Sweet, Sticky, Tangy, Spicy, Chunky, Smooth…….BBQ Sauce
Which ever version you fancy it’s really easy to make, and it’s dead cheap!

You will need a large saucepan

• Passata (Tomato Sauce) or tinned chopped tomatoes about 3
• Brown Sugar
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Empty Jam Jars

Add the Passata to a saucepan and turn on the heat. Add Brown sugar and stir. this is a really exact recipe isn’t it?

I have just made a new batch and I used 3 carton of Passata from Aldi and 2 packs of Aldi’s Dark Brown Sugar. I only added 1 & 1/2 to start with. It made 4 Jars.

Now add some Balsamic Vinegar 4 or 5 tablespoons to start. You can always add more. Bring to the boil while stirring. Taste. Too sweet add some more Vinegar. Too tangy add some more sugar….. easy eh? add some Worcestershire Sauce, a couple of tablespoons.
Turn down the heat to a fast simmer and wait. You need the sauce to reduce to whatever consistency you desire. The longer you leave it the thicker & stickier it will get.
Remember to taste often. The taste seems to change as it thickens. You can still adjust as you go.
If you want a spicy version add some Chilly Powder or Chilly Flakes do NOT add too much at once you can always add more.

Once you achieve the required consistency you need to add the sauce to Jars while it is still HOT! The Hotter the better!
This sauce can be kept in the cupboard for quite some time because if you use jars with the safety button on the lid as long as you fill the jar and screw the lid back on while it is hot as it cools the jar will become a vacuum just like the commercial jam, pasta sauce etc… that was in the jar originally. Obviously you should sterilise the jar before you use it. The hot cycle of the dishwasher is usually good enough.
When you screw the lid on turning the jar upside down briefly seems to aid the vacuum process. Leave the jars on the side to cool and you will hear the buttons pop.

Once you open a jar store it in the fridge  and use the remaining contents within a week or so.

For a chunky version swop Passata for Tinned Chopped Tomatoes.

Marinate the raw meat/chicken in the sauce before cooking overnight is possible. If you’re cooking on a BBQ you can brush more sauce onto the meat while cooking.

Cook ribs while brushing on more sauce for delicious sticky ribs.