If your dad is anything like mine, the grill is his territory. He loves a good grilling sauce, and I think he’d really like this homemade barbecue sauce. Although I think I’d add another tablespoon of sugar and another teaspoon of hot sauce for him. He likes a sweeter sauce and isn’t afraid of spice.
It’s surprisingly easy to make your own homemade barbecue sauce, and you can customize it to your own tastes. Don’t let the long list of ingredients intimidate you; most of them don’t require any prep at all. This version is sweet, spicy, peppery and a little bit smoky.
If you decide to use the printables, make sure you print them on heavier paper, preferably sticker paper. I printed them out on regular paper and it was too thin. Since the jar is refrigerated, some condensation forms and can make the ink run on thin paper (notice how the background colors are a bit mottled in my photos?). You can use a spray adhesive to attach the printables to a mason jar and the lid, or print them on sticker paper and cut them out. In a pinch, use some washi tape to adhere them. Wrap a piece of ribbon around the jar to make it more festive, and maybe match it up with a homemade card for a great Father’s Day gift. Go a step farther and make dinner with the barbecue sauce for Dad! Check back later this week for a recipe, or you can use it in place of any barbecue sauce in your favorite recipes.
Get the printables here: Sweet and Smoky Barbecue Sauce Printable from www.alyssaandcarla.com
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 3/4 tablespoons ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup lemon juice (from about 1.5 lemons)
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce, less if you prefer a milder sauce (I used Tobasco, but I next time I'm going to try Cholula)
- 1.5 teaspoons smoked sea salt
- 5 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup cider vinegar
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- Melt the butter over medium heat in a medium saucepan.
- Add the onions and garlic and saute until onions soften, about 4 minutes.
- Add the paprika, pepper, lemon juice, mustard, hot sauce and sea salt. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Dissolve the brown sugar in the vinegar. Add the sugar/vinegar mixture and the tomato sauce to the pot.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for about 15 minutes, uncovered, stirring often.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- This sauce is even better if it has a chance to sit and the flavors can meld. Try to make a day ahead and reheat before using.
- This is a lot of pepper if you're grinding it fresh, so make sure you grind it ahead of time or it may throw you off when you get to the step where you add the pepper!
