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.

What does tangy BBQ sauce taste like? ›

McDonald's Tangy Barbeque Sauce is sweet, tangy, and has a smoky flavor. Our Tangy BBQ Sauce recipe is made with a tomato paste base, vinegar, and savory spices with a hint of sweet hickory smoke flavor.

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? ›

  1. Honey - adding honey to your BBQ sauce can help balance out the smokiness and add a touch of sweetness.
  2. Chipotle peppers - if you want to add some heat to your sauce, consider adding chipotle peppers. ...
  3. Apple cider vinegar - adding apple cider vinegar can help give your BBQ sauce a tangy flavor that complements the.
Mar 6, 2023

What cancels out tangy flavor? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal.

How do you make something more tangy? ›

Try adding fresh lime or lemon juice, a splash of vinegar (such as apple cider), sour condiments such as pickles or sauerkraut, and sweet-flavored herbs such as cilantro and basil.

What style of BBQ sauce is tangy? ›

Carolina BBQ Sauce

It's a rich, spicy, and tangy sauce made with yellow mustard that gets slathered on pork. North Carolina has a vinegar-based BBQ sauce. It's mostly cider vinegar, salt, and red pepper flakes.

What is tangy BBQ sauce made of? ›

To the tomato base, vinegar, a sweetener like sugar, brown sugar, honey or molasses, and seasonings like chili powder, onion, garlic, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili peppers, cayenne pepper or hot sauce is added and the sauce is simmered to marry the flavors. Is it hard to make barbecue sauce from scratch?

What makes BBQ sauce taste better? ›

What To Add To Store-Bought BBQ Sauce?
  1. Spices like: Smoked paprika, chili powder, cayenne, coriander, onion powder.
  2. Fresh herbs like: rosemary, oregano, parsley.
  3. Chipotle chilis in adobo.
  4. Harissa.
  5. Kimchi.
  6. Bacon bits.
  7. Sautéed onions or Jalapeños.
  8. Mop sauce or vinegar.
Mar 8, 2023

What is the oldest brand of BBQ sauce? ›

Heinz was the first major company to sell bottled barbecue sauce in 1940. Soon afterward, General Foods introduced "Open Pit". Kraft Foods only entered the market in around 1960, but with heavy advertising, succeeded in becoming the market leader.

What is the oldest BBQ sauce in America? ›

Eastern Carolina-Style Vinegar Sauce

Found in the eastern half of both North and South Carolina, Eastern-style vinegar sauce has the unique honor of being the oldest barbecue sauce in the country. Given its origin in the 13 colonies, it's literally where American barbecue was born, at the hands of enslaved chefs.

Is it cheaper to make your own BBQ sauce? ›

This sweet-and-savory Homemade BBQ Sauce Recipe tastes so much better than store-bought, and it's cheaper too. Best of all, you can make it with better ingredients and fewer preservatives. Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is.

What is the secret to good BBQ? ›

PRO TIP: Add wood chips or chunks for smoking, directly to your charcoal after adding the food to the grill. Make sure the lid is on tight. This will add smoky flavor to whatever you are BBQing.

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 thickens BBQ sauce? ›

You can use either flour or cornstarch to thicken BBQ sauce. Just mix together 2 tbsp (16 g) of flour and ¼ cup (62.5 mL) of water, or combine 1 tbsp (9 g) of cornstarch with 1 tbsp (15 mL) of water. Continue mixing the thickener until there are no lumps of flour or cornstarch.

How do you tone down tangy sauce? ›

Many sources recommend adding a pinch of baking soda to a sauce that's overly tart, which raises the pH and makes it less acidic. We've always preferred adding a bit of sugar. It can't neutralize acidity in the same way that baking soda can, but sugar does change our perception of other tastes.

How do you balance tangy sauce? ›

How Do You Neutralize Sour Taste in Food? If a dish is too sour, add a little bit of sugar! Sweetness balances out sour flavors, so if something makes your mouth pucker, a dash of sugar may help soften the blow of the sour food.

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.

How do you make sauce less vinegary? ›

a little baking soda (a pinch at a time) will help tone down the pH harshness (bitterness) a little water, broth or other suitable liquid to dilute the vinegar. a little oil (if it works in the recipe) to dilute the vinegar, and/or. a little sugar (if it works in the recipe)

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