Name: Sweet and Tangy Barbecue Sauce
Total time: 30 min
Yield: Serves 4 to 6 (Makes about 1 3/4 cups)
Ingredients: 1 cup ketchup; 5 tablespoons molasses; 3 tablespoons cider vinegar; 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1/3 cup grated onion; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Why This Recipe Works

To produce a flavor profile that balanced sweet and tangy, we chose ketchup as the base and added Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, black pepper, and Dijon mustard to keep the sweetness in check. Stirring in grated onion, minced garlic, chili powder, and cayenne lent the right bite and depth.

Before You Begin

Use the small holes of a box grater to grate the onion.

Instructions

Whisk ketchup, molasses, vinegar, Worcestershire, mustard, and pepper together in bowl. Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and garlic; cook until onion is softened, 2 to 4 minutes. Add chili powder and cayenne and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Whisk in ketchup mixture and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 5 minutes. (Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.)