It’s grilling season. But we will never buy that bottled sauce again. Making it yourself is so much better and so easy.
Start with 1 cup ketchup in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in 1/4 cup cider vinegar, 1/4 cup reduced-sodium Worcestershire sauce, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon liquid smoke.
Bring the liquid to a simmer, then lower the heat and cook uncovered for 30 minutes to an hour. Along the way, add in some of your favorite flavorings: a tablespoon of honey, a dash of soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon each of oregano, dried basil, and ground ginger. A few grinds of black pepper and a 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder finish off the sauce. Stir frequently and cook until thickened to your taste.
You can modify this to whatever your taste or type of food you’re making. The right barbecue sauce should have just a little sweetness, a little heat, and a little tang.
