Who doesn’t love an amazing BBQ? What would a BBQ be without the BBQ sauce? Whether you enjoy a traditional BBQ filled the usuals, chicken, beef, & pork, or are in favor of vegan or vegetarian versions, this versatile fermented BBQ sauce recipe will surely please.
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Our family is no different than many in that we love a great BBQ. What’s not to love? Amazing food (why does food always taste better when cooked & eaten out of doors?), gathering of family, friends, & community, & enjoying the outdoors. When we schedule our outdoor gatherings or just an easy weeknight meal cooked on the grill, this is the sauce that is ALWAYS requested.
The original recipe was created by a family member many years ago. With our attention focused on creating a more healthy approach to our food choices, I have recently altered the original recipe a bit to include my Kombucha. If you have never heard of kombucha, take a peek at how I make mine in my post, “Kombucha Kraziness! How To Make With The Continuous Brew Method” and also what makes this beverage such a healthy choice.
To make this BBQ sauce recipe fermented I simply replaced the red wine vinegar with kombucha. You can easily substitute your favorite apple cider vinegar or use the original red wine vinegar. All make for a wonderful, tangy, BBQ sauce!
INGREDIENTS
To make this fermented BBQ sauce recipe you will need the following ingredients.
- Org Ketchup
- Org Brown Sugar
- Kombucha, Red Wine Vinegar, or Apple Cider Vinegar
- Org Worcestershire Sauce (I make my own, recipe coming soon!)
- Onion
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
HOW TO MAKE
To make this BBQ sauce, simply add all the ingredients as follows, mix together and voila! I highly recommend making this ahead as the longer it sits, the better it becomes. This sauce will last in the refrigerator for up to one month. Make a big batch to have on hand for all your marinating needs 🙂 .
Chop half of a medium sized onion fairly finely or to suit your taste. Mince 1 large clove or 2 smaller cloves and add to the onion. Add 1 C Org Ketchup, 1 Tbl Worcestershire Sauce, 1/4 C Brown Sugar, and 1/2 C acid of your choice (kombucha, red wine, or ACV). Season with salt & pepper to taste and you have the basic BBQ sauce recipe ready to go.
I highly recommend marinating overnight if you can. We were able to marinate only for one hour prior to grilling at this meal. I kept out about 1/2 C of the sauce for dipping as it was a quick marinade.
This BBQ sauce recipe is very versatile. Want it a bit more sweet? Add more sugar. Want it spicy? Add your favorite hot sauce or cayenne pepper. Our family prefers this version just as is. YUMMY!
Enjoy this as a marinade for just about any food of your choice. We love our homegrown chicken to marinate in this sauce at least 4 hours. Better yet? Overnight. When heading to the grill, be sure to leave a bit of the sauce to the side to baste as you grill.
I hope you are able to give this fermented BBQ sauce recipe a try! Have a favorite of your own? Love for you to share with us in the comments below! Be sure to follow IMSL on your favorite social media channels! Happy BBQ’ing!
Love, Light, & Laughter ~
Ingredients
- 1 C Org Ketchup
- 1/2 C Vinegar or Kombucha
- 1 TBl Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/4 C Brown Sugar
- 1-2 Cloves Garlic
- 1/2 Med Onion
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Hot Sauce, Cayenne Pepper, Additional Sugar
Instructions
- Chop onion finely
- Mince garlic
- Add all ingredients in bowl
- Mix well
- Season with Salt & Pepper to taste
- Add optional spices
64 comments
Suzan, this sounds really good, and I love that it is a healthier barbecue sauce too! Thank you so much for sharing and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Take care and have a lovely week.
This sounds wonderful! Pinned.
That sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing with us at Encouraging Hearts and Home. Pinned.
A good BBQ sauce is so important for summer time! This sounds great!
This sounds really delicious! We love to BBQ so we will have to try this recipe!
I LOVE BBQ and this looks amazing! Thanks so much for sharing on Farm Fresh Tuesdays, Suzan! Hope to see your great posts again today!
Oooh, I am always on the hunt for a good BBQ sauce. My boys are HUGE fans of flavor and this may go very well on a few of our grilled meats this summer!
This sauce sounds like a must-try for this summer!
I’ll bet this sauce is SO much better than what’s on the shelf at the store!
No comparison in my humble experience 🙂
Yum! Just in time for bbq season too!
Yum. I love a good BBQ and will have to try this. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome Lina!
I used to not be a big fan of BBQ sauce, but now it’s growing on me! This looks like a good recipe to try out!
Hope you enjoy it!
Because of my nephew’s digestive issues, my sister in law ferments everything including ketsup. This looks amazing!!!!!!
That’s wonderful! Please feel free to share with your sister as well 🙂
Fermented BBQ sauce? That is probably amazing! I will definitely have to make up a batch of this for our next grilling adventure (if the rain ever stops!).
Or in between the raindrops 🙂 Enjoy!
This. Looks. Amazing. Going to have to share this with my dad/grandpa so he can test out a batch for the grandkids – they are the best taste testers!
All of my kids like different kinds of barbeque. I never knew there were so many different flavors to bar-b-que sauce until I had kids. I have yet to find one that they all like. So…. let’s give this one a go. 🙂 Thank you!!!!
Let me know how they like it!
I’m the only one in the house who likes bbq! I’ll have to make it when everyone is away. Looks like a Yummy dish!!! Now I wanna try that sauce on some ribs!
I love good BBQ! You now have me going through my mind trying to figure out what I can cook that will allow me to add BBQ sauce to it!
LOL! Hope you find something yummy to sauce up!
well this is now on my must try list…
You won’t regret it Jen!
Ooooh, I wonder if I could make this with tofu or baked beans then dehydrate it for backpacking trips….. Sounds delicious!
YES! I’ve used this recipe to marinate tofu & then bake it. YUMMY! The baked beans sounds interesting!
Wow – I haven’t heard of fermented BBQ sauce. I love finding new recipes to try on Thursdays <3
This sounds so fantastic!!! I love Korean BBQ with Kimchi and this sounds like it would incorporate that flavor.
What a great idea to make ahead of time! IDK why I have never thought of this 😀 Thank you for sharing!
Your welcome, Robin!
I love your close up photos! And, yes, BBQ is all about either the sauce or the rub. Looks delicious!
Thank you Cynthia! Hope you give it a try.
This is an amazing recipe! I can use it on my vegan burgers and grilled tofu! Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely! It’s so versatile.
Ever since living in the South during college years, I have loved BBQ. San Diego doesn’t have a whole lot to offer, but great to know a delicious new sauce that I can make myself! Thanks!
Hope you enjoy it!
I have never even considered making my own BBQ sauce – until NOW! Sound like such an interesting and unique flavor! Thank you for sharing it!
It’s soooo good!
This looks great, I’ll have to try it out this summer!
Fermented sauce? really? Totally makes sense though. I LOVE sourdough – and what is that but fermented dough? Thanks for the recipe! I am a BBQ snob and have a hard time finding something good.
Yup! Fermented foods add that extra dose of all that is healthy and the flavor is awesome….even for those with discerning BBQ tastes 🙂
Oh yummers and get in my belly now! Sounds amazing and can’t wait to try it!
🙂
Yummy! I love a good BBQ recipe! Its that time of year again. Thank you for sharing yours!
Hope you give it a try Brittany!
I cook with beer a lot, but I bet Kombucha is a much healthier option! I’m definitely trying this one soon!
You won’t be sorry!
My husband loves BBQ! I will have to pass this along to him.
I am salivating over my keyboard. This looks great! Thanks for sharing. I can practically smell it.
LOL, Heather. The scent of this sauce does cause some salivation 🙂
Oh, I am all over this recipe and am so glad that you shared! I have never seen a recipe like this and it excites me so I will for sure report back when I make it and of course, will credit YOU if it winds up in one of my grilling creations! Very excited, thank you so much! 🙂
I would love your opinion Angela! Let me know what you think please!
This is a great recipe, I have been making something similar to this for decades. I will try the kombucha sometime instead of the vinegar I always use.
I think I could even make this! Or, at least share the recipe with our resident chef, my husband!
LOL, hope the chef approves 🙂
I love that your sauce is fermented! Thank you for sharing!
I’ve made my own bbq sauce for years – but this is a major step up! Thanks, Suzan, can’t wait to make this and use it on all. the. things. (I’d eat an old shoe if it had bbq sauce on it!)
Great recipe! I can’t wait to try it!! Thank you so much!
Hope you enjoy it Holly!
OMG, just tell me there’s good BBQ somewhere and I’m there!!
I think you will have to push me out of the way first Kyndall 🙂