What makes a good sauce?

[usmcoklahoma]

Since the time is upon us and id like to create my own sauce. My problem is I only know of a few things that go in a bbq sauce. Ketchup, brown sugar, I've heard of mustard being used and assorted spices.

But what makes a good one? My next problem
Is I also might need to make it diabetic friendly as I have family that has diabetes, so if it's diabetic friendly AND tastes good to non diabetics that'd be great.

 

[hitechredneck]

Since you're trying to create your own, I'll not hamper you with my recipe that I've decided to use all the time, but rather, just give you some ideas of ingredients.

You can use Splenda or Truvia in BBQ sauce.  I think it gives it a slightly different taste, but it does provide sweetness without the problem for diabetics of brown / white sugars.

Other bbq sauce ingredients I've used before:

(not all at once)

ketchup or tomato paste & water

salt

honey

molasses

Worcestershire sauce

soy sauce

chili powder

cinnamon

bacon

apple cider or red wine vinegar

powdered onion / garlic

paprika

black pepper

red pepper / cayenne

liquid smoke (don't recommend really, but I'll throw it in there)

onion salt

tobasco

cumin

season salt

mace

 

[Dutch]

Boy this is a wide open topic-first off what kaind of bbq sauce to you want to make? Off the top of my head there are three types that come to mind- Tomato (ketchup) based, Mustard based and Vinegar based-all of these have their variations-sweet, tangy, spicy-etc. A fourth one would be a white sauce used that is Mayonnaise based and used on chicken.

So pick your base and develope your flavor profile to your liking.

 

[hickorybutt]

I would suggest trying all of the different types of BBQ sauce out there first - go to a local grocer and buy a different type of each sauce.  Mustard, Vinegar, and Tomato bases.  Some sweet, some spicy.  This would give you an idea of what is your favorite sauce, and what types of sauces you like best with each cut of meat.

From there, you can develop your own recipes to suit your tastes.

 

[graywolf1936]

I use fresh onions, celery, peppers, apples and herbs into my chopper then into my base sauce.

 

[foamheart]

My goto sauce is a West Texas thick tomato sauce. I keep it in gallon jugs in the reefer when I make it. But then I have no problem with a Carolina mustard based sauce, or a vinegar based, or a New Mexico pepper sauce, then their is a good Memphis rub (who needs a sauce, right?).

These are just a few...... There is honey, molasses, brown sugar, and the spice or herb combinations. Let us not forget the fortified sauces, I know that's what that fine Cajun gentleman Jacque Daniels had in mind when he he started making his snake bite medicine.

Ya know, the only sauce I ever had that wasn't good was one where the onions and tomatoes has been burnt so to quote the nieces little girl, ewwwww......  that's yuckie!

Pick something to try and just jump right in!

 

[edward36]

I love adding in some apple cider vinegar, pineapple juice, molasses... you can go the other way and add even cola to it. Will give a very interesting touch...  Just don't use a diet coke, as that contains aspartime and you must never heat aspartime... 

Experimenting is the key... There are no mistakes in the kitchen. Only recipes not yet discovered :).

 

[pellet]

Using splenda or other sugar substitute is good but one packet is equal to 2 tsp's of regular sugar where sweetness is concerned. I never heard that you should never heat aspertime.  What happens to it? I was told it was safe in all regards by the dietitian. We never discussed heating it! Never nothing about cooking with it.  

 

[chef jimmyj]

 
Using splenda or other sugar substitute is good but one packet is equal to 2 tsp's of regular sugar where sweetness is concerned. I never heard that you should never heat aspertime.  What happens to it? I was told it was safe in all regards by the dietitian. We never discussed heating it! Never nothing about cooking with it.  

Aspertame breaks down when heated for a long time like in Baking and making long cooked BBQ sauce. It loses it's sweetness and becomes bitter. Either use it in No Cook sauce or choose Splenda that " does by design " measure 1 for 1 with Sugar or the even better choice Stevia in the Raw, both can be cooked...JJ

 

[bluewhisper]

You might recall the TV show Dragnet, where one running gag was the sidekick Bill Gannon's bizarre choices in foods like crazy sandwiches - in one episode, he reveals that his secret ingredient for BBQ sauce is vanilla ice cream.

Edited to add; HAH! I found it!
[h3]  [/h3]

[h3]Bill's Secret Barbecue Sauce[/h3]
Bill says "Use it on lamb and you'll never know it's lamb!"

Ingredients:
1 qt. ketchup
1 can red pepper
1 can hot mustard
1 qt. vinegar
1 lb. peeled red peppers, freshly chopped
1 small jar of oregano
4-5 cloves of garlic
1. Mix ingredients in a large, chilled bowl using an electric mixer.
2. Add 5 chopped Bermuda onions.
(Now here comes the secret part...)
3. Add one quart vanilla ice cream and mix again.

 

[pellet]

 
Aspertame breaks down when heated for a long time like in Baking and making long cooked BBQ sauce. It loses it's sweetness and becomes bitter. Either use it in No Cook sauce or choose Splenda that " does by design " measure 1 for 1 with Sugar or the even better choice Stevia in the Raw, both can be cooked...JJ

Learned something new, Thanks Chef Jimmy J.

 I believe it was a discussion about Diet Dr Pepper that the nutritionist said had aspertime in it but the dangers it was said to pose were not true, but we never discussed heating it.  I prefer regular soda for sauces and marinades. Im diabetic and do everything in moderation. (at least that's what I tell myself)! Thanks for the info, I may have gotten desperate one of these days and needed a diet soda and done some real harm to my already beat up health. 

 

[shtrdave]

Below is what I usually make, you can get low sugar or better yet low carb ketchup, sub splenda, stevia or xylitol for all or part of the sugar, add some blackstrap molasses as it is the best for diabetics of them. So splenda and molasses could be used for the brown sugar. 

It is a starting point, people seem to ask for the recipe when I make it or ask me to make them some the next time I make a batch.
 

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1 ½ cup Ketchup​

1 8oz. can Tomato Sauce​

½ cup water​

½ cup brown sugar​

½ cup red wine vinegar​

1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce​

2 T soy sauce​

½ t each Black Pepper, dry mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried basil crushed red pepper​

¼ t allspice​

 ​

Mix all together boil 3-4 minutes, simmer 10-30 minutes until desired consistency.​

 ​

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[edward36]

I second the stevia suggestion. Or, instead, seeking artificial sweeteners used in bakeries also would do the trick. I know there are non-aspartame based sweeteners which are safe for cooking.

 

[the smoke break]

Like the others have already said..... you need to decide which style of sauce is good to you. (i.e. Vinegar base, ketchup base, etc..) THEN, you might want to try a simple, basic recipe for that style out  and slowly add to...or take away...until you get exactly what you want. I have been working on perfecting my own rub for a couple years now, and FINALLY got it. It takes time and patience, but it also gives you more excuses to BBQ!! 

 

[itbbq]

I would start with the area of the country you like the BBQ from.

KC- Sweet / dark molasses/honey

Lousianna - good hot sauce base;

SC - brown sauce - vinegar

Memphis - more mustard, paprika, garlic

Or start with a base you like :

Beef Stock

Chicken Stock

Catchup

Hot Sauce

Vinegar

Google for a base recipe that makes a quart or 2.  Divide that in 2 to 8 parts.  Write down and document the things you like to add :

raw chopped onion vs carmelized onion

Macintash appls vs Granny smith apples

Spanish paprika vs Hungarian

Spicy Mustard vs Yellow

Go with what you like.  Modify to what you are making.

If you are going pork (chops/loin) : try adding fruit

If you are doing beef/pulled pork - try adding onions/peppers

If you are doing chicken; ligthen with honey and fresh ground spices

Key is to take your time and experiment.

Joe

 

[jtstitzel]

Try using tupelo honey for your sweetener. It is diebetic friendly (My father in law raises bees ). It's a very mild flavor so it shouldn't mess with the overall flavor of the sauce.