Blueberry BBQ Sauce
Blueberry BBQ Sauce! Transition those sweet spring berries into an accompaniment for savory summer grilling with this fruity barbecue sauce that works on chicken, ribs & pork!
Servings: 1 jar
Ingredients
- 1 pint blueberries fresh or frozen
- 1 ¼ cups water
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 strips of lemon zest
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion minced
- 2 large garlic cloves grated
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
Instructions
- Combine the blueberries, water, sugar and lemon zest in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and allow to simmer until reduced by about half, stopping to smash the berries every now and again, about 15-20 minutes. Until the sauce is reduced and has thickened slightly.
- Remove from heat and set aside.
- Meanwhile, in another saucepan or in a medium pot, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until softened and translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
- Sprinkle in thyme, vinegar, hot sauce, and blueberry mixture and bring to a bubble, then reduce to a simmer and allow to cook for another 6-8 minutes until the mixture has thickened a bit. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Pour the mixture into a blender or food processor and blend to desired consistency, or leave chunky if desired. (Be careful blending hot liquids.)
- Pour into a jar with a tight fitting lid and refrigerate until ready to use.
Notes
Variations
- Try a different herb such as basil for another flavor profile.
- Add a boozy bite by mixing in 2 tablespoons of bourbon (off the heat.)
- Experiment with sweeteners by using ½ cup brown or granulated sugar and ¼ cup maple syrup or honey. (Be careful with scorching; keep the heat low while on the stovetop.)
- Use an entirely different fruit such as blackberries or raspberries for a totally different version!
- Vegan: Use plant-based butter instead of regular.