Creating your own barbecue sauce delivers rewards every time. Packaged in pretty containers, friends and neighbors may even encourage you to start a business. After decades in the highly competitive sauce industry, I’m now happy to simply putz around in my own kitchen perfecting a personal 2023 barbecue season sauce.
This summer’s rendition relies on dried apricots for texture, bulk and a bit of fruity tanginess. The hefty dose of honey adds a lovely funky sweetness; two spoonfuls of crushed red pepper creates a nearly pulsating heat. Tomatoes, usually in the form of paste or ketchup form the backbone of most red barbecue sauces while Worcestershire contributes the complex spicing that pairs so well with meat and the smoke of a grill. Vinegar proves essential to cut the richness while sweet spices, such as cinnamon and cloves, round out the heat and bitter notes….