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Barbecue 101: Herb Style

Summertime comes and goes pretty fast, so we tend to take advantage of the relaxing energy in the air by cooking and entertaining outdoors. Barbecuing has become the premier summertime past time. There are contests all over the world where people line up trying to claim first prize with their secret recipe barbecue sauce. Every region in the world claims some kind of barbecue style or sauce. The best barbecue sauces support local regions where the spices are highly influenced by the history of the people who live there.

Despite the many variations of barbecue sauces found throughout the world, every sauce has one thing in common with all the others – they all rely heavily on herbs and spices. Typical barbecue sauces have a history of including more dried herbs than fresh, but a new, modern world is embracing endlessly exotic herb opportunities. World cuisines are turning more and more to fusion food, and although there are many people out there who believe that only authentic, only classical and only historical cuisine defines what real food is, it’s safe to say the that the food we eat today has been evolving throughout time and this evolution has brought us amazing flavors and simple great food.

There is one thing that few will argue with – nothing bought in a store will ever rival the taste, flavor and pizzazz of a barbecue sauce made from scratch. And despite the myth that making your own barbecue sauce will take all day and involve lots of difficult ingredients and complicated steps, making your own barbecue sauce is relatively simple and typically takes no more than 20 minutes. Designed to add flavor, zest and moisture to meats while cooking on an open fire of some sort, these sauces have versatility like no other.They can be used before, during and after the cooking process, and people throughout the world have come to appreciate the simplicity of cooking meats over an open fire and the amazing flavors that can be created while doing so with a simple barbecue sauce. The consistency can vary depending on personal preference, as can the items being grilled and the type of meat being barbecued. There are barbecue sauces that can be used as marinades, finishing sauces or what is called a mopping sauce; abarbecue sauce that is “mopped” on the meats while they are grilled. Keep in mind that sugars tend to burn so when making a marinade or mopping sauce you must be careful about the sugar content.

Barbecue sauces have been traditionally used on pork, beef and chicken and have typically been seen in tomato based forms. Today the options are limitless, the ingredients endless and all are easily accessible. Fresh herbs are an amazing way to capture deep, zesty flavors and while the traditional barbecue sauces were used on chicken, pork and beef, fish, seafood and vegetables are now a welcomed addition to our grills.

Here are a few easy-to-make herb style barbecue sauces that are less traditional and filled with more flavor and pizzazz. These recipes will enhance your summertime and give endless options to eating and grilling outdoors!

Tarragon Peach Barbecue Sauce

This sauce is a delightful way to incorporate sweet summer peaches into savory outdoor grilling. Peaches and tarragon are an amazing pair and mix into a fresh, sweet, tangy flavor in this recipe. This is a more luxurious barbecue sauce recipe and is perfect for grilled chicken breasts and pork tenderloin. This sauce is sure to impress both in its use of fruit on the grill and the combination of the tarragon. There is no need to marinate with this recipe; simply use it as a mopping sauce throughout the cooking process and be sure to use it generously toward the end.

Makes 2 cups of sauce and takes about 20 minutes to prepare

3 peaches, peeled and halved
1 teaspoon sugar
¼ cup chopped fresh tarragon
½ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon honey
¼ - ½ cup bourbon
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
¼ cup sweet yellow onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Sprinkle peaches (open halves) with sugar and grill until soft. Combine all ingredients in a blender (or use a handheld food processor) and blend until relatively smooth but still has some coarseness. Brush the sauce on meats while they are cooking.

Chipotle Herb Barbecue Sauce

This is a sure fire south of the border specialty because it is spicy and zesty and fresh as can be. It’s also super easy, yet super decadent. You will never eat plain old fajitas again. The sauce is excellent on all meats and vegetables but our clear favorite is Chipotle Herb Grilled Flank Steak Fajitas (see seasonal entertaining section for complete recipe).

Makes 2 cups of sauce and takes 10 minutes to prepare

1 12oz. can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
½ cup white onion, chopped
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
¼ cup fresh chives, chopped
Juice of 3 limes and zest of 2
1 or 2 jalapenos, chopped and seeds removed
Salt/pepper

Blend all ingredients together in a blender or food processor until smooth. Use as a marinade and then as a mopping and finishing sauce!

Honey Mustard Herb Barbecue Sauce

This is an extremely fresh and very herby recipe that is excellent on chicken and steaks, but it is truly perfection on grilled onions. Our top pairing suggestion is big thick slices of grilled onion with juicy rib eye steaks. This is recommended as a mopping sauce at the end of the grilling process.

Makes 1 cup and takes 10 minutes.

1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
Juice of 2 lemons and zest of 1
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
¼ cup olive oil

Whisk together all ingredients until combined well. Mop over grilled meats and vegetables at the end of the grilling process.

Teriyaki Chive Barbecue Sauce

Teriyaki is a traditional Japanese grilling sauce. The flavors vary throughout the world and the ingredients have evolved over time, but all tend to include a soy sauce and rice vinegar mixture that typically includes ginger. This recipe is amazing on fish, seafood and chicken. For best results, the recipe can be used as a marinade as well as a mopping sauce. Grilled tuna teriyaki, grilled salmon teriyaki, and even grilled teriyaki vegetables (zucchini, mushrooms, and Japanese eggplant) are tantalizing.

Makes 1 cup of sauce and takes 5 minutes to prepare

½ cup of tamari soy sauce
½ cup brown rice vinegar
¼ cup sesame oil
¼ cup mirin sauce
2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon ginger, finely chopped
1 tablespoon finely sliced fresh lemongrass
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon honey
1 Serrano chili pepper sliced with thin seeds in tact (1 small pinch of red chili flakes can be substituted)

Whisk together all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl until well mixed. Marinate fish, chicken, vegetables or meat for up to 30 minutes and grill. Use as a mopping sauce at the very end of the grilling process.

Tandoori Herb Barbecue Sauce

Tandoori is basically marinated meat grilled over an open fire, in a tandoori grill or in a clay covered pot with an intensely hot and smoky fire to cook the meats. Traditionally an Indian dish and always made with a yogurt base, the tandoori style of cooking has spread throughout the world and is common in the Middle East except that the tandoori clay grill is not used; the marinated meat is simple put over hot, hot coals. Tandoori barbecue sauce is an amazing way to keep the meats moist because yogurt is an exceptional tenderizer due to the acids it contains. In this recipe we lean toward the Indian version of flavor but it is designed to put on any grill. Used as a marinade and mopping sauce, this recipe is excellent on chicken thighs, lamb and fish.

Makes 2 cups of sauce and takes about 10-15 minutes to prepare

½ cup fresh mint, chopped
½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon cumin powder
½ teaspoon cardamom powder
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon curry powder
3 cloves garlic, chopped
Juice and zest of 1 lime
1 cayenne chili pepper, sliced thin (without seeds for milder sauce)
1 cup plain yogurt

Mix all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl until a smooth, even liquid sauce is formed. Marinate meats or fish and grill using. Then, use as a mopping sauce throughout the entire cooking process.