Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 medium-size onion, minced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and minced
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  • 3 tablespoons cider vinegar, or more to taste
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons pineapple juice (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon of your favorite hot sauce, or more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke, or 2 tablespoons meat drippings
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar, or more to taste
  • 2 tablespoons prepared mustard of your choice
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Salt

Method

  • 1. Heat the oil in a large nonreactive saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and bell pepper and cook until softened but not brown, about 4 minutes.
  • 2. Stir in the ketchup, tomato sauce, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, pineapple juice (if using), hot sauce, liquid smoke, molasses, brown sugar, prepared and dry mustards, black pepper, and 1 cup of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer, uncovered, until thickened, about 15 minutes, stirring often to prevent scorching. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little more water.
  • 3. Remove the barbecue sauce from the heat and taste for seasoning, adding salt to taste and more cider vinegar, hot sauce, and/or brown sugar as necessary; the sauce should be highly seasoned.
  • 4. Transfer the barbecue sauce to a serving bowl and serve warm or at room temperature. The sauce will keep, tightly covered in the refrigerator, for several weeks.