BBQ Sauce

There are as many recipes for BBQ sauce as there are people who love BBQ. It is amazing that a simple condiment can evoke such passion in the human soul. It is a testament to the power of cooking and its link to our evolution as a species. I happen to love all sorts of BBQ sauce. Tomato- based or vinegar- based, just keep the BBQ coming! I use many sauces at Beyond The Kitchen Wall, depending on my mood or what I have a taste for. The great thing about BBQ is that there is always something new to try. The following recipe is for my tomato-based BBQ sauce. It is fairly straight forward until you get to one ingredient, vanilla. I love vanilla, and try to use it everywhere that I can. It highlights the sweetness in this sauce recipe, and lingers gently on the palate. It adds an exotic, almost mysterious flavor that leaves you wanting to take another bite.

BTKW BBQ Sauce
Makes about 1 Quart

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 large onion, finely minced
• 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
• 1 6 oz. can tomato paste
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons smoked hot paprika
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground savory
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 12 oz. bottle flavorful beer, or 12 oz. apple juice
• 1 teaspoon Madagascar vanilla

Place the oil in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until translucent. Add all of the other ingredients except for the vanilla, mix well, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, and allow to simmer until reduced to 4 cups, stirring often to insure that sauce does not scorch. This should take about 1 hour. When reduced, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Puree sauce using an immersion blender, or in a food processor. Once pureed, add vanilla and mix thoroughly. Sauce may be stored in a jar in the refrigerator for 1 month.