A long time ago I learned how to make a quick barbecue sauce by basically spicing up ketchup. The results were so easy and tasty that I never bothered to learn how to make the real stuff from scratch.
How simple are we talking? Super simple: Caramelize a chopped onion and garlic, add ketchup and some spices like dried mustard and ground cayenne, some brown sugar, coffee, and bourbon. Let the whole thing simmer for a half hour, purée it with a stick blender, and you're good to go.
But then I got thinking: couldn't I start with a flavorful bottle of barbecue sauce instead of ketchup to yield a more smoky, tangy flavor in even less time? Yes. Whether it's a bottle of your favorite barbecue joint's sauce or something you grabbed in a rush in the grocery store, it's easy to simply stir in more flavor.
If you have a little time, cook down the mix with some traditional flavors. Looking for something faster? Since bottled sauce already starts out on the right track, you can simply up the flavor by mixing in any of these ingredients. Either way, it'll taste so good, your friends will think you made it from scratch.
For Maximum Flavor: Caramelized Onions and Garlic
经典的烧烤酱配料是经典for a reason—they yield delicious results. Create a twice-cooked effect by adding caramelized onions to bottled sauce (and mustard and hot sauce if you like) and cooking it down a second time.
For Smoke: Chipotle
A lot ofbarbecue saucesrely on dried chile peppers to create a smoky, deep heat. An easy way to bring this flavor to a bottled sauce? Add jarredchipotle peppers in adobo sauceto taste. Chop them and stir in for chunky texture, or use a stick blender to create a smooth sauce.
For Seafood: Old Bay
Grilling seafood? Why not combine the classic seaside shack spice with your sauce, creating the ultimateglaze for shrimpor a great topping for smoky crab cake sandwiches.
For Deep Spice: Harissa
We're big fans of thetomato paste plus harissa combo. Go one step further and mix the hearty flavors of barbecue sauce with the North African chile paste to create rich spicy undertones, perfect for spreading on buns or tossing with grilled meats.
For Bright Tang: Fruit Juice
Like your barbecue sauce on the sweet, tangy side? Stir in some orange, pineapple, lime, or lemon juice (or a combination) to help give it thattart, fruity flavor.
For Sweet Depth: Jam
Want even more fruit flavor? Stir in some jam for a tasty, sweet-savory take. Most flavors work here, including orange marmalade,peach preserves, and raspberry jam. This would be particularly delicious used as a glaze on a slow-cooked meat like pork shoulder or ribs.
