"BBQ" Sauce

[eyeofthestorm]

A million years ago (no, really, more like 35), The Frugal Gourmet (remember him?) had a show on PBS (which I used to watch regularly).

One day, he gave his recipe for (what he called) BBQ sauce. Before he gave it, he paused and said to go get pencil and paper, it was worth it. He would wait. So, I did.

I would not particularly call this BBQ sauce - it was not thick or sweet. But MAN was it good.

It was vinegar based, and had a ton of red pepper flakes in it. It made a gallon at a time. It was the BEST marinade for chicken ever.

I would love to make this again, if anyone has it or something similar.

[upnorthlady2]

I looked in my Frugal Gourmet cookbook, but couldn't find it. However, a quick search of the net found this:
www.food.com/recipe/the-frugal-gourmets-southern-barbecue-sauce-74284

This one has vinegar and red pepper flakes.

[eyeofthestorm]

Thank you. I did some googling -- I found a recipe the same as the one the link you posted, upnorthlady2, but (while it's good) it wasn't the one I was looking for.

Okay, I found something very, very close. This says it's from the Frugal Gourmet. I don't recall it having white wine in it, but the rest sounds right. I forgot to get red pepper flakes this week, so I'm going to have to inventory just how much I have in the cabinet. But I think I have what I need to make it now.

www.food.com/recipeprint.do?rid=191190

This is really good stuff.

[guimauve]

Does this help? No wine in my recipe if that is holding you up. A little different from the one you link to, my notes on my photocopy says from the frugal gourmet book (I don't own the book) - we eat mostly veg, but we use this ALL over the place!

1/2 cup raw cane or piloncillo
1/2 cup Perrins
1/2 cup mustard (not store bought)
1 cup homemade red ketchup
2 tablespoons freshly cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon blackstrap
3 cups red wine vinegar
2 cups water
1 cup homemade chicken stock

Mix together in a non-reactive pan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 mins. Stir every few minutes.

[guimauve]

I also have this one you might want to try (I just got it last time I was in NC...begged it from the food truck guy ;-) - it isn't quite as sweet, makes EXCELLENT pulled pork (and you know how much I love meat, haha), and is another one we apply liberally to even non-meat things (sweet and green mangoes drizzled with this is to DIE for):

1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup homemade ketchup
2 T raw sugar (or molasses)
1 tsp old bay seasoning
1/2 to 1 T red pepper flakes (I use 1T, sometimes more)

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and let simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, then let cool.

Pour into a serving container and serve either cold or at room temperature

Makes just under 2 cups

[michelle]

Oh that one sounds divine!

[tommyfettes]

Marinades work great on cuts like skirt or flank steak since the acid helps break down tough connective tissue.