Garlic BBQ Sauce

While surfing various foodblogs I stumbled across Habeas Brulee's event for pairing garlic with unusual ingredients. It befuddled me. What doesn't garlic go with? Mint? No... middle eastern cuisine is rampant with garlic-and-mint creations. Fruit? No... a fruited salsa could contain garlic. A neighbor of my parents owns a farm that cultivates tons of garlic--they even make garlic ice cream! So what would be an interesting challenge?

Dr. Pepper, which is my dear Mr.W's beverage of choice.

Yes, indeed, Dr. Pepper it would be. I thought immediately of the U.S. South, rampant with their bar-b-que sauces. Everyone has their own version, and I know that many cooks--in Georgia, especially--use Coca-Cola in their sauces, so why not Dr. Pepper?

So here is my entry for Yes, Of Course You Can Pair Garlic With That! Visit the roundup.


Garlic BBQ Sauce

5 cloves garlic, peeled and rough-chopped
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup Dr. Pepper
1/3 cup prepared ketchup
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1-1/2 tablespoons (packed) light brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
pinch cinnamon

Combine garlic and salt in a mortar and pestle; bash around until you have a chunky paste. Transfer to a medium saucepan and add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently, until reduced to about half. (This took about 15 minutes.) Cool slightly and transfer to a bowl or jar (put a metal spoon in your container to avoid cracking). Cool thoroughly, cover and refrigerate.

Makes about 1 cup.



I was really pleased with the resulting flavor--certainly a sweet bbq sauce, perfect for chicken or ribs, but unlike the usual sickeningly-sweet sauces available on the market, the garlic really helped to balance this sauce's sweetness. It is not a super-thick sauce, either. This would offer your grilled meat of choice a sweet glaze without overpowering the taste of the meat itself. I really like it!


And Mr.W's verdict?

"It's garlicky... good. What's in it?"

"Dr. Pepper."

"You used some of my Doctor for cooking?"

"Yes."

"Harrumph!"

"But you like it."

"It is good."



Hah.
Mrs.W