Kansas City style homemade BBQ sauce

I’m from Kansas City; ergo, I am a barbeque (or BBQ, or barbecue, or wh’deveryouwannacallit) snob.

And guess what? I’m not even the regular-type Kansas City BBQ snob. Sure, I love Oklahoma Joe’s. But I’ll tell ya that Gate’s isn’t what it used to be and that some REALLY good BBQ lives at a little joint in Holden, Missouri called Galle’s.
I say that just for street cred. So you know I’m serious.

Kansas City Style Homemade BBQ Sauce

Let me paint a mouthwatering picture of the esteemed Kansas City homemade BBQ sauce for you. This delectable creation is the epitome of flavor, capturing the essence of true Kansas City-style barbecue.

With a tomato-based foundation, this sauce sets the stage for a harmonious symphony of taste. As it simmers over medium heat, the rich combination of brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, black pepper, chili powder, and a hint of liquid smoke intertwine, resulting in a sauce that is nothing short of divine.

After patiently simmering for 20 minutes, the bold flavors intensify, as onions and garlic make their entrance, adding depth and complexity to the mix. Whether slathered on ribs, brushed onto the chicken, or drizzled over pulled pork, this homemade Kansas City-style BBQ sauce elevates every dish it touches.

With every savory bite, you’ll be transported to barbecue heaven, savoring the sweet and tangy notes that define this beloved sauce. Embark on a culinary journey and unlock the secrets of this irresistibly delicious BBQ sauce born in the heart of Kansas City.

Enjoy the fruits of your labor as you engage in the ultimate saucy indulgence!

What Is Kansas City BBQ?

What’s required in Kansas City BBQ is a good, tangy, molasses-y sauce. This homemade BBQ sauce uses a secret ingredient – and none of the junk.
I’ve been trying to create a decent homemade KCBBQ sauce forEVER.

Everything you can buy – and, for that matter, everything on order in the KCBBQ joints – is chock-full of gunk like HFCS and soybean oil, and other industrial garbage. (I’m lookin’ at you, Cowtown.)

It was only when my homemade Worcestershire sauce experiments failed miserably that I stumbled upon something pretty darn decent. This is tangy to the max, with a kick at the end; it’s not your standard BBQ sauce – but it’s my style.

Seriously. This is SO tangy. And it’s tangy thanks to the “secret ingredient” that you also find in Worcestershire: tamarind (sometimes spelled “tamarind”).

Where to Find Tamarind Concentrate

Tamarind concentrate isn’t easy to find (it’s mostly found in ethnic markets), but it IS online. I use this brand, from Amazon. It’s one of the most interesting, fun things in my kitchen.

I don’t use it much, but that’s OK because it lasts forever. I LOVE opening the fridge and just looking at it. Having it around makes me feel special and unique and like I know a special secret. This is also how I feel whenever I buy something from SkyMall.

Tamarind is an important part of this recipe, as is the blackstrap molasses. There are also a bunch of other ingredients in here. That’s because I’m good at adding, but not subtracting or editing. It’s my biggest flaw, besides the fact that I’m too nice, too organized, and I spend way too much time volunteering.

Anyway.

Note: I use organic white vinegar in this recipe. I tried ACV, but it’s just too ACV-y. Which is a thing.

Get ready to explode with flavor and take your taste buds on an adventure they’ll never forget! So, let’s fire up the grill (or the stovetop) and dive right in!

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (time to spice things up a notch!)
• 1 teaspoon onion powder (to give it that savory kick!)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder (we’ll be bringing the flavor with this one!)
• 1 cup tomato puree (can be canned or from the jar)
• 3/4 cup water
• 8 medjool dates
• 1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
• 2 teaspoons of tamarind concentrate
• 1/2 cup organic white vinegar
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1/4 teaspoons ground cloves

Instructions:

1. Put the dates in a cup with 3/4 cup water; microwave for 30 seconds. (Alternatively, you can heat the water in a saucepan, add dates once the water is boiling, turn the heat off, and wait for 3 minutes.) Be sure to allow the date mixture a few minutes to cool either way.
2. Once the date mixture has cooled, combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender.
3. Blend your little heart out.
4. In a medium saucepan, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, liquid smoke, chili powder, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Whew, that’s a whole lot of deliciousness!
5. Place the saucepan over medium heat and give it a good stir to blend all those amazing flavors together. Keep the heat at medium so everything can simmer and mingle nicely. Patience, my friend!
6. Let the sauce simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Use this time wisely – maybe do a little happy dance, practice your BBQ sauce whisking skills, or just take a moment to appreciate the incredible smell wafting through your kitchen. It’s the smell of victory, my friend.
7. After the sauce has simmered for those glorious 20 minutes, remove it from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. This sauce is a diva and needs time to cool down before it’s ready for action. It’ll be worth the wait, I promise!
8. BBQ your little heart out.

And there you have it, my BBQ sauce aficionado! A lip-smacking, finger-licking, absolutely delicious Kansas City-style homemade BBQ sauce that will take your grilling game to the next level. Use it on ribs, chicken, pulled pork, or anything your BBQ-loving heart desires. Enjoy every sticky, saucy bite! Keep the BBQ sauce flowing and the grill sizzling, my friend! Enjoy, and feel free to leave your feedback in the comments!