Blueberry Bourbon BBQ Sauce
This blueberry BBQ sauce is fruity and tangy with some heat accompanied by a smoky-sweet bourbon back. Serve over pork ribs, grilled chops, or chicken for barbecue you’ll want again and again. For the best result, use fresh berries instead of frozen. Not only do fresh berries taste better, but you’ll avoid adding unnecessary moisture to the sauce.
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Grill torch
- Hand mixer, blender, or food processor
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jalapeño, diced
- ½ cup bourbon
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 pint of fresh blueberries, sorted
Instructions
- Heat the oil and butter over medium heat until the butter melts.
- Add the onion and garlic. Sauté for 1-2 minutes or until softened and fragrant.
- Toss in the jalapeno and continue to sauté for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour the bourbon into the saucepan, carefully light it with a torch, and wait until the flames dissipate to cook off the alcohol.
- Stir in the brown sugar, followed by the ketchup, crushed red pepper, and apple cider vinegar.
- Bring to a boil, add the blueberries, reduce to a simmer, and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
- Use a hand mixer or immersion blender to break down the blueberries. The sauce does not have to be super smooth.
- Return the sauce to a simmer and simmer for another 10 minutes to thicken up.
- Remove from the heat and use as desired.
Notes
For less heat, remove the seeds and ribs from the jalapeno.
When cooking with a flammable liquid like bourbon, always have something nearby to snuff the flame. In this case, the pan’s lid is ideal.