How about cooking onions in bourbon and make the most delicious BBQ sauce ever ?
Last weekend, we cooked some ribs at home. Probably the main part of the recipe is the famous and delicious TEXAS barbecue sauce. Most bbq sauces recipes will tell you to use ketchup or onion powder. The true secret is to use a real onion and to cook it in bourbon whiskey.
It is really super easy, and takes 15 minutes to make and 1h and a half to cook.
Here's how it looks like when it's about to be done.
Ready ? Today I am sharing with you my (Texan wife’s) recipe, coming straight outta Texas.
Preparing your ingredients:
Here’s the list below, and you can find some at any grocery store in the US. I even found similar stuff when I lived in France. If you miss something, adapt and feel free to substitute. Imagination is what makes the beauty of cooking!
Atmosphere:
- George Straight, Willy Nelson or Johnny Cash will do the job for the music.
- Put your boots on, you never know with the rattlesnakes...
- Wear that Stetson hat to protect you from the aggressive kitchen lights.
- And be sure to get your Colt revolver ready, just in case someone decides to interrupt you while you are cooking.
Now you are ready.
Get this stuff on the picture ready (see the list below):
Make 3 groups: BASE, SAUCE, SPICES. It's gonna help you.
BASE:
- 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons bourbon whiskey (Jack is perfect)
- 1/2 cup minced white onion
SAUCE
- 1 1/2 cups of water
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon of Honey
- 1 tablespoon dark molasses or Maple Syrup
SPICES
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika (smoked preferred)
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 tablespoon ground red chili pepper (OPTIONAL, if you like it hot)
(TIP: you can put everything in one cup)
Let's cook!
1- Prepare the onions
Heat oil and whiskey in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.
Add the onions.
Cook and stir the onions in oil + whiskey for 5 minutes, until they start to brown.
It should start to smell very VERY good... like someone cooking with Bourbon.
2- Make the sauce
Add add tomato paste and water (order does not really matter).
Add a bit of vinegar. Half a cup.
Stir a bit.
Now add brown sugar, honey, and Worcestershire sauce. Once again order does not really matter.
Stir a bit and leave on medium heat.
Your sauce should look like a red-ish, liquid-ish sauce, with a strong smell of Bourbon and onions.
If it is not liquid enough, add a tiny mix of water + vinegar + bourbon (1/3 - 1/3 - 1/3).
You are in the right direction.
3- Add the spices
As said, your sauce looks very watery. No worries, it will reduce.
Now it’s time to add some seasoning.
Season with 2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, dark molasses, and, (if you want) 1/2 tablespoon ground chile pepper.
I personally start with the salt, because it’s a lot, and put everything else in a cup. I pour all at the same time:
Stir to mix. The sauce should become a bit denser and more red. Flavor should start to become stronger.
Turn up the heat a bit. Bring mixture to a gentle boil. Uncovered.
Never ever burn it
Take your time here, turn up the heat with lots of precautions and watch the sauce.
**When it starts to simmer, reduce heat to "low", still uncovered. **
You found the perfect heat level, so now you just have to wait. Let the sauce simmer uncovered until sauce thickens (1.5 hours). Have a look time to time to make sure it simmers correctly...
Here's how it looks once it's about to be done!
Once it is thick enough, take off the fire, and let sit in a cup.
Note: It will thicken a bit more when cooling.