that isn't overwhelming. Also available in an equally-delicious thicker-style that's softer in heat.
U-Kuva-i-Africa Safari BBQ Kebab Sauce
There is a strong paprika smell and taste to this mildly sweet sauce. Spread over chicken or try a neat twist on yogurt and stir some of this sauce in.
CaJohns Jolokia BBQ Sauce 10
Finger-licking good--the heat stays in your mouth quite a while, yet you can't stop eating it. Nicely served over wings or on burgers.
Ribber City Blueberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce
This was the surprise of the bunch--who would have guessed a blueberry barbecue sauce would cause such a cult following! An unusual combo of chipotle and blueberries, this sauce could be used as a condiment to a spicy brunch dish. Or, pair with salmon, chicken, or pork.
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11 Comments:
Anything with "Bone Suckin" in the title has GOT to be good.
arm1970 at 10:57AM on 07/15/09
Sweet Baby Ray's Hot n' Spicy is my favorite BBQ sauce. It's really not all that spicy, so I sometimes add a dash of cayenne pepper, but the flavor really can't be beat. That is, of course, if you are looking for a sweet, KC-style sauce.
I've been trying to make my own BBQ sauce, and after trying a half-dozen recipes I've just about given up. The Sweet Baby Ray's is just too good!
JGordon at 11:15AM on 07/15/09
Kid friendly and fairly mild - I like using NOH - it's a BBQ sauce from Hawaii - hard to find, but worth the search!
suegsf at 12:44PM on 07/15/09
Smack my ass and call me sally added to sweet baby ray's, combo made in heaven.
esarn at 1:27PM on 07/15/09
put me down as another vote in the sweet baby ray's column.
mr guy at 1:30PM on 07/15/09
Head Country HOT. best.
seikel at 2:35PM on 07/15/09
STUBBS (Austin TX), the mesquite or the spicy, or THE SALT LICK (Driftwood, TX) or RUDYS BBQ..... seriously the South knows what they are doing.....
kellysweazea at 10:23PM on 07/15/09
I am going searching for some of those sauces listed.
My favorite BBQ sauce is Cattle Boyz Honey Hot. It is the only sauce I will use on grilled chicken.
http://www.cattleboyzsauce.com/prod_honeyhot.html
mandylynn902 at 12:34AM on 07/16/09
Has anyone else ever heard of/tried Country Bob's BBQ sauce. That was always a favorite of mine, but I had trouble finding it when I moved out of Illinois
eataholic at 4:14PM on 07/16/09
My local Costco has Sweet Baby Ray's by the three-pak--a great deal. I use it with my own rub beforehand, though, and that extra layer of spice increases the complexity and cuts the sweetness. Of the bottled varieties, it's by far my favorite.
Teachertalk at 12:37PM on 07/19/09
so what is so hard about making your own sauce? while you're prepping your meat, throw a bottle of ketchup in a sauce pan. Slosh 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water in the empty bottle -- add to pan on low heat. Now add whatever you want: apple cider vinegar, molasses, grated onion, honey, brown sugar, bourbon, salt & pepper, cayenne ... this ain't rocket science.
simca at 4:30PM on 07/20/09