Tangy smoky rhubarb bbq sauce recipe - Rhubarbarians (2024)

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Smoky rhubarb bbq sauce recipe! Tangy, sweet, and savory bbq sauce made with fresh rhubarb and chipotle peppers.

Tangy smoky rhubarb bbq sauce recipe - Rhubarbarians (1)

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Hiya, Rhubarbarians! It's rhubarb season! Let's try something new and unexpected with those rhubarb stalks and make some fresh rhubarb bbq sauce.

I know that using rhubarb, mostly sweetened for pies and desserts, as the backbone for a chipotle bbq sauce is kind of out-of-the-box. But, the tartness of rhubarb is perfect for tangy bbq sauce. This sauce is sweet, tangy, smoky, and super flavorful.

Why you'll love this

If you're someone who loves incorporating seasonal produce into every meal like I am, you are going to love this! The blend of tart rhubarb with the rich, smoky flavor of chipotle is a game-changer.

It's vegan and vegetarian-friendly, opening up a world where everyone, regardless of dietary preferences, can enjoy it at a gathering. What sets this sauce apart is how well it pairs with any dish you would add bbq sauce to - be it grilled vegetables, tofu, or a portobello burger.

The ingredients are seasonal and simple, the preparation is a breeze, and the result is a vegan BBQ sauce that will impress everyone.

More sauce recipes to try:

  • Peanut butter chocolate sauce
  • Grapefruit vinaigrette recipe
  • Easy recipes with cranberry sauce
  • Whole berry cranberry sauce recipe

Ingredients and equipment

Here is everything you need to make a batch of this rhubarb barbecue sauce at home.Full ingredient amounts with instructions are listedhere in the recipe cardat the bottom of this article.

Ingredients:

  • produce: rhubarb
  • sweeteners: brown sugar and maple syrup
  • sauces: ketchup, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, vegan Worcestershire sauce, and dijon mustard
  • canned goods: chipotle chiles in adobo
  • aromatics: fresh garlic and ginger
  • seasonings: salt

Equipment:

  • sharp knife and cutting board
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • large sauce pan or pot
  • stove top or cook top
  • stirring utensil
  • blender or immersion blender
  • storage container

Step by step instructions

Here is a step by step guide to making rhubarb bbq sauce at home.Full instructions with ingredient amounts are listedhere in the recipe cardat the bottom of this article.

  • Chop your rhubarb and gather all of your ingredients.
  • Add the ingredients to a large sauce pan or pot on the stove top.
  • Stir well and heat over medium heat until bubbles start.
  • Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the rhubarb has broken down and softened.
  • Puree and then return to the pot.
  • Add the salt, taste, and add more if desired.

Serving suggestions

You can use this spring/summer bbq sauce any way that you love to use bbq sauce!

I love drizzling it onto grilled vegetables. The unique tartness of the sauce perfectly complements the sweetness of the vegetables.

Additionally, this vegetarian BBQ sauce works miracles on tofu. Marinating tofu slices in the sauce for a few hours before grilling them makes an amazing vegetarian bbq main course.

Try making tofu or halloumi and vegetable bbq kabobs, spreading it onto a portobello burger, making bbq sauce pizza, using it as a dip for chickenless nuggets, or using it as the sauce for this bbq chickpea veggie bowl.

Tangy smoky rhubarb bbq sauce recipe - Rhubarbarians (6)

When is rhubarb season? Rhubarb is in peak season in the spring time from April to June. It grows well in cooler climates and grows through August here in the Pacific Northwest US.

Recipe tips an substitutions

I always love making sauces with the fresh ingredients of the season. This bbq sauce is very simple, but a few tips and tricks could make all the difference for you.

  • Feel free to use frozen rhubarb if that's what you have!
  • I find that an immersion blender works great, but a high speed blender will create an even smoother sauce.
  • If you're not vegan/vegetarian, by all means use regular worcestershire sauce.
  • The balsamic vinegar can be swapped for red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
  • If you don't want to use chipotle chiles, go ahead and add a teaspoon or two of smoked paprika for the smoky flavor.
  • Swap the maple syrup for honey or agave.

Storing, freezing, and canning

This recipe makes 3 cups of rhubarb bbq sauce, so it's quite a lot! Here's how to store it.

Storing: store the sauce in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 4 weeks.

Freezing: allow your sauce to cool completely, maybe even chill overnight in the refrigerator. Place it in freezer safe sealed containers in batch sizes that you will want to use in the future. The sauce will expand a bit as it freezes, so give it some room. Use within 3 months.

You can check out this guide for freezing bbq sauce!

Canning: Follow proper water bath canning guidelines for canning bbq sauce found here on the Ball Jar site.

Tangy smoky rhubarb bbq sauce recipe - Rhubarbarians (7)

Did you make this recipe? Leave us a review and star rating in the comments below! We read every single review and appreciate your feedback.

Recipe

Rhubarb bbq sauce recipe

Trish Bozeman

Smoky rhubarb bbq sauce recipe! Tangy, sweet, and savory bbq sauce made with fresh rhubarb and chipotle peppers.

4.50 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Sauce

Cuisine American

Servings 3 cups

Calories 232 kcal

Ingredients

  • 5 cups 1" pieces of rhubarb About 4 medium stalks
  • 4 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon vegan worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 2-3 medium chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, finely chopped About 1- 1½ heaping Tablespoons, depending on how smoky you prefer
  • 1 Tablespoon finely minced garlic
  • 1 Tablespoon finely minced ginger
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Combine all of the ingredients except the salt in a large saucepan. Stir well to combine.

    5 cups 1" pieces of rhubarb, 4 Tablespoons brown sugar, 3 Tablespoons maple syrup, ½ cup ketchup, 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 2 Tablespoons soy sauce, 1 Tablespoon vegan worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, 2-3 medium chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, finely chopped, 1 Tablespoon finely minced garlic, 1 Tablespoon finely minced ginger

  • Heat the pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bubbling.

  • Reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the rhubarb is broken down and very soft, stirring often, about 15 minutes.

  • Remove the sauce from the heat and puree the sauce with an immersion blender, or in a regular blender.

  • Stir the salt into the sauce. Taste and add more salt if desired. Let the sauce cool completely.

    1 teaspoon salt

  • Once cooled, store the sauce in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to a month, or freeze or can.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 232kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 4gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 1918mgPotassium: 870mgFiber: 5gSugar: 41gVitamin A: 419IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 234mgIron: 2mg

Keyword barbecue sauce, vegan, vegetarian

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Tangy smoky rhubarb bbq sauce recipe - Rhubarbarians (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to BBQ sauce to make it less tangy? ›

Sugars: The standard sauce tends to be pretty sweet to begin with, so sugar may not be necessary, but if the sauce is too spicy or tart, you can try adding brown sugar, molasses, and/or honey to even things out.

How does Gordon Ramsay make BBQ sauce? ›

For the BBQ sauce:
  1. 350g ketchup.
  2. 1 medium white onion diced.
  3. 70ml water.
  4. 80g soft brown sugar.
  5. 50g smoked paprika.
  6. 80g cider vinegar.
  7. 30g strong coffee (espresso is preferable)
  8. Splash of olive oil.

How to make BBQ sauce tastier? ›

Add a few glugs of Frank's RedHot or Louisiana-style Crystal. Or any other spicy condiment, really: swirl in some sambal oelek, gochujang, or harissa. Play with the smoky notes found in a can of adobo sauce, or the citrus flavors in Cuban mojo. Another source of smoky flavor: smoked paprika.

What thickens BBQ sauce? ›

Pectin. One of the best options as to how to thicken a BBQ sauce is to use pectin. Depending on where you get it from, pectin can come in two different varieties; high- and low-methoxyl pectin. Both however are available in the bakery aisle of many supermarkets and are typically made from apple cores or citrus rinds.

How do you make BBQ sauce more interesting? ›

For flavor chili powder is usually on the top of the list as well as garlic, onion, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and sometimes a sweet spice such as clove. Finally, there's liquid smoke because, well, it's barbecue.

What cancels out tangy flavor? ›

How to Make Food Less Acidic. Add a fat such as butter, heavy cream, sour cream, cheese, or olive oil to coat the tongue and physically block some of the acidity from your taste buds. You might also try adding a sweetener such as sugar, honey, or maple syrup.

What is tangy BBQ sauce made of? ›

The wet ingredients include apple cider vinegar, ketchup, yellow mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Dry Ingredients: Along with the tangy flavor from the vinegar every good BBQ sauce recipe needs a little bit of sweet and a little bit of heat! That'll come from brown sugar and chili powder.

What BBQ sauce does Bobby Flay use? ›

Bobby Flay's Tips For Jazzing Up Store-Bought Barbecue Sauce

The one barbecue sauce he can't stop using is the Bone Suckin' brand, as he revealed while giving a tour of his pantry on Instagram.

Why is Chinese BBQ sauce different? ›

Unlike American-style barbecue sauces, traditional Chinese barbecue sauce doesn't contain tomatoes. Hoisin sauce, soy sauce, black bean paste, and Chinese five-spice powder are what bring the flavor.

What are the ingredients in Guy Fieri's BBQ sauce? ›

Vegetable Stock (Water, Vegetable Base (Vegetable Juice Concentrates (Carrot, Onion), Celery Puree, Salt, Dextrose, Yeast Extract, Corn Starch), Green Bell Pepper, Red Onion, Poblano Pepper, Lime Juice (From Concentrate), Canola Oil, White Balsamic Vinegar (White Grape Must, White Wine Vinegar Caramel, Sulphur Dioxide ...

Why add apple cider vinegar to barbecue sauce? ›

When it comes to barbecue sauce, ACV brings the tanginess with an added touch of sweetness. You've got apple notes, as well as that element of cider — both welcome nuances to BBQ sauce. The needed acidity for balance is there but without all the sharp edges of white vinegar.

What gives BBQ sauce its distinct flavor? ›

Spices and Seasonings

Create the perfect flavor with Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, paprika, salt, and black pepper.

How do you add depth to BBQ sauce? ›

Create depth by adding dark chocolate and coffee to your barbecue sauce. These two, feature a bitter-sweet combo that can truly enhance the blend of spices and flavors present in your bottled barbecue sauce. Enhance your Barbecue Sauce using almost anything, including your favorite beer.

What is the number one BBQ sauce in the US? ›

The top 5 brands listed above account for over 60% of the total barbecue sauce market in the United States. Sweet Baby Ray's is the clear market leader, with sales of over 198 million US dollars in 2022. Stubb's and Kraft are also very popular brands, with sales of over 150 million US dollars each.

What is the base of a good barbecue sauce? ›

Barbecue sauce is one of those kitchen staples that can be used in a number of ways, including marinating meat, dipping, topping, and basting. It typically has a tomato base and a flavor that's sweet and a little bit spicy.

What can I add to BBQ sauce to make it better? ›

This basic version has been doctored up with the additions of brown sugar, ketchup, molasses, cider vinegar, and some hot sauce. It only takes mere minutes to make, plus a bit of stirring, boiling and simmering, to get this sauce ready for your favorite protein. Try it out the next time you're grilling.

How do you make BBQ sauce more liquid? ›

If it has a good strong flavor you could thin it with something complimentary like a little water, beer, or whiskey. If it needs a little acidity thin it with some vinegar or citrus juice and then balance that with some sugar or honey.

How to thicken up little smokies? ›

How do you thicken Little Smokies sauce? To create a thicker sauce add a slurry at the end of cooking. To do this mix 2 tablespoons of flour and 1/4 cup of water together and stir it into the crockpot with 30 minutes of cook time to go.

What is the most common ingredient in BBQ sauce? ›

The base ingredients of barbecue sauce usually include tomato sauce or ketchup, vinegar, and sweeteners, such as molasses or brown sugar. Other common ingredients include Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic, onion powder, and various spices, which can include paprika, cumin, and chili powder.

What is the most popular style of BBQ sauce? ›

Tomato-Based Barbecue Sauces

By far the most common type of barbecue sauce is the tomato-based sauce. And although there are exceptions, the tomato in these sauces is almost always in the form of ketchup.

How do you get the tanginess out of bbq sauce? ›

  1. If you have added too much vinegar to your recipe, don't panic. There are some simple ways to balance the acidity and save your dish. ...
  2. - Add some sugar or honey to the dish. ...
  3. - Add some baking soda to the dish. ...
  4. - Add some dairy products to the dish. ...
  5. - Add some herbs or spices to the dish.
Apr 16, 2022

How do you reduce the tangy taste in sauce? ›

Add Some Baking Soda

If your tomato sauce is too acidic and verging on bitter, turn to baking soda, not sugar. Yes, sugar might make the sauce taste better, but good old baking soda is an alkaline that will help balance the excess acid. A little pinch should do the trick.

How do you tone down bbq flavor? ›

Whether it's drizzling honey on top of your dish, adding a bit of sugar to the recipe, or squeezing in lemon juice to enhance the flavors; a touch of sweetness can balance out the heat. If you have a BBQ dish or chili, the best way to tone them down is by adding things such as honey or brown sugar.

How do you make meat sauce less tangy? ›

Heat 1 cup of sauce with 1/4 teaspoon baking soda (baking soda neutralizes acidity). Taste the sauce and add tiny amounts of baking soda to see if it mellows the acidity. If there is still an edge, swirl in a teaspoon of butter, letting it melt until creamy. Usually this does the job.

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