The Key to Making Good BBQ Sauce at Home

You’ve got a juicy, thick piece of meat, and the grill is heated to the perfect temperature. Concocting a great BBQ sauce at home is the final step to take your barbecue to the next level. At Adam’s Taphouse and Grille, we know the secrets to make delicious sauces, and our homestyle meals prove it. So, before your next BBQ session, prepare yourself with these key tips for the perfect homemade sauce.

1. Pair the Sauce’s Style with the Meat

The best chefs understand that a good sauce should introduce a new flavor to your dish while complementing the meat. Therefore, your first question should be: “What barbecue sauce will go well with this specific dish?”. To get started, select one of these barbecue sauce bases…

• Vinegar is perhaps the most common foundational ingredient you’ll find in barbecue sauce recipes. As you smoke or grill your meat, the tangy, punchy flavor of vinegar draws out the natural taste of whole hog and pork shoulder. 
• Tomato and vinegar sauces deliver the same zest as a vinegar-only sauce, but with the added sweetness of tomatoes. These sauces are great for marinating pork ribs and rib tips especially for a delectable play between sweet and savory.
• Tomato and sugar BBQ sauces will look and taste more like a glaze. Specifically, this is all thanks to the large sugar content. High-fat meats, like ribs and beef brisket, pair well with the robust flavors that these sauces deliver.
• Mustard-based barbecue sauces are on the other side of the sauce spectrum. Maximum tang and spice give your dishes a classic South Carolina taste. Not to mention, with the already sweet-and-sour flavor of mustard, it’s no wonder why many dress their pork and chicken with this sauce.

2. Balance the Flavors

Sauce connoisseurs know the challenge that comes with finding the right balance between sweetness and tartness in barbecue recipes. This means you’ll have to get comfortable with adjusting spices throughout the cooking process to hit your taste buds just right. In particular, paprika, brown sugar, ground mustard, black pepper, coriander, molasses, garlic powder, and oregano can be added to create a unified taste. Additionally, salt is a great way to bring out your sauce’s sweetness while suppressing the bitter elements.

Does your current BBQ sauce need an extra kick? Don’t forget to try mixing in some spices to your preferred heat level. Spicy ingredients like jalapeños, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and even fresh onions may find their way into your BBQ sauce at home. Or, test an artisan hot sauce to take the spiciness and flavor up a notch.

3. Feel Free to Shake Things Up

The secret to a good BBQ sauce at home is finding the right mix of sweet, sour, spice and acidity. But, how you get there—including the ingredients you decide to use—is totally up to you. These days, recipes for BBQ sauce at home include everything from maple syrup, bourbon, and soda to citrus fruits and red wine. 

The next time you’re in Prince Frederick, satiate your cravings for tender meats, savory sauces, and tempting appetizers at Adam’s Grille. Our wide variety of dinner plates and drinks helps ensure there’s something here for everyone to enjoy. Also, check out our menu if you’d like to dine in, or peruse our catering packages for your next big event.

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Color Fire On January 10, 2019   /   Barbecue