Coca-Cola Barbecue Sauce

Being a Northerner, I think it's fair to say my experience with barbecue isn't what most people in the southern half of the US enjoy.  While I've had awesome barbecue before, and we even have an amazing BBQ joint a few hours away, it just isn't something I get a chance to eat a lot.  Even when I make it, which isn't often, I tend to either rely on sauce from a bottle or a sauce I kind of trial-and-error my way through to something that, I think, tastes pretty good.  So I was pretty pumped to try a tested, and really popular, barbecue sauce recipe from Boma.

This is super easy to make, even for barbecue newbies like me.  I think the big trick is making sure you don't burn the brown sugar and allowing enough time for the Coca-Cola to reduce to a syrup.  It does take about 20 or so minutes, and all but 17 of those minutes I asked myself "is this really going to reduce or did I mess something up?"  Trust me, it takes what feels like forever, but it does get there.  Eventually.

Overall, I think the sauce is pretty delicious.  It is the right combination of sweet, spicy, and tangy.  I was surprised I couldn't really taste the Coca-Cola like I thought I would, but it was delicious.  It was a pretty big hit around the house too.  I think I, finally, I have a great barbecue sauce recipe for those days I want to make my poor, New Englander attempt at barbecue!

It also kind of gets me a little anxious to try Boma...

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Coca-Cola Barbecue Sauce

As is served at Boma, Animal Kingdom Lodge

 

°o°  1 tablespoon olive oil
°o°  1 onion, diced  
°o°  1 ounce minced garlic  

°o°  2 jalapeno peppers, seeded, minced  

°o°  4 ounces brown sugar, packed 

°o°  24 ounces Coca-Cola

°o°  2 ounces vinegar  

°o°  2 cups ketchup
  

In a large saucepot, warm olive oil and onions and cook until caramelized.  Add garlic, peppers, brown sugar and cook until brown sugar melts.  Stir constantly.  Quickly add Coca-Cola and deglaze the pan.  With heat at medium high, reduce mixture until a thick syrup, about 20 minutes.  Stir frequently.  Add ketchup and whisk.  Return to a simmer and allow to cook another 20 minutes.  Serve warm or cool.

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