I love barbecue sauce on grilled pork chops and chicken and also if I’m cooking them in the oven or on the stove. Actually, I love barbecue sauce on all sorts of different things . . . ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken wings, hamburgers . . . you name it!
The one problem when we were cruising in Mexico was that it was almost impossible to buy bottled BBQ sauce. The few recipes in my Joy of Cooking were nothing like what I wanted. So I started experimenting . . . and collecting . . .
And that is what led us to have a bunch of regional BBQ sauces in The Boat Galley Cookbook. We know that Texas barbecue sauce is different from Memphis, which is different from the Carolinas — and native Floridians like something different yet! We chose 8 that were quite different from one another to go in the book, so that hopefully you’d find one similar to what you wanted.
Liquid Smoke is hard to find outside the US, but luckily a bottle is easy to tuck into your luggage on trips back to the US. And while it adds a nice hickory touch to the sauce, you can make it without and it’ll still taste great.
Barbecue Sauce – Kansas City Style
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 3/4 cup corn syrup (OR honey)
- 1/2 cup tomato paste (OR 1 cup tomato sauce and reduce water by 1/2 cup)
- 1/2 cup vinegar (cider vinegar is traditional but white vinegar may be substituted)
- 3 tablespoons molasses (OR honey)
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (can be omitted if unavailable)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Simmer all ingredients, stirring until smooth. Bring mixture to a boil then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until thick, 30 – 40 minutes.
- Store in refrigerator when cool.
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Candy Ann Williams on Facebook says
It is funny how different regions have such different BBQ sauce. But we love it and my husband has a CASE of our favorite stashed on The Bootlegger-even though his homemade is great-he is addicted to his ‘Hot Head BBQ’ sauce. LOL!!
Donahue says
In case some of your readers prefer a sauce that’s not as sweet here is a simple one that is a lot like Fincher’s in Macon Ga. They been in business since the 20’s and have a well-known sauce.
32oz ketchup
8 Oz mustard
1/4 cup of cane syrup, can substitute Karo if you have too.
1tbsp black pepper
1tsp garlic powder
1 cup of vinegar
1/4 cup of Texas Pete hot sauce or substitute
Heat all ingredients for a few minutes but do not boil.