(If you're a child of the 80s, you said that in the tune of Mötley Crüe - Smokin In The Boys Room)
When you're gluten free, finding a bbq sauce that doesn't have soy - let alone all the other weird ingredients like HFCS and "natural flavorings" - can be difficult.
I always thought making my own would be just as difficult. Turns out... IT'S NOT! Just like making mayo, once you have the general profile down, the rest is a SNAP!
I got the base recipe from StrictlyPaleo-ish a while back (sadly, her website is no more), but I've been tweaking this recipe for several years now and I think I've got it pretty much down to something of my own. Of course, I change it up almost every time I make it, depending on what it's going on, or what I'm in the mood for.
We were recently gifted (YES, GIFTED - I KNOW, RIGHT?!) a Traegar smoker and the boy and I have been breaking in it pretty well. That's right... girls can grill/smoke/bbq as good (if not better) than the boys!! In fact, the first weekend we had it, I smoked a pork belly for some fantabulous bacon.
Since then, we've smoked some fresh, Alaskan salmon, ribs (not pictured, I'm fired) and a pork butt.
I think I've made three batches of sauce in the month we've had the smoker!!
sweet-heat bourbon bbq sauce
1/8 cup good bourbon*
1/3 cup water or apple cider/juice
½ cup unsweetened apple sauce
½ cup tomato paste
½ cup grade B maple syrup or honey
2 T balsamic vinegar (we like Fini brand)
1 t liquid smoke (we like Lazy Kettle brand)
1 t yellow mustard powder
1 t onion powder
1 t garlic powder
1 t salt
1 rounded t cocoa powder
1 T mesquite BBQ seasoning (we LOVE the Kirkland brand) or use your favorite spicy BBQ rub/seasoning
Mix all ingredients in a pan
Let simmer over medium-low heat for 30 minutes
Pour sauce into a jar and allow to cool before storing in the fridge
* You could use all water/apple and omit the bourbon, but REALLY?
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