Aaron Franklin BBQ Sauce Recipe

[gregbooras]

After watching a few of the Aaron Franklin videos I decided to try his BBQ Sauce and I was really disappointed. The sauce is super tangy, over the top for me, but the amount of butter in this recipe is way to high. As you can see by the photo I posted below when you dip a spoon in you get 50 percent butter or better, not good.

If I was going to use this recipe again (I think this could be a good sauce). I would reduce the apple cider vinegar to 1/4 cup, use 1 t. onion powder (I don't like the pieces of onion in the sauce) and for the butter I would start with 2-4 T total.

Just my 2 cents, this one will be going down the drain. This afternoon I will post my results of his Espresso BBQ Sauce.


Aaron Franklin’s BBQ Sauce
1/2 lb butter
1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
1 1/2 cups ketchup (not high fructose corn syrup)
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 ounces light brown sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
A little less than 1 tsp garlic powder
A little less than 1 tsp chili powder
1/2 lemon squeezed
Melt butter and saute onions until soft and translucent.
Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
Serve warm with barbecue.



Greg

 

[Carp210]

I wonder if maybe you are supposed to cook the onions then drain off the butter before you continue.  That's a lot of butter and it shows in your photo.  Not very appealing at all, and I love butter.

 

[gregbooras]

I wonder if maybe you are supposed to cook the onions then drain off the butter before you continue.  That's a lot of butter and it shows in your photo.  Not very appealing at all, and I love butter.

No I have looked at the video more than once and looked at the recipes on the net that all say 1/2 lb of butter...

Greg

 

[gregbooras]

I had time this morning so I revised Aaron's recipe and the results were good. The sauce is still a bit tangy with just the right amount of heat. I will place in the refrigerator and see how it tastes later this afternoon. I have found the BBQ sauce get better and mellow after they spend some time in the refrigerator.

My version of Aaron Franklin’s BBQ Sauce
1T butter
1 t. onion powder
1 1/2 cups ketchup
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup apple juice
¼ cup light brown sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chili powder
1 T lemon juice
1/4 cup water
1 T Tamarind (sweet and sour sauce)
Melt butter and then add the rest of the ingredients.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.



Greg

 

[Carp210]

Got this from the comment section on You Tube
Curious why this sauce recipe doesn't match the "regular barbecue sauce" recipe found in the Franklin BBQ cookbook? Which sauce is served in the restaurant - the butter/onion version found in the video or the non-onion/butter version in the cookbook?

 

[Carp210]

"Sweet Sauce"
by Aaron Franklin

14 oz. ketchup
5 oz. water
2.5 oz. apple cider vinegar
2.5 oz. white vinegar
4.5 Tbsp. brown sugar
2.5 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp. chili powder
.5 Tbsp. Kosher salt
.5 Tbsp coarse-ground black pepper
1 tsp. cumin

Mix all ingredients in a pot and simmer until the flavors are well combined, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Once cool, store in an air-tight jar or bottle in the refrigerator. “It should stay good for months!” says Aaron.

Note: Ounce measurements above are fluid ounces, not ounces by weight.

 

[gregbooras]

"Sweet Sauce"
by Aaron Franklin

14 oz. ketchup
5 oz. water
2.5 oz. apple cider vinegar
2.5 oz. white vinegar
4.5 Tbsp. brown sugar
2.5 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp. chili powder
.5 Tbsp. Kosher salt
.5 Tbsp coarse-ground black pepper
1 tsp. cumin

Mix all ingredients in a pot and simmer until the flavors are well combined, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Once cool, store in an air-tight jar or bottle in the refrigerator. “It should stay good for months!” says Aaron.

Note: Ounce measurements above are fluid ounces, not ounces by weight.

Interesting in this version no butter like you say, he added water, Worcester sauce and cumin. Also added 1/2 t more salt and pepper.

I can see adding the water, the sauce I just made was on the thicker side but still good. I may try adding a bit of worchester and see if I like the results.

Greg

 

[gregbooras]

I found a list of ingredients he uses on the bottles he sells. The one that stood to me was Tamarind (I use this in my homemade sauce) this is used in a lot of commercial sauces.

So I added 1/4 cup water to the recipe and 1 T Tamarind (sweet and sour sauce).

This really improved the sauce and it might be a keeper!

Greg

 

[gregbooras]

I placed my modified sauce in the refrigerator for a few hours and the taste continues to improve. I will give it a try in the morning.

Greg

 

[Trip]

I tried the butter/onion one when I did my ribs.  It was awful....

Gonna have to try the sweet/sour version you recommend, greg.  Sounds a lot better.