PrintBBQ Sauce..........
It is getting to be BBQ season here in PA, (I do grill all year, but there is something about spring and BBQ sauce). Do you make your own BBQ sauce? Do you have a favorite sauce you prefer to buy instead? More and more I see varieties added to the shelves and I am hesitant to try a sauce from a bottle. What is the best choice? What is your favorite homemade?
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15 Comments:
I'm really into asian flavors at the moment and last weekend made ribs with a bbq glaze of soy, sugar, hoisin, orange peel, ginger, cilantro, and green onions...cooked the heck out of it, strained and added in red hot pepper jelly, cider vinegar, and cayenne! Insanely good
But most of the time --- (I know...I know) ---- I buy Montgomery Inn BBQ sauce by the case. They don't sell it in FL. And I love it! There! It's out!
jcrisco at 5:24PM on 04/22/08
I make my own, always! . I could drink the stuff I love it so much!
Already made a batch for our first grilling of the season...can't wait to make many more...
For me, it just can't compare to the bottled stuff, though I have had great sauce at BBQ stands all across the South too.
sadiepix at 11:15PM on 04/22/08
If I am making some bbq and I feel inclined I make a bourbon tomato or a NC vingear based Q sauce. When we have huge amounts of people over I buy a vat of cattleman's and doctor it.
I never make the same combination ever. I stew plums, apples, add grape jelly, apple butter, habaneros, whatever there is that is what we got.
JerzeeTomato at 12:59AM on 04/23/08
Being in Oklahoma sweet red is everywhere so for a change I made a Mustard sauce.....WOW was that good, also a white suace for chicken is the bomb
Markbb at 10:19AM on 04/23/08
I usually use my own homemade rubs and sauces that I've developed over the years, but if I'm out of my sauce, my favorite store bought bottled BBQ sauce is Cattlemen's. My all time favorite is not available in stores, only the web and it's called Butch's Smack Your Lips BBQ sauce.
jonfoxx at 10:51AM on 04/23/08
For a 'homemade' sauce I cheat a little and start with ketchup. Or tomato paste, dark Karo syrup, and seasonings. For bottled I like Sweet Baby Ray's (sweet and rich) or Maull's with onions bits (more tangy and thin.)
coolname at 11:34AM on 04/23/08
My 15-year-marriage to a West Texas native paid off in picking up barbecue techniques. In following his lead, I learned to "doctor up" a generic bottled sauce with garlic and onion sauteed in butter. Have leftover apricot preserves? Toss them in, along with some tasty mustard, vinegar and brown sugar. Add Louisiana hot sauce and black pepper to taste. Sear your meat on the grill, then slow-cook, basting frequently, so the sauce builds up and blends with the smoky char from the grill. Serve with grilled corn on the cob, a macaroni or potato salad and chilled beer.
hatlady at 11:39AM on 04/23/08
The secret is out, @coolname! Sweet Baby Ray's can't be beat! It's the only bottled sauce I can use without doctoring it up.
Another great bottled sauce that doesn't need "fixin" is Pat's Ho-Made BBQ Sauce. Yes, the name provides a great conversation piece at the table!
Editmom at 11:53AM on 04/23/08
@coolname & Editmom:
Sweet Baby Rays is the BEST bottled sauce out there. The hot and spicy is amazing.
My dad is/was friends with the guys who created it. We were his "beta tasters" one summer mannnny years ago. It was the best summer of my young life. ;)
I usually make my own or doctor up SBR's with raspberry or mango depending on my mood - but when in a pinch for bottled - I go with Ray.
bodaciousgirl at 1:02PM on 04/23/08
My husband is in charge of the American BBQ and I do the Korean stuff. Lately, hubby has been including Asian ingredients like hoisin and gochujang into his bbq sauces. We like vinegar based NC-style for pulled pork. For ribs, chops, & chicken we dry rub, smoke and then finish on the grill while brushing on a wet sauce. Hubby won't share his bbq secrets but the grocery list usually includes cider vinegar, cumin, ancho, cayenne, chipotle, brown sugar, molasses, tomato puree, garlic, onions, jack daniels for the sauce and for the man, worcestershire...I'm positive there is more...
For bottle stuff we like Stubb's with a little Sweet Baby Ray's mixed in. SBR is a little too sweet on its own, and Stubb's is a little too vinergary on its own.
wookie at 4:00PM on 04/23/08
I usually make my own but occasionally I use bottled, my newest love is Sweet Baby Ray's honey chipolte. I could drink the stuff straight!
huney_bumper at 4:15PM on 04/23/08
I am feeling the love here for Sweet Baby Ray's! The cooking class I just took was for pulled pork with a sweet corn BBQ sauce. I don't mind slow cooking the pork, but in looking for a little sauce help, you guys have been amazing!
izatryt at 4:31PM on 04/23/08
I usually just make a small batch for the occassion, as a marinade, then reserve and cook down for a BBQ sauce. Usually we have big family/friends picnics or BBQs, and I made asian style ribs like jcrisco.
But mine were marinated in chopped garlic, lemon juice, and cilantro, then basted and served with a mix of cooked down garlic, lemon juice, coriander seed, sriracha, and brown sugar. Safe to say, it was pretty hot, and mighty delicious 3 hours later.
deepitbhatia at 12:38AM on 04/24/08
We love Sweet Baby Ray's.
When I make it to a Rudy's Barb-q here in Texas I always buy a bottle of Rudy's Sause. They also sell a less spicy Sissy Sause. That's how they spell sauce.
eatorama at 1:08AM on 04/24/08
I like the flavor of Sweet Baby Ray's and Cattleman's, but they both use HFCS, so I've stopped using them. I prefer to make my own mustard sauce. It could make cardboard taste good.
beth1 at 11:16PM on 04/24/08