The Great Albertan BBQ Sauce
Ketchup, brown sugar, pineapple, bourbon, molasses and smoky spices simmer into a thick Alberta-style barbecue sauce.
What It Is
Ketchup, brown sugar, pineapple, bourbon, molasses and smoky spices simmer into a thick Alberta-style barbecue sauce.
Origin
An Alberta barbecue sauce with pineapple, bourbon and molasses. Cowboys optional; napkins absolutely not.
Fun Fact
Aroma changes how strongly we perceive flavour, which is why herbs, citrus peel and warm spices can make a simple recipe taste far more complicated than the effort involved.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1½ cups brown sugar
- ¾ cup pineapple juice
- ½ cup crushed pineapple
- ½ cup bourbon
- ⅓ cup molasses
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp chipotle chili powder
Steps
- Combine everything in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer about 30 minutes, until thick and reduced by roughly half.
- Use immediately or cool and refrigerate.
Notes
Taste before the final adjustment. A recipe should guide dinner, not bully it. If it needs a little more acid, sweetness, salt or heat, make the change in small steps instead of launching the whole spice rack into orbit.
Substitutions
Use equivalent ingredients where needed for allergies or availability, but keep the main sweet/sour/salty/spicy balance intact. This is cooking, not a hostage negotiation.
Storage
Store in a clean airtight container in the refrigerator. Use a clean spoon each time because introducing mystery crumbs is how condiments develop side quests.
Freezing
Most dry seasonings do not need freezing. For wet sauces, freeze in small portions only if the ingredients tolerate it; creamy emulsions may separate after thawing.