In Texas, BBQ is beef, but where I was raised, BBQ is pork. This was a HUGE adjustment for me when I moved to TX, especially since BBQ is one of my favorites. So for bible study I made a pulled pork butt (which isn’t actually the backside of an animal, butt really means shoulder in meat language), and I slowly cooked it for 14 hours so it basically fell apart. Scrumptious!
I didn’t know how the ladies would feel about the VA sauce since they were most likely used to a Texas, tomato based sauce, so I made two sauces and let them decide which was the best. I made a traditional Virginia sauce with a fruit base, and then one that had more of a Carolina influence (my personal favorite). Today I’m going to share my recipes with you and let you decide which is your favorite :-) Of course they are fast and simple recipes (I don’t do anything but that!)
Fruit-Based Sauce- I have made this sauce both with apricot and apple preserves, so it's up to you which you'd prefer. I always make this one for picnics on the beach.
Melt unsalted butter and EVOO (2 tbs of each) in a skillet over medium heat. Add in 1 medium onion, finely chopped, and season with salt and pepper. Stir occassionally for about 5 minutes, until the onions are tender. Add 3 cloves of garlic and 1 tsp paprika and cook for 2-3 minutes more. Reduce the heat and add light brown sugar (1/2 cup packed), preserves (1 cup), ketchup (1 cup), and Texas Pete (2 tsp or more depending on your preference). Bring to a simmer and stir in apple cider vinegar (1/2 cup) and salt to taste. Keep warm until ready to serve.
Vinegar-based BBQ Sauce- This sauce has a more robust flavor, that I simply can't get enough of!
In a sauce pan over medium heat, whisk together apple cider vinegar (2 cups), water (1 and 1/3 cups), ketchup (5/8 cup), light brown sugar (1/4 cup, packed), salt (5 tsp), crushed red pepper flakes (3 tsp), black pepper (1 tsp), and white pepper (1 tsp). Coninue to stir until brown sugar and salt are dissolved. Either pour over cooked pulled pork until ready to serve or just put in a dish to serve.
Dueling sauces (fruit-based on the left and vinegar-based on the right)
I put them in mason jars because they are easy to serve and store this way. I serve the pulled pork over some rolls with coleslaw and potato salad. Delicious! I would have shown you a picture of the final product but I started eating too quickly. You’ll have to use your imagination ;-)
So which sauce do you think would be your favorite? If you make these you’ve got to let me know if you liked it.
16 comments:
Oh I love BBQ!! Now that we live even further south than where we grew up, we have more BBQ options and I'm loving it! I haven't ever made my own but both of these sauces sound really good!
We love BBQ around here. When we moved out south, we thought they had messed up our order when they gave us our BBQ food. It is vinegar based, which totally tastes different than the Texas style we were used to back home. I didn't like it in the beginning, but now I LOVE the vinegar taste. It definitely grows on you & makes you feel more at home. Thanks for sharing!
I want to try some "southern" BBQ, even though I will always love TX BBQ. Looks so good... I bet that pulled pork is amazing with a vinegar type sauce!
I make a BBQ sauce that is more like the vinegar one you posted. But I'll have to try the other!!! Your pictures are really great, too. I like the setting for the jars!
In Mississippi, we like our BBQ as pork, too! =)
I really like the sound of the fruit based sauce!
Texas BBQ....yummy! I like Vinegar based sauces myself.
i wish i was a part of your bible study and could enjoy some of this delicious pulled pork. and thank you for confirming i am not eating the animal's behind, i hang my head in shame admiting think thought it was in that region actually
Oooh, you can not go wrong with BBQ in my opinion! :)
Mmhm that's awesome!! Looks like a must try!
YUM! I love the NC sauce, it's my favorite. I will definitely have to try your recipe for the sauce, I don't have one of my own. For my rehearsal dinner for my wedding, we had a huge pig pickin' and it's the only BBQ sauce I would allow. ;)
However, I am super intrigued with your fruit-based sauce, I've never tried that... I will most definitely be trying that out sometime, as I make pulled pork about once a month! :) I am so excited, I can't wait to try it out!
YUM! This looks great too!
Both sound delicious, but I think I would prefer the second sauce. I love making pulled pork, but mainly because I can leave it in the crockpot all day. I love easy! I'm hosting my weekly link party right now and I'd love for you to join in at www.thenymelrosefamily.blogspot.com/2012/05/whimsy-wednesdays-11.html.
Oh, I LOVE BBQ, but I have NEVER made my own sauce!!! Both of these sound amazing and so much easier than I would have thought! I have always loved a vinegar based sauce, but yours sounds wonderful, too! Pinning this and cannot wait to try them myself! :)
I love a good BBQ sauce. Can't wait to try these. Thanks for sharing on Tout It Tuesday!
Nothing better than Texas BBQ! But, I want to make both of your sauces and try. They look and sound delish!!! Thanks for posting.
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