Smoky, sweet, tangy heat defines this delicious sauce with no added sweeteners.
For the printable recipe PDF click here.
The best ever Whole30 BBQ sauce
Looking for a Whole30 compliant BBQ sauce? You won't find one this good at the grocery store.
Making your own condiments might sound daunting, but making a homemade barbecue sauce with real ingredients and no added sugar is easier than you think. You just need a good high speed blender, immersion blender, or food processor, and you'll be making your own BBQ sauce in no time.
This is not a sugar-free or low carb BBQ sauce and is probably not the best thing for a keto diet, as it does contain a good amount of sugar from delicious, nutritious whole foods.
But if you're looking for a clean recipe without all the added sugar and high fructose corn syrup found in many supermarket BBQ sauce brands, this recipe is the real deal. It is sure to be your new fave, on or off the Whole30.
This delicious homemade BBQ sauce gets its smoky flavor from two key ingredients: smoked paprika and chipotle powder. It's got a bit of a kick to it from the chipotle and cayenne pepper, but it's a medium heat and shouldn't be too spicy for little monsters. Sweetness and depth of flavor come from a mixture of dates, caramelized onions, prunes, and dried figs. This mixture creates an incredible, complex flavor with natural sweetness and notes of brown sugar, with the added bonus of dietary fiber and nutrients like vitamins and minerals. The down side is that even after blending, the fig seeds can lend an undesirable grittiness to the texture of the sauce if served immediately. The grittiness disappears after a day or two in the fridge, however, so I always recommend making this sauce a couple days ahead of when you need it to make sure it's the desired consistency. It will last for a couple of weeks in an airtight container.
Can you freeze Whole30 BBQ Sauce?
This recipe makes enough to stock the fridge and the freezer. I like to serve it at room temperature in refillable squeezy bottles (available online or at restaurant supply stores), but for the freezer, I'll use a glass mason jar or two. After freezing, just thaw the sauce overnight in the fridge and give a good stir when ready to use.
I cook this barbeque sauce in the oven, which takes longer, but requires less stirring and babysitting. It is not necessary to soak the dried fruit in hot water ahead of time because they will absorb the liquid from the wet ingredients while cooking.
Whole30 BBQ Sauce makes a great accompaniment to paleo recipes like chicken breasts or thighs, smoked brisket, pulled pork, or sweet potato sliders. It also makes a great dipping sauce for chicken tenders or fresh veggies, and it can even be drizzled over your favorite salad or vegan entrée.
Most monsters give it two thumbs up, but this one can't be bothered to use his hands. Vegans, please look away.
Here's what you'll need:
14 pitted dates
6 dried plums (prunes)
6 dried figs
2 T caramelized onions*
1 (6 oz) can organic tomato paste
2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes
3 1/2 tsp sea salt
15 cranks organic black pepper
12 allspice berries, ground (or about 1 tsp ground)
3 whole cloves, ground (or about ¼ tsp ground)
1 tsp granulated garlic
1 tsp organic onion powder
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground cayenne
2 tsp smoked paprika
3 tsp ground chipotle chile
2 T organic yellow mustard
¾ cup organic apple cider vinegar
Here's what you'll do:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. and grind any spices that need to be ground.
Place all ingredients in a medium-sized Dutch oven or other oven-safe vessel fitted with a lid. Cook, covered, for 2 hours, stirring halfway through.
Transfer to a blender or use a stick blender to blend until completely smooth. Store in airtight containers in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze for longer. Try storing in plastic squeezy bottles (available online or at restaurant supply stores) for squirtability!
For the printable recipe PDF click here.
