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)

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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 is tangy BBQ sauce made of? ›

Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Tomato Paste, Red Wine Vinegar, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Contains 2% Or Less: Modified Food Starch, Spices, Soy Sauce (water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Soybean Oil, Dextrose, Xanthan Gum, Natural Smoke Flavor, Garlic Powder, Cellulose Gum, Chili Peppers, Caramel Color, Sodium ...

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.

What is smoky barbecue sauce made of? ›

INGREDIENTS: TOMATO SAUCE (WATER, TOMATO PASTE), BROWN SUGAR, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, MUSTARD (DISTILLED VINEGAR, WATER, MUSTARD SEED, SALT, TURMERIC, PAPRIKA, SPICE, GARLIC POWDER), SUGAR, VINEGAR, NATURAL SMOKE FLAVOUR, SPICES, SALT, APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE, LIME JUICE CONCENTRATE, GARLIC, ONION, NATURAL FLAVOUR.

What gives BBQ sauce its distinct flavor? ›

Ingredients vary, but most include vinegar or tomato paste (or a combination) as a base, as well as liquid smoke, onion powder, spices such as mustard and black pepper, and sweeteners such as sugar or molasses.

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 three types of BBQ sauce? ›

Generally, barbecue sauces is categorized into four varieties: tomato-based sauces, vinegar-based sauces, mustard-based sauces, and mayonnaise-based sauces. Each category can have a range of BBQ sauce styles, ranging from sweet and tangy to hot and spicy.

What BBQ sauce does Bobby Flay use? ›

According to Flay, store-bought barbecue sauce can elevate grilled foods like any made from scratch. That's right; the bottled stuff will do just fine, so long as you use his personal favorite — a store-bought spread called Bone Suckin' Sauce, which he always keeps stocked in his pantry at the ready.

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.

How do restaurants get smoky flavor? ›

Liquid Smoke

Liquid smoke is a naturally occurring substance made from real smoke. By burning wood pellets and condensing the smoke, manufacturers capture it as a liquid. Once it has been distilled and filtered, liquid smoke is one of the simplest ways to add pure smoke flavor to your foods.

What makes smoky charred barbecue taste so good? ›

Burning wood breaks down molecules called lignans, and these turn into smaller organic molecules – including syringol and guaiacol – that are mainly responsible for the quintessential smoky flavor. When smoke comes in contact with food, the components of the smoke can get absorbed.

What makes Kansas City barbecue sauce different? ›

Kansas City BBQ sauce has a thicker consistency and is sweeter than a classic BBQ sauce. Made with onions, spices, ketchup, and molasses, other ingredients are often also added to give it a variation of flavors, such as liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, or soy sauce.

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.

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 does tangy sauce taste like? ›

Tangy barbecue sauce is characterized by its slightly acidic and sharp flavor, which comes from the use of vinegar and other tangy ingredients. This sets it apart from sweeter, smokier, or spicier barbecue sauces.

What does Carolina Tangy Gold BBQ sauce taste like? ›

Cattlemen's® Carolina Tangy Gold™ BBQ Sauce blends signature flavors like zesty, creamy mustard, sweet molasses and sugar and tangy apple cider vinegar with hickory smoke notes and a hint of perfectly aged cayenne peppers for a complex, unmatched flavor profile and a rich, distinctive golden color.

Is McDonald's tangy BBQ sauce vegan? ›

But just in case, here are your vegan condiment options at McDonald's: You can go ahead and have the Tangy Barbeque sauce, Spicy Buffalo Sauce, Sweet N' Sour sauce, ketchup, and plain mustard. One caveat: Sauces can be a surprising source of added sugar.

What makes hot sauce tangy? ›

The majority of hot sauces will use some sort of vinegar to add a sour element of acidity to the sauce. Most commonly, hot sauce makers will use either white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or, in some cases, lime juice to create that sour flavor.

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