Rubs vs Sauces - Which Do You Prefer?

Jeff Jones, author - Charcoal Grill Enthusiast and Weber Grill supporter

 Great Sauces

 There's nothing better than a great piece of smokey flavored meat right off your charcoal grill complemented with the perfect sweet, spicy, or tangy sauce. The following are a couple fo my favorites.

 St. Louis Style

A perfect sauce to complement the smoky flavored meat off your Weber charcoal grill is a tangy St. Louis Style sauce. The use of the tomato paste creates a thicker, clingier sauce that will coat your meat better.   

Prep Time: 10 minutes 

Cook Time: 20 minutes 

Ingredients: 

             1 1/2 cups ketchup 

             1/2 cup of tomato paste 

             1/2 cup water 

             1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 

             1/4 cup brown sugar 

                 3 tablespoon yellow mustard 

                 1 tablespoon onion powder

                  1 tablespoon garlic powder

                  1 teaspoon cayenne 

Preparation: 

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over a low heat. Stirring occasionally and simmer for 20 minutes. Being a thicker sauce, you will need frequent stirring to prevent burning. Allow to cool. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate. The sauce is better if allowed to sit for a day or longer.

For great flavor change ups, try one of these great Grill Seeker changes.

Try 2 Tbsp of brown sugar and 3 Tbsp of honey instead of the ¼ c of brown sugar for a great sweet honey BBQ flavor.

OR

For a spicier sauce, add crushed red pepper flakes or  Tabasco sauce to taste. The heat will increase as it sits, so don’t over do it!

OR

For a thinner sauce, use 2 c of Ketchup and no tomato paste.

OR

For an even sweeter sauce use ¾ c brown sugar.