[mojo]

BBQ Sauce

Ingredients

2 c water
3/4 c corn syrup
1/2 c tomato paste
3 tbs molasses
3 tbs brown sugar
1 tbs liquid smoke
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp garlic

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over high heat and whisk until smooth. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 to 60 minutes or until mixture is thick. Cool then store in a covered container in the refrigerator overnight so that flavors can develop.


Note:

There are tons of BBQ recipes. All different or with slight variations on the same themes. So one size doesn't always fit all. It's more to your taste buds and what you like. For me, I always make my own and never do the store bought.

[Alexa]

I had no idea there is something called 'liquid smoke'. Is it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_smoke ?

[英语课]

I think, if there is molasses (3 tbs), we can reduce the brown sugar (from 3 tbs to 2 tbs or 1).

[mojo]

Liquid smoke is something very common here. You can buy it in most grocery stores, even the smaller ones. For those who don't cook out side it still gives the flavor of if it had been. Nothing replaces the real deal but this is as close as you come without cooking outside. It's never to be used as a condiment but rather as a cooking ingredient or as part of a marinade.

On the molasses, again the recipe is what you want to make, not what is written down as a recipe. Your wallet, your time, your taste buds. Whatever you believe suits your tastes is always the standard.

[MSL]

 In the 'sugar case' it's not about wallet or taste -- we're trying to avoid sugar and to eat it less. This is to avoid some health problems and obesity.
 I want to share an interesting history: in 2007 or 2008 I had to help a young woman from Hongkong to travel in Sanya, PRC. She was the 1-st person in my life, who reads carefully all the tags of the products (food and drinks) and if there is mentioned 'sugar', she is not buying it. So, we're not like her to avoid sugar 100%, but we're trying to reduce it as much as possible. For example, when I eat yogurt I don't add sugar, I add honey.

[mojo]

What may be being missed here is the sugar in this recipe serves a purpose beyond just being sweet. It is responsible for the BBQ clinging to the meat. Without the sugar in the recipe, the BBQ sauce falls off the meat. As the sugar is heated, it becomes a liquid. It is this liquid that serves as the binder to make it all stay together.

[Alexa]

I know there are some sugar-free barbecue sauces. Just a random example, may be useful: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/218895/sugar-free-bbq-sauce/