Root Beer BBQ Sauce - Make your own Condiments

Did you catch yesterday's post of BBQ Vidalia Candy Sweet Onions?  Basically an amazingly easy (3 ingredients) side dish of slow roasted sweet onions flavored with a BBQ sauce.  I didn't go into details, but the BBQ sauce you see in those onions is this fresh made sauce.

I love making my own BBQ sauce.  So easy to whip something up special for whatever I am grilling.  I have already posted a Sweet/Heat Bourbon BBQ Sauce, with a rich Earthy spiced flavor... Something for the grown-ups.  I also posted my Hawaiian Sweet BBQ Sauce, a more sweet sauce infused with minced bits of Pineapple with just hints of jalapeno that I made to appeal to my wife and the ladies.

And now I am completing the circle with a much more sweet sauce, this Root Beer BBQ Sauce.  And yes, it is indeed made with root beer (always full strength, never cook with diet sodas, too many questionable chemicals that will alter taste).  The root beer cooks down into a thick syrup, infusing even the few bits of Jalapeno with a sweetness that appeals to the kids at your table.

Like the rest of my BBQ sauces, this is very easy.  The main ingredient is plain old ketchup, just a matter of mixing in a few items and allowing them to simmer to the desired thickness.  The sweetness of the sauce was perfect to pair with the Onions.  I also made some sweet ribs with a Root Beer BBQ glaze (will be posting them soon) with this sauce.  As I have said, I am posting my big whoop dee-doo menu from a large Labor Day BBQ... a dozen friends and family (and yes several kids that practically licked the ribs of the sauce) and 10 dishes plus condiments, drinks and desserts.  It is soooo easy to make this and adds so much cache bragging rights when you pull out a jar of home made sauce... Especially when it is as good as this...

OK... Here's what I did...

Root Beer BBQ Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 TBS Olive Oil
• 1 Medium Sweet Onion Like a Vidalia or Candy Sweet, finely chopped
• 4 tsp Ginger, finely grated and fresh
• 4 Cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 TBS Smoked Paprika
• 1 (12 OZ) Bottle Root Beer (NEVER Diet)
• 1-1/2 Cup Ketchup
• 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
• 2 TBS Molasses
• 1 small Jalapeno Pepper (optional) Finely minced, no seeds
• Juice and Zest of 1 Lemon
• Several pinches of Salt and Pepper to taste

Cooking Directions

1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the onions and cook until soft and translucent.
2. Add the ginger and garlic and cook for 1 minute.
3. Add the paprika and cook for 1 minute.
4. Stir in the root beer and cook until reduced by half.
5. Add the ketchup, brown sugar, molasses and Jalapeno and cook over low heat until the flavors meld and the sauce reduces, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
6. Add the lemon juice and zest and season with salt and pepper.
7. Transfer while HOT to sterilized canning jars and allow to cool.
8. Refrigerate sealed in jars for up to 6 months. Once opened,use within a couple of weeks.
9. Serve as you would any BBQ sauce over ribs, in Baked beans or whatever and ENJOY

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This simple recipe has been added to my growing list of "52 Simple but Next Level Dishes"!

Kind of an odd title for these posts. But the longer sentence is... Simple recipes that are easy and inexpensive that will take your cooking to the next level... Things like easy pickled items (I always have a jar of Pickled Red Onions for sandwiches in my fridge). Or how about the easiest bread to make in the world... Beer Bread that is tasty on it's own but also makes a wonderful open face pizza style sandwich... With easy to make Tomato Sauce. Or how about Roasting Garlic for a spread on toast points for a unique appetizer. Infusing Oil with Herbs or spices or spicy peppers. Or how about making your own BBQ sauce. Nothing sets you apart as a grill master like setting out a jar of your own specialty BBQ Sauce.

You get the idea. These recipes are very simple, take very little time but will set you apart as a better cook...

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So,  I am pleased to list this as one of my Growing list of  "52 Grilling Time Secret Extras" or "52 Ways to Cook BBQ and Grilling Recipes"!!!

Well over 52 recipes actually as I just can't stop... Over 100 in one grilling season (I love to grill!). But not just leat... Drinks, Condiments (LOTS of different BBQ sauces), Drinks, Desserts... even specialty items like GRILLED Pizza, and fun shaped Watermelons.  Easy and these ideas will make you the MASTER of your Backyard Domain!

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