Sean Brock’s Secret Weapon

Published May 14, 2015 8:08 PM

Sean Brock's BBQ Sauce
While Brock insists that store-bought barbecue sauce will work perfectly well, a homemade version takes very little time and you can customize it to your tastes or whatever it is you're cooking. Matt Taylor-Gross

While Charleston-based chef Sean Brock insists that a store-bought barbecue sauce will work perfectly well on his Char-Smoked Baby Back Ribs, we prefer the homemade Carolina-style version adapted from his book, Heritage (Artisan, 2014).

Featured in: The New Grilling Essentials

Sean Brock’s Secret Weapon Sean Brock’s Secret Weapon
Store-bought barbecue sauce has its place, but for real depth of flavor we prefer this version adapted from Charleston chef Sean Brock's book Heritage.
Yield: makes 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients

  • 1⁄2 cup pork or chicken stock
  • 2 1⁄2 cups cider vinegar
  • 3⁄4 cup ketchup
  • 2 1⁄2 tbsp. light brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp. smoked paprika
  • 3⁄4 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1⁄2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 1⁄2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1⁄2 tsp. onion powder
  • 1⁄4 tsp. chile powder

Instructions

  1. Heat all ingredients in a 4-qt. saucepan over medium-high; simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced by 2⁄3, about 30 minutes. Sauce will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

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