The Best Homemade Barbecue Sauce EVER!

I'm not a food blogger, but occasionally I can't help but share a great recipe.  

I especially like easy recipes.

This summer I've been making batches of homemade BBQ sauce to use on chicken, turkey, tri-tip, ribs, etc.

I originally got this recipe off of Food Network, but I've modified it a few times over.

As is, it makes a huge batch.  It's perfect if you're hosting a barbecue (or cook-out as some of you call it).  If not, you might want to cut the recipe in half.

Twenty Four's Famous BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

Fresh Thyme (about a handful)

2 slices bacon

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 onion, chopped finely

4 garlic cloves, minced

4 cups ketchup

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup molasses  (I use a bit less because I don't like my sauce quite so sweet.)

4 Tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 Tablespoons dry mustard

2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons paprika

Freshly ground pepper

* Red chili pepper flakes are optional for those of you who like to make things spicy.

Directions:

Wrap the thyme bundle with one or two pieces of bacon and tie with twine.  (If you don't have twine you can use a shoe lace.  An unused shoe lace would be preferable.)

Heat a little of the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.  Add the thyme bundle and heat for about five minutes.  (You just want to render the fat enough to get the flavor of the bacon and thyme!)

Remove the thyme bundle.  Admire your handy-work at tying bundles before you throw it away.

Stir in the onion and garlic and heat slowly for around five minutes.  (Don't brown the onion and garlic, but DO enjoy how yummy your kitchen now smells.)

Add all the remaining ingredients and stir. 

Heat on low.  Cook slowly for around 20 minutes.

Baste with some of the sauce, and reserve a portion for serving.

Delicious!

P.S.  I was just kidding about the shoe lace.  

© Twenty Four At Heart

Comments

[Jenny in MN now AZ]

Sounds yummy! And so I CAN use a used shoelace... Cool! ;-)

[Amanda]

Shoelace! ha ha! Thanks for the smile!

[Jan]

I love a good barbecue sauce recipe, too. I have a few, have you noticed? :P

And what's wrong with a used shoelace? (This made my mouth water, btw. The recipe, not the shoelace.)

[Lisa]

That sounds really good! I love home made BBQ sauce, so I'm definitely going to try this.

[Boomgono]

Sounds delicious! I believe a used shoelace is the traditional method. It adds extra flavor.

[Alexis (Minnesota)]

Okay, PERFECT timing! I was getting kind of tired of my curried ketchup!!

Thanks!