Barbeque Sauce

Yield: Makes about 3 x 500 ml jars


Prep Time: 60 minutes


Processing Time: 20 Minutes


Difficulty: Intermediate


 


 


Homemade BBQ sauce wins full marks for its rich, tomato flavour. It will enhance the flavour of summer’s gilled meats and add rays of sunshine to winter’s oven barbecue recipes


Ingredients:


10 lb (4.5 kg) firm, ripe tomatoes, cored, peeled, chopped


2 cups (500 ml) finely chopped onions, about 2 large


3 cloves garlic, minced


1 tbsp (15 ml) red pepper flakes


1 tbsp (15 ml) celery seed


1 ½ cups (375 ml) brown sugar


2 tbsp (30 ml) salt


1 tbsp (15 ml) dry mustard


1 1/2 tbsp (22 ml) mace


1 tsp (5 ml) ginger


1 tsp (5 ml) cinnamon


1 cup (250 ml) vinegar


1/3 cup (75 ml) lemon juice


DIRECTIONS:


• Combine tomatoes, onions, garlic, red pepper and celery seed in a large stainless steel saucepan. Boil gently, covered, until vegetables are soft, about 30 minutes. Press tomato mixture through a fine sieve or food mill; discard seeds.


• Place 3 clean 500 ml mason jars on a rack in a boiling water canner; cover jars with water and heat to a simmer (180°F/82°C). Set screw bands aside. Heat SNAP LID® sealing discs in hot water, not boiling (180°F/82°C). Keep jars and sealing discs hot until ready to use.


• Return tomato mixture to the saucepan and add brown sugar, salt, dry mustard, mace, ginger, cinnamon, vinegar and lemon juice. Cook over low heat until mixture thickens, about 30 minutes. As mixture thickens, stir frequently to prevent sticking.


• Ladle sauce into a hot jar to within 1/2 inch (1 cm) of top of jar (headspace). Using non-metallic utensil, remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if required, by adding more sauce. Wipe jar rim removing any food residue. Centre hot sealing discs on clean jar rim. Screw band down until resistance is met, then increase to fingertip tight. Return filled jar to rack in canner. Repeat for remaining sauce.


• When canner is filled, ensure that all jars are covered by at least one inch (2.5 cm) of water. Cover canner and bring water to full rolling boil before starting to count processing time. At altitudes up to 1000 ft (305 m), process –boil filled jars – 20 minutes.*


• When processing time is complete, remove canner lid, wait 5 minutes, then remove jars without tilting and place them upright on a protected work surface. Cool upright, undisturbed 24 hours; DO NOT RETIGHTEN screw bands.


• After cooling check jar seals. Sealed discs curve downward and do not move when pressed. Remove screw bands; wipe and dry bands and jars. Store screw bands separately or replace loosely on jars, as desired. Label and store jars in a cool, dark place. For best quality, use home canned foods within one year.