I promised a few people in a variety of places I would share this recipe soon. Sadly that was two weeks ago. So I’m sorry to those who waited or thought I’d blown them off. Sometimes life comes at you fast or it throws a ton of homework at you. LOL Here it is though as promised.
I know what you’re thinking; isn’t bbq sauce already vegan? Yes … and … no.
A lot of bbq sauces have honey, which I love for the sweetness, and Worcestershire sauce. Like milk though, honey isn’t considered vegan because it is an animal byproduct. Worcestershire isn’t vegan as it contains anchovies.
Don’t despair though! There are vegan alternatives to both of those that make just as delicious a bbq sauce. Agave Syrup makes an excellent substitute for honey.
As for the Worcestershire sauce, there are vegan brands now. We use to have to substitute Soy Sauce and things like that so I am glad to see companies stepping forward.
I’ve played with this recipe over and over again. I’m still playing with it every time I make it. That’s the nice thing though about making your own sauces. You can tweak it each time you make it to your taste. When you find the perfect one, you can make it and freeze it. In the refrigerator, this sauce will keep for about two weeks.
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups ketchup (I use Simple Truth Organic Ketchup with 50% less sugar and salt, vegan, gluten-free)
1/4 cup agave syrup (I use Agave In The Raw. I’ve found its flavor and texture to be the best for all sorts of things).
1/4 cup light brown sugar (I use Sugar In The Raw Turbinado cane sugar).
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/2 tablespoon onion powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tablespoon smoked paprika (this gives it a smokey flavor).
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (I use Simple Truth Organic Vegan Worcestershire Sauce)
**OPTIONAL** Add in to taste a bit of your favorite hot sauce. I use my standby sauce I carry around with me everywhere LOL. Marie Sharps Red Hornet Pepper Sauce. This can make this deliciously sweet sauce have a nice fiery kick to it.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Low and slow is the pace here. You’ll see some places it calls for bringing it to a boil then lowering the heat and letting it simmer. This is great if you want it fast but if you are not careful it will easily burn due to the high sugar content. So I prefer the low and slow method.
Mix everything together in a non-stick pan and cook on low for 40 to 60 minutes stirring about every 8, making sure you get the bottom of the pan so nothing sticks and burns.
I usually do about 50 minutes to make it a hair thicker so that it sticks to whatever I put it on better.
There you have it, simple easy vegan bbq sauce. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
