Hickory BBQ Sauce is smokey with a little kick that will leave you licking your lips. Indeed this BBQ Sauce is so good I even use it on my Pizza crust as a pizza sauce. All in all, the Hickory flavor is subtle yet flavorful. Not only is this recipe refined sugar-free it is also free from any additives, colorings, or preservatives.
Hickory BBQ Sauce
Are you ready to embark on a delicious culinary adventure in your own kitchen? Today, I’m diving into the world of homemade sauces, starting with a mouth-watering Hickory BBQ Sauce recipe. Get ready to unleash your inner scientist as we explore the basics of creating flavorful sauces, experiment with different ingredients and techniques, and ditch the unhealthy additives. By the end of this journey, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills to craft your own signature Hickory BBQ Sauce that will elevate your cooking game. Let’s get started.
Understanding the Basics of Homemade BBQ Sauce
As we further delve into the world of homemade BBQ sauce, it’s essential to first understand the basics of creating your flavorful concoction. By mastering the fundamental components and techniques, you will gain a solid foundation to experiment with various flavor profiles and fine-tune your sauce to perfection. So, let’s break down the essential elements of homemade BBQ sauce before we explore the delightful nuances of smokey, sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy flavors.
Exploring Flavor Profiles: Smokey, Sweet, and Tangy
Let’s start by exploring the classic trio of smokey, sweet, and tangy notes. Each element brings its unique characteristics to the table, creating a symphony of flavors that will elevate your sauce to new heights. By understanding how these components work together, you can adjust the ratios to achieve the perfect balance for our taste buds. In the next section let’s take a closer look at how to incorporate healthier options into your sauce without compromising on taste.
Ditching the Refined Sugar: Healthier Options for Your Sauce
When it comes to creating a healthier version of your beloved hickory BBQ sauce, one key ingredient to reconsider is refined sugar. While traditional BBQ sauces often rely on sugar for sweetness and caramelization. Tthere are plenty of alternative options that can provide the same depth of flavor without the negative health implications. By swapping out refined sugar for natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, monk or even fruit purees, you can maintain the desired sweetness in your sauce while also adding a unique twist to the flavor profile. Experimenting with healthier options can not only benefit your overall well-being but also inspire new and creative approaches to enhancing your homemade BBQ sauce. By embracing these alternatives, you can take your culinary creations to the next level and discover a whole new world of delicious possibilities.
Embracing Creativity: Experimenting with Ingredients and Techniques
To truly unleash your inner scientist in the kitchen and elevate your hickory BBQ sauce game. It’s essential to embrace creativity by experimenting with different ingredients and techniques. Think outside the box and don’t be afraid to try unconventional flavor combinations or methods of preparation. For example, consider infusing your sauce with unique ingredients like chipotle peppers for a smoky kick or fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme for added depth. You can also play around with different cooking methods such as slow simmering, smoking, or even grilling your sauce for a unique charred flavor.
By experimenting with ingredients and techniques, you not only have the opportunity to customize your sauce to your personal taste preferences but also to discover new and exciting ways to enhance the overall flavor profile. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a novice in the kitchen, embracing creativity in your BBQ sauce-making process can lead to unexpected and delicious outcomes. So, don’t be afraid to push the boundaries, mix things up, and let your culinary imagination run wild. Who knows – you may just stumble upon the perfect formula for a hickory BBQ sauce that is uniquely yours and truly unforgettable.
In Conclusion Hickory BBQ Sauce:
Unleash your inner scientist in the kitchen by crafting your own signature Hickory BBQ Sauce. Experiment with flavor profiles, swap out refined sugars for healthier alternatives and let your creativity shine through as you blend ingredients and techniques. Elevate your culinary skills and savor the satisfaction of creating a sauce that is uniquely yours. This is just the beginning of your journey into the world of homemade sauces. So, grab your apron, gather your ingredients, and get ready to unlock a world of flavor possibilities in your own kitchen. The art of making Hickory BBQ Sauce awaits – start stirring up delicious discoveries today!
Chef Notes:
As a matter of fact, I am on a journey to find a healthier me and heal my gut. Therefore I no longer eat grains (of any kind such as corn, rice, etc.) as well as no refined sugar, and I limit my dairy. Not to mention I only use butter, coconut oil, sesame oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil or various nut oils. Eating out is more than difficult and often disappointing, to say the least. As a result, I have to make almost all my sauces and even some spices and rubs from scratch. Don’t get me wrong I love to cook and bake but in the beginning, it was overwhelming.
Not only was it overwhelming but I felt isolated. Incidentally, when I go into a regular grocery store I would say 80% of the products on the shelves I can’t eat. Making it extremely difficult to not feel excluded. Subsequently, it has been a huge learning curve. All in all, I have had to rethink the way I think of food.
While I can’t buy Hickory BBQ Sauce at the grocery store it doesn’t take long very long to whip it up.
Insight:
What used to feel like a conundrum now inspires me, and allows me to see food in a different light. They say that necessity is the mother of invention. Necessity forced me to research and experiment. However, in the beginning, I felt like Alice in Wonderland and wondered what hole I had fallen down. I learned about new ingredients that let’s be honest were foreign to me. Indeed, many of the ingredients were from far away lands and had been used for centuries.
While I was learning at an exponential rate it was frustrating as experiments with recipes would fail. It would have been ok if the failures were not so drastic. Not to mention, they were not minor failures that only needed revamping. Instead of giving up, it seemed to spur me on. I was, in fact, going to triumph over this huge obstacle. I won’t lie there were times when I felt I was just not going to figure it out and would be doomed to unappetizing and bland food. However, research, trial, and error experimentation won the day.
I guess you could say I am a scientist in the kitchen. All in all, I learned more from my mistakes than when things went right. In fact, I am still learning about new ingredients many I have never even heard before. As well as learning how to use them.
Hickory BBQ Sauce Notes:
In any case, you can use different flavored liquid smoke and make a variety of BBQ sauces such as mesquite or applewood. Use on hamburgers, steaks, and ribs. Or try it on BBQ sweet potatoes. As a pizza sauce on top of Cauli- Almond Pizza Crust, Cauliflower, and Cassava Pizza Crust,
Nutritional Facts are based on 1 tablespoon per serving.
Hickory BBQ Sauce
Ingredients:
- 1 6oz. tomato paste
- 1/2 cup apple vinegar
- 1 teaspoon pink salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 – 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoon Cholula sauce
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon hickory liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder spice
- 2 tablespoons BBQ Seasoning
Directions:
First, combine all the ingredients in a pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. If you want it thinner add more water. Remove from the stove and allow to cool. Lastly, once cooled place sauce into a sterilized glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and store in the fridge. Good for up to 1 month. 
Hickory BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 6 oz. tomato paste
- 1/2 cup apple vinegar
- 1 tsp pink salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp granulated onion
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 - 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp Cholula sauce
- 1/2 - 1 tsp hickory liquid smoke
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- 2 tbsp my BBQ Seasoning recipe on my blog
Instructions
- First, combine all the ingredients in a pot and bring it to a boil.1 6 oz. tomato paste, 1/2 cup apple vinegar, 1 tsp pink salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp granulated onion, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/2 - 1 cup water, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 2 tbsp Cholula sauce, 1/2 - 1 tsp hickory liquid smoke, 1 tsp mustard powder, 2 tbsp my BBQ Seasoning
- Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.
- If you want it thinner add more water.
- Remove from the stove and allow to cool.
- Lastly, once cooled place sauce into a sterilized glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and store in the fridge. Good for up to 1 month.
- Good for up to 1 month.
Notes
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings 24.0 | |
| Amount Per Serving | |
| Calories 38 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 0 g | 0 % |
| Saturated Fat 0 g | 0 % |
| Monounsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g | |
| Trans Fat 0 g | |
| Cholesterol 0 mg | 0 % |
| Sodium 122 mg | 5 % |
| Potassium 97 mg | 3 % |
| Total Carbohydrate 7 g | 3 % |
| Dietary Fiber 1 g | 2 % |
| Sugars 4 g | |
| Protein 0 g | 1 % |
| Vitamin A | 2 % |
| Vitamin C | 1 % |
| Calcium | 2 % |
| Iron | 3 % |
| * The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. | |
Nutrition
[…] use it for shrimp, clams, Langoustine, maybe even a salmon. I know that it sounds odd to be using a Hickory BBQ sauce but the smoky flavor with the horseradish really makes this […]